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

(+) Yeah! (+)

Maniac64 posted...

How quickly did the characters realize Foal is like Brennus?

When he said 'My father'

#86 - Nightshade
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/9/7/8/AAQcMAAADjC6.png
The ultimate burrito.

It took me some time finally nail down exactly the voice, the mannerisms, the overall package of Nightshade. But when I realized, eventually, that she was simply the bitchiest version of Mary-Louise Parker imaginable, it fell into place quickly. And Mary-Louise Parker fits Nightshade like a glove. She sits back in the dimmest corner of Oblivion left by its inimitable decorating staff, feet kicked up on a footrest of a barca lounger made of shadows, sipping loudly at an inky drink with a straw that, if just lowered a half inch, would plunge into her drink and be far less of an annoying noise maker. Black Alice adores Nightshade, and oddly, Eve Eden seems to be the most skilled of the various mentors in Oblivion, capable of restraining Alice and keeping her thirsting for more from her rather one-note powered teacher.

Nightshade lobs verbal criticisms that are quite vicious, occasionally bordering on threatening. Especially with Silhouette, who she has promised to murder multiple times. Yet, it comes with this measure smile and casual hint of confidence in her voice that she just... gets away with it. And you can't blame her - Nightshade's truly violent side is reserved for her own family (she killed her own brother in cold blood) and anyone with darkness-based or shadow-originating abilities. She possesses no qualms about simply stating plainly that she will rid the Earth of anyone with abilities like hers - that they always corrupt, absolutely, and the only way for them to be dealt with is certain, final death. She even tried to skewer the Kryptonite Woman when Eclipso's gem had infiltrated her bloodstream. And you know... now that I think about? Nightshade's reservations might have proven entirely valid. Just look at the state of the world, the campaign of ill fortune waged by Jean Loring and her powers of twilight. Maybe Nightshade isn't as barking mad as some people seem to think...

And yet there is still another wonderful, delightful aspect to Eve. She's a politician's kid, a wealthy socialite that has grown up in the superhero brat pack. From a young age, she was tested, treated and prepared to be a government-backed hero. As a result, Eve has really never known a life outside heroics. She's mentored many (including Rosetta), she's served in teams ranging from the LAW to the Suicide Squad to the Force of July, and in her downtime? Well, the black of her powers must extend to her credit card, for Eve is a clotheshorse of unrepentant desires. And holding on constantly to her Starbucks-esque inky drink, it's easy to see how all of this turns her back to the Mary-Louise Parker in all of it. Eve can be catty, she can be insulting, she can be threatening, but she's never without a smile, never without an easy control of herself and her demeanor. Even when she's attempting murder on an injured ally, well... there's a playfulness to it.

What a wonderful, horrible person. But I don't want to get into the weeds on it.

Next up is another undrafted!

Eve and Roz'etta talked about weed.

Eve is anti-weed, but she isn't anti-calling Roz'etta a prude for not trying it once, like all good aliens learning about humanity should do.

She's really the best mentor.

Han is on the board!

Nightshade is appropriately dismal as her powers would indicate. She seems to err as dark as she can while still being a hero.

Going to say this is a good place for Journal or Mitchell to drop

I'll always guess Oracle until she shows... even if she doesn't...

scarletspeed7 posted...

#86 - Nightshade

Fuuuuuu

Fun fact (that I might have mentioned in my writeups but can't remember) Nightshade was the first character Bloodfruit (accidentally) used her powers in

That's so rude of her

My brain tries to combine Nightshade and Nocturna into one character. Obviously I know they aren't. But for some reason l find myself thinking ah yes Nightshade, head of the Suicide Squad and then have to correct myself.

TotallyNotMI posted...

My brain tries to combine Nightshade and Nocturna into one character. Obviously I know they aren't. But for some reason l find myself thinking ah yes Nightshade, head of the Suicide Squad and then have to correct myself.

I mean that's pretty fair, given they have similar appearance/color scheme, similar name, AND they were even both Suicide Squaders!

They both are into fashion

#85 - Lucifer Morningstar
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/7/7/7/AAJ38fAAEFa5.jpg
The fallen star.

A hefty dose of recency bias does a dollop of good for dear ol' Luci, that handsome, incorrigible son of a god. Introduced way, way back in the opening weeks of the campaign, Lucifer sang and danced his way into the memories of the party, participating in some great early memories of the Final Crisis. But, for whatever, reason, he was largely forgotten from that point forward. That was until the Story Line, where he returned with a huge musical number rammed right down the throat of the Spectre. To my understanding, that really drove up a renewed interest in the devil retired.

The crux of Lucifer's role in the campaign is this - a prodigal son, searching for peace. Lucifer left Hell because, according to him, he was bored. But as is often the truth with the Prince of Lies, there's a mixture of deception and honesty in that answer. For the longest day, I imagine players like Vis assumed he was just a suave but ultimately incorrigible flirt, drinking and pianoing his way through the Apokolips - erm, apocalypse. But the truth is far more complicated than that.

Sure, the man gave up his position as the master of all evil, the Prince of Hell itself - never king, mind you, because a king has to be responsible and never gets to enjoy the spoils of his majestic position in the way an irresponsible prince is allowed. This prince in particularly certainly harbored resentment for his father, a particular Lord of Lords. And when he returned to the limelight, Lucifer revealed to his little brother Aztar that father had not been particularly doting to either of them - so why should they maintain what little decorum they had and continue to fulfill their eternal punishment to dear old absentee dad?

Now, Lucifer has begun to wonder if there might be more for him in this universe. As the song he loves to sing most suggests, Lucifer is a stranger, staring right betweeen the eyes of those courageous enough to gaze back, and he clearly has found something in humanity worth exploring. He's begun to lament that it may end before he has a chance to explore that possibility... and maybe that's why he offered, for the first time ever, a fair deal, one to a party of Checkmate agents searching for a way to defeat brother Spectre, no matter the cost.

The cost appears to be a single silver shekel, a particular coin of particular importance to Lucifer. But will the players pay the toll?

In the meantime, Lucifer, hopefully, plays the part of the force of nature declining to be forceful or entirely natural to their eternal part. Perhaps the largest wild card in this campaign, Luci has a lot to offer, whether it be consigning a soul to Hell for smudging a rug, hiring out old school No Man's Land villains for the purpose of serving drinks at his bar, or perhaps simply to be coolly cryptic, strolling about his empty nightclub Lux while the city of Los Angeles literally burns around him. And what would be more emblematic for the City of Angels in the state it's in than playing host to a neutral observer like Lucifer Morningstar?

A drafted character will fall.

He wasn't forgotten! We planned to visit him against when we went back to LA to search for Jade, but then Firefly and Not Firefly and Joe Hollywood got involved...

otherwise, there's been some desire to fit in a non-Metamorpho LA for awhile. Not to mention that Singapore had two people mark LA for visiting Lucifer

Is Lucifer really irredeemable?

Roz'etta feels sympathetic to his plight, and a desire to do some sort of good is one of the things instilled in her by H'ronmeer as something worth nurturing, so Lucifer's winning her over.

Regular Luci I feel like we will make him a real ally down the line in the fight against The Spectre, but I don't know how long that relationship stays well for us

Spirit has a favor to ask from Lucifer to help with a patient but we gotta find his coin first. I'm looking forward to seeing how that goes

I don't think we've talked about possibilibaby

A Lucifer write-up without mentioning his supposed daughter in Singapore? I'm extremely interested in her story, personally. Lucifer being an "incorrigible flirt" is just a lovely side dish.

I can't wait honestly to have one of my characters meet Lucifer. With both having their own curious connections to demons of Hell (most particularly Neron) and Lucifer is... just such an interesting character. It's just a wonder if they get the chance to even ask about some particular situations or something else.

Lucifer is near the top of NPCs Brennus needs to meet list. He might even be the top.

#84 - Doctor Light (Kimiyo Hoshi)
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/5/8/3/AAUHRBAAEXrv.jpg
Beware her anger.

Kimiyo Hoshi was blasted with light from her own observatory telescope, channeling the power of the star Vega through suddenly acquired abilities. As a working single mother, Hoshi jungle home life, work life and a life of heroics, becoming the first Justice Leaguer from Japan, before devoting her efforts to her company and work at home. After the original Doctor Light regained his memories, he traveled to Japan and tortured Hoshi, murdering her children in front of her. After this trauma, Hoshi retired from public life entirely, giving up her costume for good - until a group of Checkmate agents foisted her back into the limelight.

Doctor Light's most important relationship is with Minerva who, in most Doctor Light scenes, follows her around carrying books or personal possessions in a large stack, calling her 'Hoshi-san' or 'sensei', taking her former employment as Doctor Light's children's sitter to heart and performing the duties as an assistant to the terrifying Doctor. And used the correct word. Doctor Light is terrifying. Only Amanda Waller can stand up to Hoshi-san. The phrase 'dragon lady' really has never been more properly used than when describing Kimiyo. Fearsome, violent, constantly angry - furious really, more than anything else. Doctor Light gives the more well-known Doctor Light a run for his money, and that guy may very well be the creepiest fellow to ever exist.

But the real nightmare remains Kimiyo. She's not spoiled or bratty - she's earned her hair-trigger temper. But Kimiyo holds so much power and sway as the greatest hero of Japan that she has developed a personality that is cold, cruel and accepts nothing less than perfection in those she deals with. Especially given the recent fall of Japan, Kimiyo has even more reason to demand much from those around her. And there is a return of investment - Kimiyo leads a field team that has been forging fuck-ups into fearsome warriors as they protect the northern islands of Japan from invasion by parademon forces and Equated under the command of Justeen and Heggra, Darkseid's mother. Those who she leads, like Black Alice, begrudgingly admit that no matter the chip on Kimiyo's shoulder, she only ever offers valuable advice - the source that keeps them alive. Even the hapless, witless Thom Kallor has learned a thing or two thanks to Kimiyo.

Most amusingly, Brennus was forced to suffer a concussion more or less thanks to Doctor Light in order to earn a spell. That's right; a roil of wild magic resided within her very soul, and the only way to coax it out was to piss of Doctor Light to such a level that the magic burst forth like one of her highly-ionized blasts of light.

As the campaign has progressed, we've seen the recruitment of some truly valuable heroes into the fold of Z'onn Z'orr. But aside from perhaps Black Canary, none really carries the gravity of being a top tier A-List hero like Doctor Light - Justice Leaguer, prominent Japanese superstar, and the angriest human being you've ever met. Mera? A Red Lantern? Hell, she's got nothing on Kimiyo Hoshi.

Go on. Take a shot at her, make a crack at her kids' death. You dare?

A character from Round 9 falls.

scarletspeed7 posted...

Only Amanda Waller can stand up to Hoshi-san.

We should count Vostok here too. They had a confrontation recently which Minerva got involved with, resulting in Minerva getting a full blast of Hoshi's intimidation point blank. Here's an excerpt of it:

Her eyes contain every terrifying horror in the known and unknown world, all of it concentrated into an intense focus aimed right in your direction.

Doctor Light was a huge get. She got consigned to the front immediately but still is a really powerful presence to have.

Despite the way things have gone between her and Brennus I really enjoy her. I had so much dread knowing what I'd have to do to get that spell.

Doctor Light has been co-opted into Task Force Z under the guise of having a chance to beat the shit out of --or kill-- the other Doctor Light

I believe Doctor Light was who I thought would fall from Wickle's list later

I think out of the round 9 options I can see my Ted Kord dropping

Tomorrow Woman is learning from Doctor Light.

It is...going.

Given that we've just recently lost Nightshade, I feel like it would be ironic and fun if Nocturna was the one who went out as a similarly-close character.

#83 - Devlin Davenport
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/6/2/7/AAJ38fAAEFoL.png
I'm cheating on a few of these rankings, and just repost the few rankings from last list. Saves you all some time!

Rewind to Campaign 1. In the wreckage of Gotham City, No Man's Land arose. The rich generally migrated to the territory of the Penguin, wherein they would be plied with food and drink as exquisite as manageable in exchange for exorbitant prices - prices that were fair, considering the valueless currency that were used in trade. Among these foppish so-and-so's was the layabout and wastrel known as Devlin Davenport. Once the owner of a highly lucrative property business and namesake of the Gotham skyline's famous Davenport Tower, Devlin was a drinker, a carouser, and altogether a thorn in the party's side. He ended up running for mayor against the Cluemaster in a bid that likely gave the Cluemaster enough ammunition to engineer an absolute blowout in the election, and Davenport fell onto even harder times. Eventually, he found himself nearly penniless, harrassed and harangued by Catwoman and her new partner, and his story ended in dismal obscurity.

Until Campaign 2. Devlin Davenport's fortunes experienced a sudden resurgence at the hands of Simon Hurt, and all Davenport had to provide in exchange was his undying loyalty and willingness to destroy everything Bruce Wayne represented. Easy enough. Swearing fealty to the Court of Owls, Davenport became part of Gotham's new upper-crust, administering one of the few remaining clubs in the world - and certainly in Gotham. A sign of the times to be sure, but certainly not ranking worthy... until she walked in. Pepper Spray.

Aka... Alyssa Davenport.

You see, I'd been sitting on this for a while. Inviso started to explore this - maybe as a lark - earlier on, but the connection between Devlin and Alyssa was more than simply a shared surname. The reality was this - Alyssa was the niece of the black sheep of the family, Devlin Davenport. His riches did not dwarf his arrogant attitude, and Devlin was largely exiled and shunned by the more religiously proper side of his family. But Devlin had a soft spot for the brainy girl from Texas by way of Utah. And when she wandered into his club, the once morally bankrupt wealthy socliaite demonstrated, for the first time, a heart. He warned Pepper and her friends away and urged them to beat tracks with haste. But they weren't fast enough. And after being chased up into a partially-completed skyscraper, they were cornered. It looked liked doom was on-hand...

...until a Talon of the Court arrived. Devlin Davenport.

That's right. All of these years of Devlin later, and suddenly there's something new to the character. Metahuman powers, an impressive suit of armor, and the conviction to protect someone he cares about.

So know we have an in to the Court of Owls, Simon Hurt's loyal inner circle. Powerful beings, Talons are, and they've turned Gotham, and many other cities, into these nests of intense protection. But the chink of the armor is family - and Pepper may have found a way to do business with Devlin. Since then, Devlin has appeared twice, including once at a massive stand-off with many sides, where Devlin essentially betrayed the Court to protect Pepper once more against Equated, Society and Eclipsed alike. It seems that, after some conversations, we may have our first alliance between Checkmate and the Court. Furthermore... Pepper may have interest in joining the Court with her uncle as well.

He's not good. He's not evil. He may only be self-serving even in protecting his niece. But Devlin Davenport has become one of my favorite, suddenly complex gray characters in the post-Apokoliptic wasteland of Darkseid's America.

Round 6 loses a draftee.

Okay, I'm on the board now. Hopefully this isn't Kobra making me lose two in a row in the 80s.

Vis left Devlin for the last round so I figured he didn't want him, so I took him. Though to Vis's credit his 9th round pick was Ari, who I expect to still make it.

Uncle Devlin <3

In terms of pure value, a 9th rounder in the 80s is right on the target, theoretically.

Devlin's a great act. Weirdly, he's at his best when we don't expect to find him. When we stumble into him, every bit of Pepper's awkwardness is matched by him, and in those moments you can really see the family resemblance.

scarletspeed7 posted...

In terms of pure value, a 9th rounder in the 80s is right on the target, theoretically.

I suppose so! Which is why I hope this 6th rounder isn't mine :)

Rex or Mento is where I'm leaning for this one

I hope its not Rex yet! Hes best Pappa!

Devlin adds a human side to the Court of Owls that we sorely needed - to help provide perspective

A top 10er of a previous list falls in the 80s with Devlin. Lots of shakeups to be had!

#82 - Rex the Wonder Dog
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/8/2/1/AAOJ0pAADYwN.png
Puppy Forever.

We've heard the tale of Rex and Artemis, the minute-by-minute parentage that has spanned two campaigns now. The current story of Rex the Wonder Dog is that age-old tale of no good going unpunished. In the onset of Kobra's arrival of the campaign, dozens were killed, wounded, maimed and captured in Z'onn Z'orr. Data 7 was nearly victim of an unexpected gunshot, were it not for the sudden reaction of Rex to leap in front of his son and take the bullet. Rex was saved, but his eternal youth has begun to ebb away as a result - and Data 7's primary concern now is to reach the Fountain of Youth and bring Rex back its healing waters, to restore his papa.

The tale of this very good dog and his very good boy, Danny, is a tale told over the course of decades. Yet it's in these potential final weeks that Rex has come to realize that has priorities must be realigned. Rex cares very deeply for his son Artemis - though there are times that Artemis, like any young pup, can be easily distracted by the exciting new sights and smells around him. He also cares very deeply for the orphan Spirit, as well. While Rex is a medic dog and Spirit is a doctor, there naturally has formed a bond in regards to those commonalities. But there is another bond with Spirit - one shared by Artemis and Rex's longtime companion Danny.

Orphans. Rex is a patron saint of sorts to orphans, whether human or dogs. In fact, Rex has spent decades as a best friend. Spirit, I think, really has a deep bond with Rex. There's this tiny flourish, a rather small detail, between Rex and Spirit I love - Spirit will hold his hand out to pet Rex, and Rex lifts his head, rubbing against Spirit's palm, petting himself. There's a certain youthfulness and enthusiasm in this very old dog, something that yearns to share with a young human friend, a companion - something that has been left dorman and fallow as a result of Danny's current egg-shaped incarceration.

But beyond Spirit, there is a very different orphan relationship - that of Data 7. You would be forgiven for believing Rex is the actual father by blood of Artemis, given their physical similarities. But Artemis has glommed onto Rex as a stepfather, a found father figure who has, through his own difficulties in accepting this sudden role, truly found a passion for providing love and care to Artemis. Despite being separated for several years, their reunion has been natural, expected and sweet.

Yet in this time of great pain, the sundowning Rex has begun to fail. His rambunctious internal puppy is giving way to a graying, tired older dog who has begun to become quite exhausted. And anyone who has ever had a dog knows that the final years, where energy begins to fail, can be quite painful to witness. Rex's years are catching up with him - decades of adventuring, of war stories and globetrotting explorations, of stories told with humans and chimpanzees and dogs and cats finally taking their toll from our dear friend.

Rex has been sidelined a bit as a result, but I think Rex's story is one of the most heartwrenching. Data 7's presently is a quest to reverse time itself, to turn tail at the inevitable march of aging. Can Artemis teach this old dog one last new trick?

An undrafted character falls at #81! Or, in another words, twenty times the point total Scare earned for Count Vertigo could have been picked up here.

do I need to say I'm feeling attacked?

I'm very attacked

And Rex is a good boy!

Poor Rex. That comment about orphans almost makes me want to invite him to the orphan get together that Spirit arranged, but I don't think he'll have the energy for it.

I feel attacked on behalf of my father

Pepper loves Rex too, because he's a good dog like her dog Buddy. Also, Rex has a fun past, hanging out with Pepper's boyfriend and doing keg play deads.

Poor Rex.

I'd also be remiss to mention one of the Devlin Davenport scenes included us at his house. I'm a player that struggles to just do... simple actions during a scene but Devlin had Minerva make... Martinis was it? Either way, I had to have Minerva slowly contemplating taking his gin bottle since he told us to help ourselves. One of the few times I decided to be proactive in a scene without being a main talker in a scene.

As for Doctor Light, not much to add to the topic. Kimiyo Hoshi was one of the contacts I put on Minerva early on to give me an excuse to be connected to the character. A connection that the reasoning behind it may become clear later on. They're truly mentor and student, as Minerva was once in Japan for extracurriculars and ended up babysitting Kimiyo's two children. A shock Minerva would suffer when she learned that the children were murdered in the time she was in the tanks that we woke up in.

We need to stop the topic now and move on to not have to be told to play Undertale

Rex thought Saoirse might be a bad girl, but he was too tired to bark at her and accepted her gift of noms and company.

Also Undertale is overrated

Pick me up (in the next topic)!

Pour one out for Blackbat!