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

(+) Yeah! (+)

Knightley was another I considered taking!

I, too, thought of him but figured he'd be low on this list if on it at all. Still higher than my Bane pick, but I was accurate.

I'm stalling on any follow-up with him. He deserves to fester for a bit.

As much as I do want to see where his story goes I'm so so so excited to find where Arion went and where his story will go. Even if he wants to kill Brennus!

Knightley is also one I highly considered

Knightley's story is neat, and I can't help but wonder if part of Arion's anger at everyone was them thinking this total buffoon was actually him.

WarThaNemesis2 posted...

Knightley's story is neat, and I can't help but wonder if part of Arion's anger at everyone was them thinking this total buffoon was actually him.

Oh 100%. I think he basically said as much to Brennus. That I should be punished for falling for the facade as long as I did.

Yay Knightley!

That's really interesting about how he got Brennus to teach him spells and Bloodfruit to give him potions.

#95 - Helm of Fate
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/8/6/7/AAUHRBAAEWiD.png

Harnesser of the Cosmos, Director of the Winds of Wizardry, Antonym of Horripulation, prognosticator of fortune, mastercrafter of ley, intolerable bane of chaos, masked menace of the underworld, golden-capped guru of the arcane, plupotentate of the mid-realm beyond, educator of the Upper Kingdom of Egypt, He Who Shouts Down Typhon, founder of the Justice Society, beacon of universal tranquility, author of the epitaph of demon Shathan, wielder of the Ankhs of Life, sorcerer supreme, unbounded imagineer of the Tower of Fate, chronograph of the rivers Time and Space, essayer of the defense of humanity, manipulator of the stars above, first gestator of the tranquil peace, keeper of the legends untold, trapper of the profane dialect of Ur, owner of the gateless spire of vigilance,the guide of destiny, the shepherd of humanity, the guardian against the tidal forces of cosmic horror, regent of the innerspace, vigilant watchmen of the words of eternity, blazing totem of orderly hope, the Dream-Emperor of Possibility, the Sometimes-Mistress of Elysian Mystery, the Oft-Worshipped Timeless Scion of Hidden Histories, the michiilidda of the Incan remnants, capitol defender of the white ivory streets, last bastion of rhyme in the delving depths of Limerick, haunting visage of domination, half-man half-god of orderliness, the straightener of the Crooked Road, sixth defender of the sixth planet, starward gazer of firmament, contemplator of the universal navel, the Crowned Head of the the Fourth Age, the Overlord Above the Typhon Flock, Prince-Majesty of the World-Bringers and World-Enders, the Tidecaller, enemy of the avian half-men, medicine warrior of the Impa Ree, the gunpowder that lit the Soulsea tinder, the shopper of the eternal Supremart, the Botanic Panic, the Arch-Combatant of the Nirnrealm, the Fortitudicous of the Hawk Justicar, Honorary Edge Master to the Splendiferous Atollo Roo.

Why rank the Helm of Fate? I've come to really enjoy the wraiths of the campaign, ghosts doling out some lingering, melancholy advice as their memories fade into obsolescence. The Helm of Fate, the last relic connecting Nabu to the present, I think, carries a heavy weight for the Eighth Age rebellions. But there is also something uncanny about a helm that possesses no visible facial reactions playing the role of a mentor, a teacher. It's horrifying to stare into those deep black pools and receive no emotion back. You can't trust that your heart is on the same wavelength as the Helm - or that the Helm even can feel any longer. Its responses may just be an echo of a slowly-dissipating spirit that once inhabited it; how can you really be sure? Yet, the studious young mages who are working with the Helm have discovered there is a great depth of wisdom beneath the inscrutable golden headwear.

I think so many of the most fascinating characters to present in this campaign are objects. Khaji Da, Starsa, Radio Tuner, Stitchentyme and the Helm of Fate. These beings are so alien as to present not just strange cultures, but something beyond that. There is no commonality in existence between a human and a hat. Yet, we try to find those commonalities anyways; we're desperate to humanize and empathize with everything we witness. We see a cat's stare and immediately connote human emotions on it - a grumpy cat, a fraid-y cat, whatever it is, we have to identify with it, to exchange that emotional language on our terms.

But ultimately the constituency of the Helm of Fate, all of the attached history and decorations, everything accomplished by Nabu, Kent Nelson and so many others under the auspices of the Lord of Order, it all is meaningless now. A new age erases relevancy entirely - and the remnants of Doctor Fate - everything that was in the head of Nabu - now faces a new scrutiny. I see the Helm as largely callous to the feelings of characters like Saoirse, Brennus and others. But I'm drawn to that detachment. The Helm has existed so long that its perception of time is not measured in days, but eons. Not even the rising of the sun and the sunset have the same meaning between you and I and the Helm of Fate. All of this from a hat that was simply the central focus of a heist out of Las Vegas.

Permanent or impermanent, the Helm nevertheless has become a character that I admit is one of my favorite additions to the campaign of the year 2022.

#94 was drafted.

Kent and Brennus were training once and I rolled a nat 1 dodge.

Turns out the Helm didn't train with kid gloves on and I was impaled with some ankhs.

Oops.

scarletspeed7 posted...

I think so many of the most fascinating characters to present in this campaign are objects. Khaji Da, Starsa, Radio Tuner, Stitchentyme and the Helm of Fate.

Hopefully that's a good sign for my last draft.

I hope the Helm will be satisfied with the outcome of whatever we do in Egypt.

Helm of Fate is great. Nabu has some of the best narration in the campaign. And while we're all learning from the various Shadowpact members... turns out, despite Nabu being callous to feelings, it results in him being just incredibly practical and useful.

The Shadowpact members are moody. Nabu is just perfectly focused.

There really is just something charming about going and having a conversation with a hat.

I mean, a helmet.

Roz'etta went to talk to the Helm about a burial urn she found, and about Tali.

Trying to figure out what the deal was with Arion lead to some very good story development between Blue Devil and Lush. It was fun.

Helm of Fate I really enjoy the millions of ways he addresses himself in narration. I thought he may he higher than Kent or Martina, more likely I was just wrong.

WickIebee posted...

I'm stalling on any follow-up with him. He deserves to fester for a bit.

Let Knightley simmer IMO!

It's funny that he's probably safer now than before stuck in the gem, but I assume less than happy about his current situation. I'm curious where his story goes now.

Minerva not really being as connected to the magic world makes me have less reason to go to Fate. I feel like if she saw Mordru a second time herself she would go to him perhaps, since she talked to Alan Scott about that whole thing.

Cody11533 posted...

Let Knightley simmer IMO!

It's funny that he's probably safer now than before stuck in the gem, but I assume less than happy about his current situation. I'm curious where his story goes now.

As for this, yes. When I visited him during RP bingo, Alice took on Arion's magic (I think his magic) and shoved Minerva into the crystal. Where he downright begged Minerva to let him out of there talking about how scary and lonely it was in there.

#94 - Starro the Cat
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/4/8/6/AAblU3AADtbG.jpg
Starro Face?

Look at that expression. You can't deny her. Starro will gaze directly into your soul, peer past your defenses and look upon your true face.

I adore the accountant-cat of Big Troubles, the now business savvy little lady that just tries her best in the name of a rat and his criminal aspirations. And maybe she has a little crush on Data 7 to boot - that probably plays a small part in her willingness to schlep up to the surface of Antarctica, willing to brave its harsh icy surface just to watch bigger dogs drag magazines of ammunition and stockpiles of abandoned missiles back to base for less-than-nefarious purposes. Starro is a gal of many stripes, despite possessing merely an almost albino-white coat.

In fact, the brewing internal conflict of Starro - her love of Snapper which has clearly been a monomania for the feline for most of her life versus being enamored with a bad dog - really has caused Starro to blossom from the very get-go. Every minor interaction Starro has with others, whether player character or NPC alike, seems to further explore Starro's development and her unspoken bravery. I think it's easy for us to forget that Starro managed to cross half the country in those early, most dangerous weeks under Darkseid's sweeping authority, all to reach Snapper. No matter the cost, Starro hitched in the back of pickups, on the roof of semis, crawled through gutters and cornfields alike, all because she had faith enough that she knew she would find her owner again. That alone, I think, is one of the more heroic and epic sagas that has yet to really be explored at all in the campaign. Starro really, truly loves Snapper. Maybe it borders just shy of romantic love, maybe there's something less comfortable about how her love manifests. Hell, maybe it's just Snapper's natural connection with cat ladies that has pervaded throughout the story of the campaign. But one thing is for certain - Starro would move heaven and Earth for that snappin' teleportin' wild and crazy guy.

Even now that she's returned to Snapper's loving, doting arms, Starro has yet to slow down even for a moment. Her suspicions of Snapper's new lady-friend Lush and - more aggressively - her pursuit to dominate Lush's prim and proper pet, Pixie, has been a curiously enjoyable exploration of that decidedly catlike mercurial nature. And then there's Data 7, that dopey dog that doesn't recognize just how much Starro has taken a shine to him. Perhaps even Starro doesn't fully realize how much she feels for Data - but she's gone to great lengths, just for him, without hope of any reciprocity. She's faced down King Shark, she's taken up a career she never expected, and she's fought tooth and nail against a giant, evil penguin - Hell, she even managed to roll decently enough to actually contribute to the fight against the jetpack-wearing bird.

All in all, Starro has grown and changed, explored new facets of her personality, and it stems for her split love, her attentions divided between Snapper and Data. But will one side win out over another? Unlike Pixie, Starro doesn't exactly receive the trademarked pestering that Data often pushes towards the golden pup, which means that much of Starro's development is forged in self-discovery. In fact, I'm fascinated by the independence involved in Starro's slow expansion of her horizons. Much like Snapper, there's a hidden courage within his cat. I can't wait to see just how far she can be inspired to push forward.

And just wait until Starro is reunited with Banananama.

Starro loves her tie

Weirdly I think I'm so used to Starro being used as a meme I sometimes forget all the backstory to her

I love the recent moment of Brennus paying Starro to comfort Freddy

Starro the Cat should not be confused with Starro the Conqueror, who we recently met.

...One Starro is a lot cuter than the other.

Oh dang, I got baited on this one. I thought for sure Starro would be way higher. She was my sleeper pick.

Starro ranked, so she was still a better pick than a lot of the second set of picks.

But I had the INTEL! I was hoping it'd net me more than 7 points is all =p

Zigzagoon posted...

But I had the INTEL! I was hoping it'd net me more than 7 points is all =p

Turns out your intel was actually about Starro the Conqueror...

#93 - AJ Curry
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/4/7/5/AAOJ0pAADW9b.jpg
The once and future king.

Arthur Joseph Curry is an aberration, a mistake perhaps originating from that ever-mysterious concept of the Wall Punch or even an unknowing refugee of the Bleed. What he certainly isn't is the real Arthur Curry, the son of a King of Atlantis and his queen-consort, raised by a humble lighthouse keeper, eventually going on to achieve great deeds of derring-do. No. Instead, he's a young man, fresh in a churning sea, tossed by the storms of time and tide, and unsure what role he holds in this Crisis. In fact, one might say that AJ just wants someone to show him his place in all this. But that's so much easier done than said. Scratch that. Reverse it.

Imagine the unenviable weight thrust on AJ by Aquaman's presence. Arthur Joseph Curry lingers in the looming shadow of one of the world's greatest heroes, a man supremely successful not just as a superhero and member (sometimes leader) of the Justice League, but also the ruler of the largest nation in the world, 3/4th of its surface, comprising millions upon millions upon millions of beings, from Atlanteans, to merfolk to the very fish of the sea. AJ's predecessor united seven city-states, repelled back enemies large and small, from Black Manta to Ocean Master to Triton himself. Aquaman endured unimaginable losses - his son, his hand, even a chunk of his own life to indentured servitude.

So the question is, will AJ break from this incessant comparison, or can he become someone else entirely? Already, AJ has started in a position far-removed from Aquaman; permanently attached at the hip to Nanaue, the King Shark, AJ's companionship with a being that should otherwise be chewing up and spitting out the people of Z'onn Z'orr like they're brief aperitifs on long, delicious menu. With a villain his closest friend and ally, AJ starts in a position of rebellion to the norm. This comes as a result of AJ simply not knowing the beings of Earth's sea or surface alike. At least most of them, by the looks of things. You can achieve fantastic goals when you don't realize there's a hurdle in front of you on the path to success. AJ, in some ways, exemplifies why young people often break records in sports or have grand wins - they just don't know any better to be scared or to lose. They haven't been taught to fail yet.

But AJ has reached a wall of sorts - Minerva. In many ways, Minerva is kind of a villain on AJ's path. She's taken his sword and his heart, and in their places, offered nothing in return. She's dismissed him and refuses to confide in him or even really offer him more advice than to visit Tom Curry. This stems from the conflict within Minerva herself - Aquaman was her idol, the glue that held the foundations of her own moral convictions together. AJ is someone else, someone who in every way appears to be the distant mentor she pined over for years, and yet possessing none of the inherent traits that made Aquaman Aquaman. At least...not yet. But AJ is a malleable clay - one that is slowly being molded into something further and further away from Aquaman with each spurned advance. It's a dangerous whirlpool sucking these two into a murky depth. To find out what lies at the bottom, well... they have to survive the journey first.

#92 was undrafted!

I really, really love AJ.

AJ was a really interesting get that has, indeed, become something of a more tragic figure as of late. He fits into our general make-up of younger folk, but he's a little more at the fringe, one might say.

Roz'etta needed to get a beacon placed on the Greek island of Lesbos, and she went to AJ to be the one most able to do so without being caught, and he came off as so happy just to be of help. He's really a sweet guy.

Same thing when I sent him into the middle of Arizona, of all places. I think it's a mixture of being desperate to help and also desperate to get away from Minerva.

When you have gigantic shoes to fill it does you no good to stay idle

AJ needs a girlfriend

HanOfTheNekos posted...

AJ needs a girlfriend

I have ideas in the tank. Myes.

Espeon posted...

I have ideas in the tank. Myes.

Nothing about this inspires me with confidence.

TotallyNotMI posted...

Nothing about this inspires me with confidence.

I'm NOT saying it's going to be Brennus' estranged League of Assassins half-sister. I'm not NOT saying that either.

How does Naomi and AJ pair

WarThaNemesis2 posted...

Starro the Cat should not be confused with Starro the Conqueror, who we recently met.

Whereabouts did y'all run into Starro the not-cat?

Also every time I read about AJ his story just gets sadder. That really is an unenviable position to be thrust into.

Cody11533 posted...

Whereabouts did y'all run into Starro the not-cat?

We intercepted a phone call on Korugar

hombad46 posted...

We intercepted a phone call on Korugar

Specifically, Roz'etta shapeshifting into one of his lieutenants to talk to him over a video call to gather information.

I still find AJ super interesting and tragic. The stuff with him and Minerva is also really interesting to me.

scarletspeed7 posted...

The once and future king.

Was AJ ever king on his earth?

Maniac64 posted...

Was AJ ever king on his earth?

Nope; his father was a scientist and he was an explorer.

#91 - Paul McCartney
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/5/6/8/AAOJ0pAADZqw.png
Paul, as far as we know, the sole surviving Beatle in Darkseid's world, certainly is a bizarre confluence of absurdist comedy and oddly heartwarming wisdom rolled into a singular package. Introduced to the party in Gotham via the ever unexpected antics of Radio Tuner, Paul had managed to survive for months by, well, being Paul McCartney. The Beatles are beloved, and what with the lack of worthy entertainment in a world increasingly more and more devoid of independent thought, the Society and those of their ilk seemed to be more than happy to let McCartney serve as something of a traveling troubadour. In fact, it's in this role that Pepper has co-opted McCartney for her infiltration team. Perhaps one of the more amusing Paul McCartney beats in the campaign is his partnership with Telok'telar, a White Martian who has assumed the identity of Ringo Starr. The pairing of these two is meant to allow them to access Society strongholds, their ruse exchanging performances for room and board as they travel. The only downside is that Telok'telar cannot play the drums and really has refused to learn them. Poor Paul has been desperately trying to bring his alien comrade up-to-snuff - no dice just yet.

But on a more serious note, the idea of Paul McCartney serving as part of the resistance doesn't just play for laughs. Of course, simply having scenes where McCartney references his own songs as part of his wise musings or bowls over Amanda Waller - the right age to be swoon for the superstar of her younger years - is nice. But there are uses for McCartney which make him fascinating to me as a bit player in the grand collage of Z'onn Z'orr. I truly believe that Paul McCartney is part of that exquisite texture which revolves around the refugees who are coming together at the end of the world being so deliciously eclectic. You never know who will be the next to arrive at the gates, searching for safe haven. Yet, with McCartney, a character who is entirely based on a real, honest-to-God human being from our world, there's a certain sense of new expectation: ANYONE can be part of the resistance. And more than that, anyone can contribute in ways often unexpected. Still, like others, Paul is anchored by the tragedy of A-Day. After all, before A-Day, all his troubles seemed so far away. Now it looks as though they're here to stay. Oh, Paul survived throughout A-Day.

The story of Paul has also aligned with Spirit. This is a pairing that I greatly, greatly enjoy. Much like Saoirse, Spirit is a musical young lad. But he's also impressionable and searching for companionship, the sort that doesn't exactly judge him or hold grudges - John Constantine is an example of the sort of reliable ally (oddly enough) that Spirit has come to trust in that way, and Paul is another. The pairing really shone in their Christmas adventure as they braved the horrors of Enchantress' bedroom to find the Christmas Clock.

Ultimately, however, McCartney's greatest advantage is the sheer absurdity of having such a well-known icon of real world music inserted into the world of superheroes and supervillains. His unflappable calmness in the face of the impending doom of Darkseid always cracks me up, and his self-referential tics are of constant amusement to me, and I'd be willing to roleplay his character with others eight days a week.

A drafted character comes in at #90.

The craziest thing is when we find that theres an AU John Lennon still alive in our world.

Also, I do love Paul and Teloks role on the infiltration team. Paul provides some nice serenity to the team, while Telok is all business.

Any character who gets a truly unique Waller reaction is great in my book, and Paul's no exception.

He's just a lot of fun to see, or picture, interact with anyone.

Paul is one I'm hard to place. I don't think either Xander or Lush has much to connect to him with besides possibly being Beetles fans, but I enjoy his scenes with everyone else. I have commented a few times about how mundane people all experience the incredible in DC just because of how crazy the world is, and a real world star like Paul just adding to that statement making it truer is very fitting.

scarletspeed7 posted...

The story of Paul has also aligned with Spirit. This is a pairing that I greatly, greatly enjoy. Much like Saoirse, Spirit is a musical young lad. But he's also impressionable and searching for companionship, the sort that doesn't exactly judge him or hold grudges - John Constantine is an example of the sort of reliable ally (oddly enough) that Spirit has come to trust in that way, and Paul is another. The pairing really shone in their Christmas adventure as they braved the horrors of Enchantress' bedroom to find the Christmas Clock.

Admittedly I've been neglecting that relationship, but I do have the skill points to boost my pipes spec to level 2. Maybe I should do that and go play some songs with ol' Paul.

Also Spirit has a harmonica that Paul gave him and I've been considering sacrificing that to the Story Line for some Paul stuff.

Also Saoirse and Paul McCartney played a duet, which was...weird, to say the least, but also awesome.