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

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#12 - Detective Chimp
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/1/6/6/AAUHRBAAEgIG.jpg
The talking chimpanzee known as Bobo may in fact be one of the greatest detectives alive. After gaining human-like sentience and longevity from the Fountain of Youth, Detective Chimp spent years trying to get his own ramshackle business going. Ultimately, Chimps commercial enterprise - a detective agency - was doomed to failure. But as the Spectre began to pick off other mystical beings, Chimp saw the value in banding together with others to fight for their survival, helping to initiate a new generations Shadowpact out of his favorite watering hole, Oblivion. Chimp works closely now with many Checkmate agents, including his adopted nephew, Artemis.

Use him right, and Chimp can be your best friend from a gameplay and plot progression standpoint. There's a reason that Waller makes sure there's always a seat at the table for the Simian Sleuth - he gets results. Chimp may be pragmatic to a point of brusque rudeness, and he may be less an ape than a crusty creature that smells of cigarettes and beer, but underneath all of the expected tropes of a noir detective lies a keen, reasoning mind. An aspect of Chimp that I love is the distance he tries to put between himself and anyone he comes to care for, even in a small amount. Chimp is still a chimpanzee, and as such, he yearns to be in awe at inexplicable majesty. The said truth is that, when he drank from the Fountain, the magic went of the world for him - at least in a small amount. He's been trying to wrestle with that revelation ever since.

Chimp is the character that best represents the Data 7 persona. Hats, drinks, quiet monosyllabic utterances. Chimp pulls Artemis into the grown-up world, and I think one of my favorite aspects of this relationship is to see Ermine's own wheels turning when Chimp forces Artemis to confront the difficulty of adulthood and the decisions and consequences that brings. Suddenly, Data 7 is considering tactics and how certain paths of action will affect other opportunities down the line. And with Chimp, of course, there's the quiet physicality of Stranger and Chimp. That's also an extremely interesting relationship that I think helps reinforce Chimp and Data 7. As an adult, there's always something unsaid between Chimp and Artemis. Artemis certainly wishes it could be said, but Chimp is the roadblock that keeps Data 7 a little distant. He has his own baggage to carry, and Data 7 has been slowly working to accept it or change that fact. Overall, a great, oftentimes subtle, story played by Ermine.

Oh thank heaven, we're down to eleven.

So is Chimp dying like Rex because of the Fountain?

Gonna guess Morro misses the top 10

Rex is dying because he was shot and does not have the waters' healing powers to assist him in the recovery. Chimp's sitting pretty because aside from the copious number of cigarettes he eats, he hasn't run into a situation that has caused his youthful energies to be expended.

Right I guess I worded that badly. I more meant did Chimp also lose his immortality?

Will he start aging now?

No; the waters' effects are not suddenly dispersing. He would need the waters eventually to retain his longevity, but not yet.

ScareChan posted...

Gonna guess Morro misses the top 10

Looking at the list, I've gotta agree on this one.

I really enjoy the chemistry Roz'etta and Chimp have as characters. They're both non-human, and Roz'etta just listens and learns.

Of course, they're both very different personality-wise, so those little clashes are a fun read too. All in all, a good Chimp and alien.

Maniac64 posted...

Details please

Brennus and Iolande didn't gel. Iolande expects feality and a level of respect based on her station and Brennus doesn't play along. Despite this, Brennus still went with her to help her planet. When there was an assassination attempt against the obviously corrupt leader of the planet shortly after we arrived, Brennus tried to assist, unaware that the ruler was her brother. She yelled at Brennus after this, Brennus yelled back. Later her obviously corrupt brother cut her arm off and stole her ring. After she recovered, Brennus gave some more attitude about maybe it would've been better if she listened to him in the first place.

Fast forward to when we defeated her brother for real and returned to Oa, she offered to knight Brennus for his service. He agreed and after she did, she explained he would have to give up any Earthly titles to her. Brennus froze, not wanting to give up Vlatava. Eventually Iolande laughed and revealed she didn't want Vlatava and she just wanted to watch Brennus sweat.

Oddly, after this I think the two came to a bit of a better understanding. Brennus asked to learn how to lead from her and she agreed to help teach him.

#11 - Deadshot
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/6/2/0/AAAe4tAADqxU.jpg
Floyd Lawton was a man with a death wish, turning his childhood trauma into fuel for a career of careless violence. After spending years with the Suicide Squad, Deadshot returned to a life of villainy and recklessness, working for the highest bidder, whether it be Azrael or the U.S. government. Burning bridges with everyone who ever cared about him, Floyd ultimately realized there was one thing in his life worth a damn - his daughter, Zoe. After she was captured for reeducation, Deadshot was convinced by the mysterious Mockingbird to work against the Society with the Secret Six in order to win her back. After Cheshire betrayed her teammates at the House of Secrets, Deadshot joined the other remaining member in Zonn Zorr, regrouping and preparing to bite back against the Society.

Of course, that betrayal wouldn't be the last among the Six. Soon, other revelations would emerge - as the Society began to gather hordes of supervillains into its swelling army, there were those that refused to comply with these mandates. Among their number was Catman, retired and happy to delight in his primitive pursuits, living off of the land. But Deathstroke and Doctor Psycho felt disrespected by Catmans brusque dismissal. In the dark of night, Deathstroke returned to Lamumbas Medikwe Game Preserve and slaughtered every lion, man, woman, child, leaving the entire pride massacred. This act is what galvanized Catmans resolve, sending him into the arms of Mockingbird when the call came to destroy the Society. Only now, it appears as though there is more to this story - a revelation, that perhaps, Deadshot, disguised as Deathstroke, may have committed this atrocious crime.

It's been a topsy-turvy ride ever since. Deadshot's daughter, Zoe, was returned to Z'onn Z'orr. She learned the truth of her father's cruelty. She stole his wrist shooter and used it to save the life of Spirit (at least from her perspective). Deadshot rescued Tabby, Catman's last lioness, in an act of apology. The two mended fences enough for Catman to return to the Six. It's been a wild ride.

While I think there is a ton more to unpack with Deadshot moving forward, what I love most about the Secret Six is that they are never, ever, ever, never, never, ever, EVER on the same page. About anything. We need a Sixth? Here's every idea possible. Should we go back to Mockingbird? Yes, no, and maybe. Even on their home turf, the Six can't make up their damned minds about how to handle even the simplest of missions. They can't do it when they're surrounded on all sides and about to die! These are people who only were brought together through two things: necessity and convenience. And both of those reasons come from Mockingbird, and barely at all from the membership. They're not a real team, and yet when positioned alongside Checkmate, they call can agree on one thing - there's no one you can trust all the way. That's the Six in a nutshell - fuck themselves, but fuck the rest more. Deadshot represents this tenet fairly aptly in his dismissal of Waller right out of the chute, with even more hatred lobbed at the superhero community. A common theme among the Six is the same simmering, biting criticism of the supposedly unblemished superheroes that you find in the Society - only the Six can't take the side of the Society for whatever reasons have been given by each, so it leaves them as men without a country. And if you take away all support, all society, from a man, you leave only an angry animal without any restraint.

Our final four-pack of Honorable Mentions begins before the Top Ten drops - first with a draftee!

TotallyNotMI posted...

Oddly, after this I think the two came to a bit of a better understanding. Brennus asked to learn how to lead from her and she agreed to help teach him.

It was one of my favorite Brennus moments in how he handled the entire thing with grace - and his trademark headfirst willingness to dive into anything presented to him.

Deadshot's arrival in ZZ was a fun moment for me as Lush tried to get in good with the Six right away but lead to a flub up that almost saw Deadshot shoot Waller and Lush had to vine him up to save her own ass. I really enjoyed that moment

I'm sure Deadshot's life is going to get much better once Tali comes back in some forme. That'll happen.

Gonna guess L-Ron for the honorable mention.

L-Ron

I didn't draft anyone in the top 10? Oh well. Maybe next time.

Honorable Mention: Roar, Yes!
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/1/2/1/AAblU3AADs2J.png
I am ranking.

Roar, yes! Hello! I am helping to write this entry! There! I did it!

Our next Honorable Mention hails from the seven seas.

good job Hector

Wait, seriously?

He is the lion who would #104.

Shocked Deadshot didn't make top 10.

So Catman is back at ZZ now?

He never left. He just doesnt live with the rest of the secret six.

Oh I thought he actually left to look for Cheshire. And that was why he stopped training Susie.

Guessing Dweller in the Depths

Also, this is unrelated, but I still think Catman and Cheetah would make a cute couple, especially with the rom com plot of her yoinking his lion powers away.

HanOfTheNekos posted...

Guessing Dweller in the Depths

Oh I hope so!

Honorable Mention - Dweller in the Depths
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/2/4/5/AAUHRBAAEgJV.jpg
The man who would be #103.
One of my favorite books of all time is The Divine Comedy, and the Dweller plays Virgil to our party's Dante as it navigates - instead of nine circles in Hell - seven seas and their respective city-states. The Dweller's motivations aren't exactly shrouded in mystery: he seeks to see the restoration of the Parliament of Waves. It hasn't been discussed too in-depth, but it's obvious that the Dweller has been through a terrible accident that scarred the left side of his body - clearly, he has history in these oceans, and he is not necessarily trying to exploit the ruined state of Atlantis in the absence of Aquaman, but prevent a civilization he has been a part of since his birth from being completely annihilated. However, he relies on a shroud of mystery as his greatest defense, and he doles out wisdom only in the way it suits him and him alone. As for what the Dweller desires as an outcome from the return of the Parliament or the restoration of the Atlantean throne, no one can truly know... at least for now.

As the party has traveled across the sea, this wraith-like being has been spotted in various communities, providing sage advice - a valuable commodity from his ancient mind, filled with the secrets of thousands of years of Atlantis. But to what end? I, for one, am excited to see how this story unfolds, and I know that a few players have voiced their interest in learning more about this being who lingers near the sites of every major stop on the path to Atlantean unity.

The second-to-last Honorable Mention was undrafted, though I thought Scare might pick him up!

I'M GUESSING DOG

haha guessing dog haha

penultimate mention is... Blue Devil

scarletspeed7 posted...

it's obvious that the Dweller has been through a terrible accident that scarred the left side of his body

Like Martina?

And Mazikeen?

And Batman? Er, Two-Face?

I enjoy Dweller and I have become very invested in the Parliaments section of the campaign. How the Green can cross over with the Waves and other dominions remains to be seen, but it's a storyline I hope to see through

As for this guess it could be PRINCE HENRY

but more likely Cluemaster or possibly Max Lord

Espeon posted...

Also, this is unrelated, but I still think Catman and Cheetah would make a cute couple, especially with the rom com plot of her yoinking his lion powers away.

I could see it.

Every sea mission comes with it a possibility of the Dweller showing up, and he has the sort of presence and mystery that commands attention. He's a blast in all his scenes.

This could be a Blue Devil.

fuck I didn't even realize

Maniac64 posted...

I could see it.

don't see it, there's no chemistry there

negative chemistry

That just means they are at the start of their rom com story lol

Honorable Mention - Blue Devil
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/8/4/4/AAcguBAADlNc.png
The devil who would be #102.

Daniel Cassidy originally was a stuntman trapped in a special effects suit, turning him into a superpowered vigilante. But after he was killed and reincarnated as an actual hellfire-and-brimstone demon, he joined the Shadowpact, earning his keep as Jim Rooks bouncer at the last bar on Earth. Cassidy has been part of a number of superteams over the years, and hes had a hand in training a partner - Kid Devil. Cassidys greatest failing, in his mind, was refusing Cynthia Redford as a second protege, which led, in his mind, to her slow deterioration before becoming his nemesis. Now, learning of her mindwipe, he has agreed to help her sort out what led to this cruel result.

Here's a guy who went from working the Justice League International to serving as a heavy for a bar owner in the span of just a couple of years. Here's also a man who went from stunt coordinator to asset of the Lords of Hell over the course of his career. There's a lot to unpack in the story of Blue Devil. Sure, he may be intimidating, but if you just buy him a drink, I'm sure everything will work itself out. Hell, if nothing else, he might be able to inform you on the intricacies of, you know, dying.

Imagine a world where Blue Devil only ever hunched over the bar, serving as the silent bouncer, bending the barstool beneath his big blue bottom as he downed his brimstone beer. We don't have that world. Instead, Lush has harassed, harangued, and hampered our poor veteran of Le Fraterenite du Justice, at that was just by showing up and shading her face behind her open hand. Not the best disguise, biker chick. As we've dug into the E! True Hollywood Story of Robert Redford's naughty niece, Blue Devil has been front and center in that drama, and the animosity is evolving into something different. In a lot of ways, Lush can trust Blue Devil more than other characters - he'll always be brutally, brutally honest with her. He's seen her at her lowest, and he knows the signs to watch for.

And our last honorable mention? Well, if you've been paying attention, there's only one character left to fit the bill...

It's Pikachu!

No it's L-Ron.

The last is L-Ron.

One person has 8 and two HMs. Ermine has 2 already, JB has one HM and 8 matches. Kent V. Nelson!

It was 7 and 3 HMs.

Nevermind then, L-Ron it is.

Greetings minions of Checkmate!

THE CHARACTER MOST DESERVING OF NOT MAKING THE LIST:
L-RON
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/0/8/4/AAcguBAADmAE.jpg
Hello, minion of Checkmate!

Originally, L-Ron hailed from outer space, serving the infinite Mister Nebula on his quest to consume planets. The irksome L-Ron nearly killed an entire team of Checkmate agents through his use and control of the largely mindless Metal Men, but he was ultimately put out of commission and dragged back to Zonn Zorr. For a short time, he was Data 7s accessory robot until Amanda Waller realized that L-Ron, who had been Maxwell Lords personal assistant with both the JLI and Superbuddies, might possess valuable information. L-Ron was recruited by the sly Waller, cultivating him as an asset for the time he might prove useful. L-Ron was recently captured by the sadistic Kid Karnevil, but he was rescued by Pepper Spray, who he now showers with adulation.

L-Ron is an indefinable force of nature, abject chaos packaged into a tiny, narcissistic frame of metal and wiring that somehow was able to avoid destruction, despite the best efforts of Darkseid. And it's easy to see, when you study this loudmouthed bucket of servos, exactly why the dark lord of Apokolips invaded Earth in the first place. There are just some things that are best nipped in the bud. Take L-Ron, for example. Please. Take him. Somebody.

It might be said that L-Ron has the most prominent position in Z'onn Z'orr. After all, he who controls access to the Queen controls the agenda of Checkmate. And Waller, for her part, seems oddly at ease with allowing the blackmail, the coercion, the frayed wits that all meet at the crossroads of L-Ron's desk. But so long as L-Ron remains a thorn in everyone else's side, they are prevented from being a thorn in Waller's side, so maybe, just maybe, she is every bit the evil genius that seem believe her to be.

Top Ten Time.

Guessing Morro next

L-Ron said Fire looked old. Roz'etta helped him recover from the aftermath of that, and she was made to regret it.

Morro dog

No mention if hats in thr writeup. Missed one of the best parts.

What did they do to Fire?

Maniac64 posted...

No mention if hats in thr writeup. Missed one of the best parts.

What did they do to Fire?

Roz'etta snuck past Fire to talk to Waller and came back to L-Ron stuffed in a trashcan. She didn't do anything to Fire because, well, she's Fire.

Roz'etta did free L-Ron once she was done talking to Waller, which he mourned because he now had to do work again, and gave her a huge runaround conversation to recommend a gay bar in Bialya, to his amusement.

Free hour of RP for the person who has the most accurate Top Ten guess!

You have 24 hours...