Board 8 > Scarlet Ranks 52 Characters from 52 Sessions of the DCRPG Campaign: Part III

(+) Yeah! (+)

For an NPC I almost never interact with, I really, really like Mento. One of my favorites.

The relationship between the hero and the person is one of my favorite things to explore in comics.

Everything Clark Kent is makes Superman great, everything the public persona of Bruce Wayne isn't makes Batman great. We all love Oracle in the campaigns, but it's because of Barbara, yet so much of her self-worth is tied into Oracle.

Meanwhile, Steve Dayton and Mento are both completely at odds with one another. Steve would be happier if Mento didn't exist, and Mento...well, Steve Dayton may as well not exist to Mento, just another little inferior mind compared to the all-greatness that is Mento.

It's so good.

Mento has given us access to go into Misty's mind and the process of dealing with him is always entertaining

Hell yeah mento

But also

*gasp* Mento!

JB has taken the lead

#74 - King Shark
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/2/6/4/AAOJ0pAADbDw.jpg
The King Shark is a humanoid child of the so-called King of All Sharks and a monstrous, massive beast with a ravenous appetite. Nanaue was rescued from the hands of the Ocean Master and his ilk by the Dweller in the Depths, incurring a life debt that overrides his incessant need to cause trouble. He has been assigned to guard the mysterious A.J. Curry by the Dweller, and Nanaue has proven to do just that - although his mouth keeps him in trouble with nearly everyone else. The King Shark has developed a small affinity for Minerva, a Princess of one of the Atlantean city-states.

Now, I've really gotten bad at providing some sort of DM's insight into these characters, so I want to focus on how the character of Nanaue exists in so many different incarnations, especially over the last decade, and how I tried to distill an essence of the character that is different from the rest. First of all, the most popular iteration is likely James Gunn's King Shark from The Suicide Squad; fortunately, when I crafted mine, I was focused more on how King Shark baits other characters in with his perceived softness. Is King Shark actually slow? No; he's actually quite dastardly, though his obsession with devouring anything to fill that black hole of a stomach often plays itself comedically. But, at the same time, Nanaue has some code of ethics, some sense of decorum, and he recognizes that he is a leader not just because of his heritage and power, but because he knows how to control shark-kind.

But Nanaue does like to rely on a facade, a masquerading disguise of simplicity to put his allies at ease and earn himself as much food as he can muster. King Shark is forever driven by one thing and one thing only. How he manages to achieve his goal of collecting that one thing? King Shark isn't picky.

Perhaps that's why his versatility is so subtle. Surviving and protecting AJ Curry under the instructions of the ancient prophet the Dweller in the Depths required patience, wisdom and a keen sense of danger on the unforgiving ocean floor. Remaining relatively stoic and holding his cards close to the chest, King Shark may have some lack of understanding for surfacer nuance, but he also exaggerates his stupidity quite often to put others at ease. Amanda Waller, after all, has use for Nanaue just as much as everyone else, and King Shark recognizes the value in serving under her command while the rest of the world falls apart otherwise. Sharks sometimes need to hunt in schools, after all. This is why the Big Troubles are equally as important to him as Checkmate - there are means to different ends, and Nanaue is not to proud to follow path to where it leads.

Unlike the New52's failed attempt at a brilliant Nanaue, and unlike the original abjectly violent character in Superboy's original run in the 90s, my King Shark relies on the charm of the blank face and curious intellect to propel him forward. He's the smartest of the sharks, but he's still a shark - a shark with a very sensitive nose. But he's also not the ridiculously moronic Shark from James Gunn's Squad, either. I'd like to think he straddles the best of every era, but predominantly is anchored in one theme: loyalty. Whether his bond with AJ or his growing fondness for his fellow royal, Minerva, Nanaue takes quickly to someone he respects and who demonstrates a willingness to treat him as an equal. And so long as you provide him alternative snacks on any excursion in which you bring Nanaue, the King Shark will forever have your back.

#73 was not only undrafted, but I'm fairly confident I never saw anyone express an interest in drafting them, either!

Nanaue is a sweetheart but also a monster but also very loyal but also would eat you if he had the chance but also really sweet but also thinks you're sweet

I've put off an extra scene with Nanaue for a while. There's just an intriguing nature of where Minerva has been falling in terms of adopting a partial supervillain identity and skirting around the idea of imitating Ocean Master that will eventually bring her back to Nanaue. Whom fought Orm and wound up with a scar because of it. Something that demonstrated early on the power of Ocean Master and made him obviously not a foe to tangle with until we were stronger.

I'll still never forget Minerva first meeting King Shark, tapping into him and explaining her powers to him. He thought she sapped his powers from him, but then after he calmed down he agreed to give over some of his power to Freddie Freeman. Just as a reminder to myself and others that it wasn't Minerva's obsession with Aquaman that lead them to the Aquacave (where we came across AJ and Nanaue), it was us following a Captain Marvel Jr riddle. And it was Minerva's connections with allies of Arthur (particularly Tom Curry) that gave them the answer to go there.

I think Minerva has a deeper kinship at this point with Nanaue than with AJ which only supports your supervillain delving direction.

the left unsaid part of the scene where Susie met Tomorrow Woman and declared her perfect was that Tomorrow Woman swung Susie around, making Susie happy!

...And King Shark watched, hungrily. Not out of malice, but because seeing a morsel moving like that just makes him hungry, like most things.

King Shark and Minerva OTP

WarThaNemesis2 posted...

the left unsaid part of the scene where Susie met Tomorrow Woman and declared her perfect was that Tomorrow Woman swung Susie around, making Susie happy!

...And King Shark watched, hungrily. Not out of malice, but because seeing a morsel moving like that just makes him hungry, like most things.

So why does Susie like TW so much?

Nanaue is a character I personally like a lot but need to figure out how to interact with with Bloodfruit.

The two got off to a very bad start early on due to him immediately going back on a deal (which is like #1 no-no to the fae) and I never really figured out how to follow up with him

Maniac64 posted...

So why does Susie like TW so much?

Tomorrow Woman was never born, thus she isn't alive and cannot die.

So of course Susie sees this as ideal.

#73 - Ice
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/4/5/0/AAUHRBAAEZmq.jpg
Tora - she was beloved not just by the people of Norway, not just by the grateful citizens of the world, but by her teammates. The lover of Guy Gardner, the surrogate sister of Fire, Ices sweetness and innocence made her the tonic that cured the common jaded cynicism that became pervasive in the late era JLI. Born the princess of Norway, Ices pedigree gave her a sheltered existence, and her powers often scared off potential suitors. It was considered odd by most that Guy Gardner would be the one to not only step up to the plate but to also win Ices undying love, yet the two of them were well and truly in love, and that love helped to form the tight-knit JLI, converting Gardner from a rabble-rousing reprobate to a team player and occasional leader. However, Ice was killed in battle with the Overmaster, and her end signaled the beginning of the end of the JLI. The team never came back from that loss, really, and it began to spiral into dysfunction and inevitable collapse.

No good deed goes unpunished. Years after Ices death, the team of former Leaguers and future superhero megastars known as the Superbuddies were - in part - dragged into Hell, where, during their misadventure, caught sight of the soul of Ice, a being misplaced thanks to a divine snafu. Having been under the duress of the Overmaster, Ice had committed some heinous acts of murder, and the cosmic balance refused to mitigate these crimes due to the unusual context and circumstances. While in Hell, however, Ice had curried some level of favor with one of the rising lords of Hell, and an infernal deal was struck. With all of the chaos raised by the Superbuddies (predominantly Ted and Booster), it would be more equitable for Hell to release the group of their own volition through the Gates of Abandoned Hope. To entice them to beat a hasty retreat, Etrigan offered a deal - Ice would be allowed to leave with them, but behind them. She could not speak or announce her presence. So long as no member of the group turned to check if she was there, Ice would be returned to life. Every member experienced at least a tinge of uncertainty, curiosity that threatened to overwhelm them. But merely yards from their goal, Fire and Guy, Ices two most beloved friends in life, turned at the same moment, overcome with the need to know if their loved one was there. Ice smiled at them, saying they had always cared just a little too much, and she disappeared back into the depths of Hell. Wracked with the agony of this horrible truth, that they had allowed Tora to be left to rot for eternity, the Superbuddies, demoralized, returned to the living world.

But now, it appears, Ice may have well and truly survived her excruciating torturous test and returned to the living world. Perhaps one of the sweetest beings encountered in the campaign, Ice has manifested twice thus far in a hazy mist created by Fire's uncontrollable abilities, switching places with Beatriz inside of Z'onn Z'orr's airtight, steel-reinforced Environmental Chamber. Here it was revealed that the spirit of Ice has bonded with Fire's very soul, capable of consuming the mind of Fire for brief periods while trying in vain to hunt the heat of living souls. A Somnabule, devourer of a living body's internal fire. In essence, all this incredibly kind creature wants is a hug.

You can imagine how her return is playing havoc on Fire, whose hair has begun to turn white... and on Guy Gardner, who is trapped a billion billion miles from the only person he ever loved and the only person who ever loved him back.

Ice may have returned. Now, the question is, can the party survive the experience?

#72 is a top-half draft pick!

Tora Tora Tora! I love her. She's so sweet and endearing and soul-devouring.

I have more to say about the situation when I get the chance, but I'm glad to see her high. The mystery surrounding Fire that evolved into Ice's inclusion has turned so delicate - but I suppose that should be expected when ice gets too close to fire.

I'm surprised Ice makes the list (especially so high), when Fire was only an honorable mention.

Ice clearly has captured the attention of several players in a way that Fire has not. As with many of the OG characters of the campaign, the base foundation of Checkmate has been pushed aside, eschewed in favor of shinier toys.

we need to find ted or booster to reignite the fire behind fire

I'm looking forward to when we get to Norway. I haven't really been too involved in this story, but Spirit is all about ghosts.

also Ice is in that Sue area where you can feel how great she is just from talking to the people close to her. Nobody phases Guy and Fire like Ice does.

#72 - Lashina
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/7/4/7/AAQcMAAADkNb.jpg
Sing a song of hope.

She was the most loyal of soldiers, a woman born into restraint and an acolyte bred into restriction. She could dominate even the most ferocious and unruly of foes. But when Darkseids young follower shipwrecked near the ruins of Krypton, her mind was infected with the blue virus of hope, and the symbol of Superman began to unravel her programming. As she prepared for the invasion of Earth, Lashina was commanded by a suspicious Darkseid to wed the man whose symbol propagated her doubt, but this proved a vital mistake, turning Lashina against her master in fits of bizarre, unexpected independence. Hunted by the entirety of Darkseids forces, Lashina was buried under Yellowstone, falling to the center of the world, where her former lover, Rozetta, found her and decided to encourage her beloveds strange, new hope.

Since that time, Lashina has become extremely adept at making the party uncomfortable with how open she is with her interest in public displays of affection. Obscenely so. After arriving on Oa with Roz'etta, Lashina was imprisoned by the Guardians. Obviously. I mean, obviously that was going to happen. This was a leader of the Female Furies, Darkseid's Elite. OF COURSE she was going to end up in a Sciencell with around-the-clock security coverage monitoring every slight shift in her body. But fortunately, the party has come to find an ally among the Guardians - the Scarred Guardian, or Scar as she's called. And Roz'etta risked much to seek her lover's release. After a confrontation of powers so ancient and primal that Roz'etta couldn't even maintain consciousness, Lashina and Scar came to some sort of... agreement, perhaps. And Lashina was released to the surface of Oa, but given the ultimatum that she must leave its surface within a week, or else she would be imprisoned once more.

Well, that week has been spent in Warriors, by and large, and that is driving the party absolutely batty. Roz'etta, you see, is often quite submissive to Lashina, and Lashina has one activity in mind. So in the private rooms above Warriors, There is often a rather significant racket caused by the pair that even upsets the willful Lanterns themselves. I mean, Gal Gardner can barely stand to hear the constant bumping jarring loose dust from the rafters of the first floor's ceiling. And for a while, Lashina has been invested in exercising her right as a Fury to stretch Roz'etta to her literal absolute limits.

But there is more to come, hints of how hope has infected Lashina. She's become unsure, prone to gentle bouts of anger. She's lost some of her sadistic tendencies - though as we learned last night in fact, she still knows how to make even a Lantern uneasy. But Lashina is lost, her surefire foundation of Darkseid's will no longer existentially firm. What waits for our disciple of domination in the ruins of Krypton? One can only guess...

#71 finally puts points on the only list without any thus far.

Lashina breaking from Daerkseid is an excellent portrayal of what can be done. Lashina is plagued by Hope, but her very situation inspires hope in everyone else - seeing one of Darkseid's most fervent followers break from his grasp.

She's a powerful ally but maybe a more powerful symbol.

So how did Rozetta and Lashina meet and become a thing?

Looks like I'm finally getting points. I hope it's someone low, like Hector or Vicki...but I worry that it's gonna be one of my higher locks instead like Cheshire or La Dama.

@WarThaNemesis2 needs to explain himself

Inviso posted...

Looks like I'm finally getting points. I hope it's someone low, like Hector or Vicki...but I worry that it's gonna be one of my higher locks instead like Cheshire or La Dama.

I'm hoping for Aquazon myself. Canary supremacy.

Lashina has maybe the best character story of anyone in the campaign. She's really,,,just the best.

Maniac64 posted...

So how did Rozetta and Lashina meet and become a thing?

When Roz'etta was captured by the League of Assassins thanks to the forced assistance of Brennus's mom Varra, Lashina was one of the Suicide Squad sent to rescue her.

Lashina asked Roz'etta where the best place for fun is, and Roz'etta pointed her in a direction of a former nightclub. When Roz'etta, slightly charrmed by Lashina's song and strength and struggling after having her love ripped out of her by the Patchwork, sought out Lashina later, she found the New God had ultimately chose a stadium with wild Devil Horses, for it gave her something to tame. Lashina found Roz'etta endearing enough, and wanted to show her the freedom in servitude, and thus Lashina became Roz'etta's rebound, as Oracle would put it.

But where Oracle was wrong is that somewhere in there Roz'etta grew to feel love for Lashina, something Lashina, as a Darkseid loyalist to the bone, wasn't able to do, and Roz'etta wasn't going to ask her to, knowing Lashina's life revolved around Darkseid above all, and that Lashina was going to leave at her earliest opportunity, which she did. Lashina did ask Roz'etta to join her on the trip to Apokolips though, knowing herself that Roz'etta was bound to her duty to Earth, as a way of proving that the way of Apokolips, that there is freedom in servitude, was truth.

However, when they met in Skartaris Lashina had been infected with hope, which has allowed other feelings to infect her. Where Darkseid was, now Lashina talks about Roz'etta being bound to her forever, which Roz'etta has translated as an attempt from someone whose knowledge of life is extremely limited at a romantic expression.

So really, while they were 'together' for about a year during No Man's Land, they've only truly become a thing very recently.

#71 - Wonder Woman
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/1/9/1/AAOJ0pAADcgX.png
From one Fury to another.

She is the ambassador to Mans World, an Amazonian Princess, a former goddess. She is the founder of a network of embassies designed to protect the downtrodden and teach women self-sufficiency. She is a founding member of the Justice League, a leader of superheroes, and one of the most influential women in modern history. She is Diana, Wonder Woman. But after her public murder of Maxwell Lord, Diana began the worst week in her life, losing the support of mankind, losing her homeland, and, in the darkest moment of self-doubt, finding herself captured and turned into the most singularly powerful Prime Fury on Earth.

The story of Wonder Woman is quite a Greek tragedy in this campaign, the origin of Darkseid's animosity for the princess stemming from back in the Imperiex War, where Apokolips and Earth united against an enemy that threatened both of their existences. Let me set the stage. The final moments of the war with Imperiex. Her mother dead, her people nearly completely destroyed. His planet, ruins. Thanks to the betrayal of Brainiac and the pure entropic power of Imperiex, it is up to Diana of Themyscira and Darkseid to channel their combined energies - and those of their mostly depleted allies - in an effort to stave off Imperiex. So, with the magic of Tempest, with the alliance at their back of Earths heroes, Diana and Darkseid join life forces for a moment. A single moment that will change the course of their lives forever. The story of Imperiex reaches its conclusion; Earth is saved, as is Apokolips. But Diana does not depart without a warning. During the merger of their life essences, Diana reached out to Raven, the dark sorceress of the Titans, asking for one boon - that a piece of herself would remain inside of Darkseid, so that he may experience compassion, even if it be only a single sliver of it. Diana left Apokolips, telling Darkseid of her actions, letting him know that her mothers death would not see the end of her grand mission - that Mans World would be civilized. And to Diana, that meant Darkseid would know love. Satisfied, she left for Earth, and Apokolips returned to its home sector. Few could have foreseen that this act of generosity would be the one, singular moment in which all future acts would root themselves. Truth, and its consequences, would never be the same.

For you see, Darkseid vowed to make an example of Wonder Woman, for a soul such as hers, a passion for life and an overpowering sense of love for not only her fellow man but for a dream of a companion in her long-lived existence, was like an ichor, poisoning his very blood. And Darkseid vowed vengeance. So when the party finally came across Diana, they met a Prime Fury, a woman who had been carefully brought down by Darkseid, waiting for the moment, the place to find her at her most vulnerable and steal away her defiant will to live and lead, forcing her to submit.

Diana roams the streets of Central City in a quartet of powerful Furies - Catwoman, Giganta and Batwoman. Pray you never cross her path. The Amazon thirsts for prey.

#70 is a Round 10 pick - high relative value for this level a spot!

One session ended on a cliffhanger with us running into her, and then we had to wait like 3 weeks for the resolution because of scheduling. Then Spirit ended up almost getting hanged by the Lasso of Truth until the Rogues saved us.

As for the next drop... maybe it's a SQUIRE DROP!

The Wonder Woman cliffhanger was one of the best 'well shit, that's not good' moments of the campaign.

Wonder Woman was an early campaign gut punch. There were a lot of things bad, but for the most part, we had mysteries. One mystery was: where is Earth's mightiest woman?

And we found out. And that really helped set in the dire circumstances we were in

Wonder Woman's reveal was heart breaking and caught in your throat. It was so good.

Having Lashina possibly be a blue Lantern on our side in time is a fun plot point I think we should go after

Ice rating over Fire is very unexpected but the write up makes sense as to why

Fastbreak posted...

Having Lashina possibly be a blue Lantern on our side in time is a fun plot point I think we should go after

First you need to find the Blue Lanterns.

Unless you guys have and no one told me!

Maniac64 posted...

First you need to find the Blue Lanterns.

Unless you guys have and no one told me!

We have.

We're just missing the orange lanterns now.

And we haven't done the origin mission for the Sinestro Corps, but we've met a few.

Inviso posted...

We have.

We're just missing the orange lanterns now.

!

Thoughts on the Blues? I assume you met Saint Walker? Did Brother Warth make an appearance?

Saint Walker essentially saved Bloodfruit as she was about to take a slice from Attrocitus that would have cleaved her in two trying to protect a Green Lantern they were going to kill. They then took us to their homeworld where there was only a handful of them, but I believe Brother Warth was one of them.

A perfect first meeting with the Blues lol. I see being friends with both the Reds and Greens is going well.

Warth is a big Elephant man if that helps.

Yes, he made a fun elephant noise.

Maniac64 posted...

A perfect first meeting with the Blues lol. I see being friends with both the Reds and Greens is going well.

Warth is a big Elephant man if that helps.

Sersy is there too. As someone unfamiliar with the Blue Lanterns outside of Saint Walker and also only listening in on the session, my ears perked up wondering why nobody was freaking out over Circe of all people being a Blue Lantern.

...Of course, it was Sersy, not Circe, and scar got a laugh at the realization when I brought it up post-session that Sersy and Circe sound the same.

#70 - Captain Cold
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/9/0/5/AAcguBAADnbB.png
He would never betray you.

A Rogue is a Rogue until they die - or until they cross another Rogue. But Cold has always had a strange, twisted form of honor, and he doesnt break the rules. Not ever. From his first days menacing Barry Allen to the last days of Wallys tenure as the Flash, Cold has always held true to center tenets. You dont go after kids. You dont go after wives. Its about the masks. Its about the jobs. But fuck with Cold? All bets are off. And Cold, leader of the Rogues, is willing to lie, betray, cheat, steal and kill anyone outside of his own nuclear family, the Rogues, if they step in the way of his goals or break his own rules. This includes the Society leaders who put him up against Bart Allen as the Flash, and when Cold discovered that he had killed a kid, he went apeshit, bringing the rest of his Rogues into hiding, where they bide their time and plan for revenge. The sort of Rogues revenge that only the Rogues can manage.

Honestly, this is a pretty good ranking for a character that only has appeared maybe three times thus far in the campaign. Captain Cold is the icy, steel mind that coldly calculates the moves of DC's most mercenary, unpredictable supergroup. In fact, it might almost be fair to say that the fate of two entire cities rests in the next thing Cold decides to do. After having taken the fall for a crime he didn't want to commit, the entire playbook that guided the Rogues' hands has gone out the window, and Cold is trapped for the first time with a conscience. He cannot reconcile his actions, knowing that his rage is justified, but his guilt cannot be assuaged. The faint formation of a conscience may very well make Captain Cold the most dangerous version of himself that ever existed.

Obviously, there is a certain connection between Brennus and Cold - firstly, I think Brennus might be a little attracted to the fellow. And then there's the tiniest of possibilities that Varra and Cold have had more to their relationship than what was revealed in No Man's Land as well. She never really could stay away from the man who betrayed her at least thrice before, after all. It all congeals into an abject mess. Really, just a complicated, messy situation. I love it immensely, and I always look forward to the savviest of the Rogues when the party travels to Keystone, where he can easily snipe at their goody-two-shoes mentality and get away with it.

Someone could have drafted this next Convoy character and earned 32 points for their troubles.

there is a very real chance that in this campaign Captain Cold would never betray us, because we wouldn't trick him into killing a kid

That said, this pick could be...La Llarona?

I love Cold so much. MI's attraction to the character started due to his attraction to Wentworth Miller's portrayal but Scar has done such a great job presenting the character that I've stayed hooked. There's so many hints that Snart and Varra had a fling in-between campaigns and it's killing me to not know what happened! Very recently Penguin also hinted that Snart could be influential in helping understand what led Varra to where she is as a Fury now but also in helping her and argh we need to get back to the Twin Cities soon.

If it's La Llarona it would be really funny because I was debating between her and Cold for my 10th round pick. If they rank back-to-back after that...!

My Cold voice attempts to at least affect some of Wentworth Miller's style and mannerisms for the character as well!

Gotta bring up the time Radio Tuner (who also happens to be a round 10 draft) made him sing to the tune of I'll Make a Man Out of You. That was great.

Snart and the Rogues are just a really cool group to be involved with. They are clear in their stance, and somehow united in it. Suicide Squad, Secret Six... And the Rogues? We get them onboard, we have the best teams the Society could want.

#69 - Encantadora
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/5/1/9/AAJ38fAAEEIv.jpg
Who else would be #69?

Encantadora considers herself the kryptonite sorceress, capable of conjuring up great magicks using alien stones from the planet Krypton. Originally a menace to Superman thanks to her cross-purpose with Supermans desire to eradicate kryptonite, Encantadora was in Juarez when El Paso attacked, and she joined with La Llorona as a result of that. However, she never felt particular kinship with the water elemental, and when the opportunity arose, Encantadora chose to slip away and join the refugees in Zonn Zorr, where she spends her days preparing her spells unimpeded.

Encantadora has quickly become one of my favorite supporting characters in Oblivion. Her oozing sexuality is often used to manipulate not just the players but the other NPCs as well, and her quick acceptance into the Shadowpact has caused no end of irritation to Enchantress, who has quickly (and silently) come to take on a role as Encantadora's rival within the smoky bar. But Encantadora seems to feast on the animosity as much as she does the power of kryptonite. Perhaps some of Enchantress' hatred stems from the fact that Encantadora has gone into the field and ingratiated herself with the Spec Ops team, utilizing her abilities in as much a mercenary way as she can. Work for kryptonite; that's the standard refrain of Encantadora, who is willing to take on just about any minor assignment in the arcane vein, so long as a piece of that delicious, delectable kryptonite is being supplied in trade.

Encantadora is cool, confident and sexy, and that trio of traits seems to really alter the chemistry of the most important recurring haunt of the campaign. Though this is a relatively short little write-up, I can't stress enough, Encantadora has huge potential, and there isn't a single scene with her thus far that hasn't been a treat to participate in.

#68 comes straight out of Round 8.