Dusk in gotham

[Evil DM Mark3]

"You join us here outside Wayne Manor on this dark day. Inside the business collogues of the late Bruce Wayne and his few remaining relatives, including two who fit in both categories, his father's cousin Markus Hardcaste and his mother's second cousin Diana Waterley along with a few Wayne family friends are gathered to pay tribute before Bruce's body will be moved, under police escort, to Gotham City Cathedral where the Mayor has insisted the funeral of such a major public figure should take place. After the funeral Bruce will be interred in the Wayne family crypt. But with the current chaos on the streets the question on everyone's lips here today is, will the funeral be able to go ahead safely."

"Indeed it is Bob, a very solemn occasion here today, closed casket of course and with mourners lining the streets we have to wonder, if something goes wrong will the police be able to protect the public?"

[The Dark Fiddler]

Case is perching on the edge of a building, overlooking the crowd below. He's wearing a pair of beat-up jeans and an old gray sweatshirt. He shakes his head solemnly and mutters to himself, "I wish I could have thanked you for what you did... and I wish I could say goodbye to you. But if there's one thing I can do for you... I'm going to make sure nobody does anything anything at your funeral." He pulls the hood of his sweatshirt up and looks around to make sure nobody suspicious is around.

[industrious]

The Red Hood

Early that morning, the proprietors of Early & Gregorovich, an upper-class tuxedo rental shop, found their shop broken into. No money was taken; on the contrary, a new wad of cash had been placed on top of the register. As they took stock of the damage the shattered window had caused, they noted only a single item missing.

Near the back of the funeral procession, Jason Todd adjusts the bow tie on his classic tuxedo. He has his duffel around his shoulder; the only mask he currently wears, is his old domino mask, modeled to look exactly the same as the one he used as a Robin.

"Oh, Bruce," he mutters to himself."One last respect. Time to see a foolish old man buried. Time to start anew. And don't worry, Bruce. I'll take good care of the Cave."

Smirking all the while, Jason nudges his way out of ht procession, into one of the dark alleys the infest Gotham like a tumor. The duffel is opened. The suave, charming man in a domino mask and tuxedo vanishes. The Red Hood emerges.

He makes his way to the rooftops, the better to see his old mentor's body in the ground. Once and for all.

[Zerkai]

Frostbite

Those with hearts of ever-frost
Always knew we never lost
*Click*
If all the roads
Were paved with ice that wouldn't thaw or crack
I could skate from Maine to Nebraska
Then on to Alaska and back
*Click*

"Almost there..." Frostbite was riding on a blue motorcycle towards the Gotham City Cathedral, switching through the tracks on a CD she made to listen to during patrols on the audio system she had installed on her bike.

Her face was covered by a dark blue helmet, her mask underneath it of course. She planned on patrolling the area around the cathedral and look out for any troublemakers.

Your making it hard for me
When all I can do is freeze
*Click*

As she turned a corner and reached the Cathedral she turned off the music, not wanting to disturb the funeral herself while making sure the no one else did so as she quietly drove around in circles around the area, watching the mourners lined up in the streets.

She did want to pay her respects to the man, but she never met him, as either Bruce Wayne or Batman, she wasn't even from Gotham. so, she'd just wait and watch the people he's protected the last few years thank him.

[Terron]

The dusk of the greatest protector of the city, such an event! He returns to the Earth, as he came from it. He returns to the Mother what she gave him, the spark of life, in exchange for his body. The Shambling understood nothing of funerals or religious things, but it knew this was the time when the Batman would return and join the Mother, That event should go unperturbed.

The Shambling's presence would produce enough disturbs, so it remained hidden, like a puddle attached to the exterior walls of the cathedral, disguised as some overgrow vegetation. From its vantage point, it watched, and it waited.

[Ditto]

Edward Nygma leaned against a disused lamppost down the road from Wayne Manor's gate, near where the main road turned off to approach the mansion house that sat on a rise overlooking the city. It was a sad day indeed, for today the keenest mind he had ever known was being definitively laid to rest. His piece was now forever removed from the great gameboard of Gotham.

From his contacts in the PD, he knew that this funeral was being taken very seriously. It was somewhat unprecedented, with a hero so unceremoniously unmasked. Edward felt it was fitting that so many sought to pay him the proper respect since he had no equal in his crusade. Now, a man not yet well-known as The Riddler merely watched from a distance and followed along idly as the parade route moved slowly toward the cathedral.

[Evil DM Mark3]

To save time I will roll certain rolls. Like this Notice check. Watch me roll.

Shambling: [roll0]
Edward Nigma: [roll1]
Red Hood: [roll2]
Frostbite: [roll3]
Case: [roll4]

Case: You hear and see nothing out of the ordinary.
Shambling, Edward, Red Hood: You all hear, over the police sirens and general croud noise, the sound of this music. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLegSgWi0cI) It is faint and you can't tell where it is comming from.
Frostbite: You too hear the music. It is coming from a location directly above the funeral procession above the low lieing cloud of Gotham's dreary skies.

[Zerkai]

Frostbite

Once she started to hear the music above the sirens and the noise of the crowds and realized what it probably meant she pulled over to the side of the street. She got off her bike and put the kickstand down as she took off her helmet, wearing her mask underneath it.

"Alright, that can't be good. Where is it...? Ah, there we go." Once she figured out where the music was coming from she raised a hand that glowed a light blue color as she started to run towards the procession, firing a blast of energy at the ground in front of her, which seemed to create a ramp of ice that she slid up, a feat that shouldn't be physically possible.

Then again, she was a metahuman, so sliding up a ramp of ice probably wasn't difficult for her. Frostbite continued upwards to the low clouds and forward towards the procession.

[Ditto]

Kn: Streetwise [roll0] and/or
Kn: Current events [roll1] to see if those skills might give me any insight to that being who it probably is up there with the music.

Edward peered into the crowd, trying to get a bead on the curious music drifting over the scene. He started moving toward the procession at a brisk pace now, where he had been ambling slowly behind before. Anything out of the ordinary at Batman's funeral could not be written off as coincidence or some odd salute... what was that, rising above the mass of people ahead of him? Another figure moving much faster than he, coasting on a strange slick track appearing out of thin air right before her! He reached for the pistol in his jacket pocket and kept his hand resting on it as he moved to investigate the newcomer.

[industrious]

Jason Todd

He frowns at the music, but makes no overt move towards it. It sounds enough like funeral music that he doesn't think it out of the ordinary.

[Evil DM Mark3]

Those who hear the music can make a knowledge art roll to identify it. The riddler's rolls I will give detail on when I have ascertained if he knows the music.

[Terron]

The Shambling is not particularly keen about music. Whether the noise represented something, its meaning escaped the hived minded plant.
What didn't escaped was the woman, rising from the crowd, in an icy plataform she appeared to be creating on the go. That. That was worth investigating. The Shambling slowly crawled to the rooftop, to get a better view, while trying to remain hidden.

Using Wall climbing super movement.
Stealth: [roll0]

[industrious]

The Red Hood

Then he sees the woman, making a beeline for the procession.

"Well now. Isn't this interesting?"

Either she's a villain, in which case, killing her would do wonders for his reputation...or she's competition. And he wasn't going to let some upstart get in the way of his right as Gotham's new protector.

Taking out his grapple, a modified version of Batman's own line, he swings into the air, silently soaring over the members of the procession. From his height, he'd be little more than a shadow.


Taking 10 on a Stealth check for a total of 20(+10 modifier). If you need a roll, though...[roll0]

[Ditto]

Heh, what's the penalty to Stealth for swinging across a crowded street or being a giant ball of leaves? :smalltongue:

Kn: Art [roll0]

[Evil DM Mark3]

The piece is Julius Arnost Wilhelm Fučík's Enterance of the Gladiators, also known as The March of the Gladiators or Thunder and Blazes. It is perhaps the most famous of the various "Screamer Marches" used by circuses to introduce parades of acts, most often as the intro for the clowns.

This piece of music was used by the Joker during the April Fool's Day Massacre as the trigger for the detonation of a series of explosive devices.

[The Dark Fiddler]

Case jumps slightly as he sees the woman rush off, gliding on a sheet of ice. He looks around, to see if he can notice anything that would have alerted her. While alerting himself, he stretches himself from rooftop to rooftop, attempting to follow the woman. Either she's up to no good, or she's going to need help.

[Evil DM Mark3]

You all hear laughter, coming from above the clouds, and then a very familiar man in a purple suit falls down towards the hearse, drops a large brightly coloured package on the roof and shoots straight back up again. A large number of smaller parcels rain down in the surrounding area.

Initiative and notice checks please.

[Terron]

The Shambling shivers and trembles, as it stands in it's full height from the splatter of vegetation it was. If the Joker is not so far, the vegetable will attempt a vine attack.



Notice:[roll0]
Initiative:[roll1]
Vine attack (if possible):[roll2]Damage DC: 23, penetrating. Reach: 20 ft

[industrious]

The Red Hood

Lips curl in an unseen grin. Batman had let Joe Chill live. He wouldn't be nearly as kind.

He still keeps to the shadows, though. While a confrontation would be wonderful, there was something wonderfully ironic about taking down the Joker without letting him get a word in.


Initiative:
Notice:[roll1]
Add'l rolls(if needed)

[roll2]
[roll3]

[Ditto]

Riddler - (actions pending clarification)
Init: [roll0]
Notice: [roll1]

[Ditto]

(oops, hit preview not submit.)
Riddler - (actions pending clarification)
Init: [roll0]
Notice: [roll1]

[Zerkai]

Frostbite- Will attempt to get to the hearse

Initiative: [roll0]
Notice: [roll1]

[The Dark Fiddler]

"...is that... the Joker? This isn't good..." Case looks around to see if he can pick out any important details. If this was the Joker, then there was bound to be more to what was going on than what he could see.

[roll0] - Initiative
[roll1] - Notice

[Evil DM Mark3]

Combat order:
26 Red Hood
23 Joker
18 Joker minions A
15 Joker minions B
14 Frostbite
13 Riddler
13 Shambling (no you can't attack, he is too far away as the drop is a surprise action so we start with him back up)
12 Case
10 Joker minions C

Notice checks:
Red Hood: The Joker is on a Bungee cord attached to something in the clouds, but you can't see what. There are about a dozen of the packages in the crowd (including one on the hearse) and they are not, as the initially seem, gift parcels but solid, moulded, plastic objects. Some people are trying to avoid them and some are picking them up and examining them.
Everyone else: As above, save for it is clear that the Joker is tied to a helicopter, most likely one of Gotham PD's own. Some of those gifts where clearly thrown down from the roof of a party supplies building on the right hand side of the road (as you look towards the cathedral).

Current state:
The joker is back up and you can't see any other criminals. The copter is 50ft up and 40ft from the cathedral. The buildings on route are only 3 stories (40ft), but the cathedral's spire is 120ft to the tip. The clouds are at about 40ft.

[industrious]

The Red Hood

Perfect.

The Red Hood hooks his grapple around the nearest building, and swings towards-but still above the Joker. As he nears the cord, he draws his knife, and cuts the line keeping the Joker afloat. Death via gravity wasn't exactly what he wanted to do to the madman. But the carnage that would ensue would more than make up for it.

Besides Bruce. He'd land right on top of your body. Your archenemy, killed on the same day as your funeral. I'm sure someone would appreciate the irony.


Attack Roll:[roll0] (19-20 is a critical)
Damage is DC 21 Toughness for the rope.

[Evil DM Mark3]

The copter (and thus the joker) are higher than the buildings.

[industrious]

I can take a -2 penalty to throw the knife instead. New result of 23.

[Terron]

As the Shambling goes almost last, I'll wait until the others have acted.

[Evil DM Mark3]

I will just say the rope is severed and give the Joker a reflex save to grab the copter: [roll0]

OK, The Joker manages to grab ahold of the Copter's ski (not that Red Hood can see this, he didn't see the copter.)

[Evil DM Mark3]

Joker
"Wuhaha!" The Joker pulls himself up into the copter and grabs a sub-machine gun, firing back at the person who threw the knife.
[roll0]
Toughness DC 19 of plus 1 per 2 over, max +5.
"Come on! Where are you?!"
----
Joker Minions 1
Five more gift objects are thrown from the roof of the shop. It is now clear that five men in funeral garb and party hats are throwing them.
----
Joker minions 2
A purple hearse has just driven through the crowd behind the procession, driven by Harley Quin with a large man in funeral garb and a party hat in the passenger seat. While both have firearms neither use them and the hearse does not try and run anyone over, just block the path backwards.
----
Frostbite go.

[industrious]

The Red Hood

The hail of bullets takes him in the back, and the Red Hood tumbles to the nearest rooftop, his costume thankfully protecting him from the worst of it.

[Zerkai]

Frostbite

Frostbite watched the shooting and the presents that were being tossed into the crowds as she slid on her platform of ice in the sky. With the Joker in the copter, a purple hearse showing up, and the presents, she decided to deal with the goons throwing them from a roof. As she moved towards them she pulled off the leather jacket she was wearing, tossing it onto a nearby roof as blue ice started to grow from her bare arms and shoulders, quickly covering her body in a smooth layer of icy armor.

Once they were in range, she raised both hands, firing a blast of cold energy at the ground beneath the mooks, covering the area in a slick ice in an attempt to stop them all at once

((OOC: Used Ice Armor as a swift action, using Cold control: Ice Slick 11. Not quite sure how ranged trip attacks work, but it's a cone trip effect that should cover most of the roof the mooks are on, and if they're close enough tot eh edge, they can fall off.))

Ranged Trip Attack: [roll]1d20+7[1d20]

Edit: Dammit, will post in OOC))

[Ditto]

Riddler

Edward will try to get a read on what these packages are, hustling up to the nearest small one and/or getting as close as possible to Wayne's hearse to examine the big one.

Not sure if there are small ones between Edward and the hearse, but I'm just looking to run a Knowledge or maybe Craft(Knowledge) check or two on them. Let me know which skill is applicable to recognize anything in there... I probably have ranks in it, but can use any knowledge untrained.

Also, I can't see cloud cover remaining intact around an active helicopter. Wouldn't the downdraft clear the area now that it's in place?

[Evil DM Mark3]

Goons' reflex saves: [roll0]
[roll1]
[roll2]
[roll3]
[roll4]
They are all on their behinds.

The Riddler can get his hands on a package. It is bright blue with a red bow. To examine the package, Notice and Knowlage (Physical Sciences)
Notice:[roll5]
Knowladge:[roll6]

The parcel is a solid plastic object, made of what you think is a high strength acid resistant industrial plastic, meaning you would need some serious cutting tools to open one. There is a small indentation on the base with small indentations that you realise, given the way that it is moving, that it is likely some kind of timer. With about 5 seconds (ie one round) left before it hits zero.

The Shambling is next, although of course talking is a free action.

[Terron]

The Shambling invokes the raw power of nature and attempts to entrap the Joker's minions on the shop roof, growing a mass of entangling vegetation around them. After that, it moves towards them, ready to wipe them out.


Actions:
Control plants (Snare): DC 17 catching as many goons as possible with shapeable area.
Move towards goons, until the Shambling is at 20 ft from them. Do I need to roll something for the moving? like jumping from roof to roof? He does have wall crawling and slithering, if that matters.

[Evil DM Mark3]

Given that the minimum range increment is 70ft, you can do it from where you are.

So the 5 prone minions are now being attacked by plants.
[roll0]
[roll1]
[roll2]
[roll3]
[roll4]

OK, one is entangled, but all five are prone. Not their finest hour.

Case is next.

[The Dark Fiddler]

Case is about to go after the Joker when he sees a knife fly out and cut the rope. It seems he wasn't the only one moved by Batman's death to action. Instead, he attempts to grab as many packages as he can, his arms elongating to a quite respectable length. Whatever those are, they can't be good.

[Evil DM Mark3]

Case manages to get his hands on 4 packages. Rolling notice:
[roll0]
Case too notices the probable timer on the packages, likely to run out at the end of the next round.

The copter flyes down low (making the downdraught question moot) and positions itself in front of the cathedral. It is a Gotham PD copter with a smiley face sprayed on the front.

Red Hood, GO!

[industrious]

The Red Hood

Now safely perched on one of the rooftops, he swings once more into action, charging into the helicopter, and while he's at it, attempting to kick the Joker off the vehicle.


Charging so that he's inside the helicopter, and using an unarmed strike. Power attacking for one.
Attack Roll:[roll0]
DC 22 Toughness Save

[Evil DM Mark3]

That's a hit. You feel a protective vest beneath The Joker's clothes as you lash into him. The Copter rocks dangerously as your weight shifts around. Rolling the Joker's toughness save.
[roll0]

[Evil DM Mark3]

That's Bruised and Stunned, determining knockback and 30ft fall.

Attack bonus=7 - (1/2 def bonus of 7) 3 so Knocked back 10ft and out of the copter. Falling:

[roll0]
No further damage. Winded though he is by the kick the Joker can still squeeze out a cry "Where are you?".

[Evil DM Mark3]

Minions 1
Spend the round struggling to their feet.

Minions 2
"Pudin'!" Harley leaps from the hearse and runs towards the Joker, getting as far as Batman's hearse by the end of her action. The driver pulls out a megaphone and calls out "I don't think he's coming boss." But does not move.

Frostbite go.

[Zerkai]

Frostbite

Frostbite noticed the vines grabbing one of the mooks that slipped on the ice, stepping off of her platform and onto the roof of the shop. Thinking on how to keep all of them where they were, she manipulated the ice on the ground as she created more from the water in the are as her hands glowed blue once more, generating a large box of ice with the bottom missing above the thugs, attempting to drop it and trap them inside.

Switched Cold Control ranks to Create Object, making an box with Create Ice 11, DC is 21 I think

[Terron]

The shifting form of The Shambling keeps advancing towards the thugs, inexorably.


Moving 60' next to the thugs (to stay at 10-20' of them).

[Evil DM Mark3]

OK, the box's toughness is equal to the power rank (ie 11)

Riddler is required.

[Ditto]

Riddler

Edward dropped the box and moved back the way he came, away from the mysterious countdown. He called out to Harley as she dashed toward the Joker, hoping to distract her from rendering aid. "Hey! What use is a clown who's fallen down and out?"

AFB at the moment, I forget the exact mechanics of Distract. I know it's an opposed Bluff vs. her Bluff/SenseMotive/Will save, whichever is highest, so if she beats that then it doesn't even matter. :smallsmile:

[Ditto]

Distract - Bluff [roll0]

[Evil DM Mark3]

Will save:
[roll0]

Harley is dazed

Shambling has gone. Case, off you go.

[Evil DM Mark3]

I will have internet wobbles over the next few days.

[The Dark Fiddler]

With no time to waste thinking, Case tries to get the packages he picked up as far away from any civilians as possible, stretching his limbs to hold them far above the ground.

[Evil DM Mark3]

BOOM

It is not a sound, it is a sensation. The hearse and its unfortunate driver are engulfed in fire, as the Joker's largest package annihilates it. Harley Quinn is thrown violently to the floor by it, her head on flames. Of the PCs, only Case if caught in the blast, DC 15 reflex to reduce the DC 20 toughness save to DC17. The screams of the injured fill the air.

[The Dark Fiddler]

Case curses under his breath at the explosion, shaking his hands to try and ease the pain of the explosion. "Dammit, should have tried to grab more of the explosives!"

[roll0] - Reflex
[roll1] - Toughness
((No chance of a bonus because he was holding them way above his head, avoiding the worst of the blast? *puppydog eyes*))

[Evil DM Mark3]

Case curses under his breath at the explosion, shaking his hands to try and ease the pain of the explosion. "Dammit, should have tried to grab more of the explosives!"

[roll0] - Reflex
[roll1] - Toughness
((No chance of a bonus because he was holding them way above his head, avoiding the worst of the blast? *puppydog eyes*))

No damage anyway, but I DO NOT give bonuses to reflex save for bombs people are HOLDING.

Red hood

[industrious]

The Red Hood

He makes his way to the cockpit, and levels his pistol at the pilot's head.

"Land on the Joker. Now."


Intimidate Check:[roll0] (plus any circumstance bonuses for the gun)

[Evil DM Mark3]

Lets see, +2 for holding the gun (performing an action that makes you more imposing) -4 because he is probably more afraid of the Joker than he is of you.

Will save roll then: [roll0]

[Evil DM Mark3]

"Sod that!"

The Joker stands up and screams "Where are you Batsy? Come on! WHERE ARE YOU HIDING?" Firing wildly into the crowd.

The minions in the ice cube are trying to get out, but fail.

Harley is out of action. Her driver is driving off at high speed.

Frostbite GO!

[Zerkai]

Frostbite

She kept an eye on the icebox with the thugs in it until she heard and felt the explosion. Her eyes widened behind her mask as she heard the screaming and gunshots.

"NO!!!" Frostbite shouted as she leaped off the edge of the roof, sliding down to the street below her on a sheet of ice. Her ice-covered fist glowing blue as shards of icicles projected from it, aiming right at the Joker.


Sustaining Icebox around goons, attacking Joker

Attack (Ice Control- Slashing Damage) Ice Blast 11: [roll0]
Toughness Save DC: 26

Edit: Natural 20 and a threat. If the attack wouldn't hit Joker even if it wasn't an automatic hit, then it's a crit :smallbiggrin:

Crit Damage: 16

[Evil DM Mark3]

OK, lets get that rolled.
[roll0]

[Evil DM Mark3]

Fort save...
[roll0]

The Joker is shaken by the punch, his entire body rocks. He looks at Frostbite and a single tear rolls down his left cheek, freezing on the way down. He looks about in a dazed manner and whispers, almost plaintively.

"They did it, those stone cold criminals, that gang of starch and neck-ties, they killed him...

Bastards."

He then collapses, rag doll like, to the floor. (Dieing, but not yet dead)

Combat order is over (the only active hostile is in the man in the hellicopter, a minion).

[industrious]

The Red Hood

"Too bad."

He then leaps off the helicopter, landing right beside the Joker.

"Hello, Joker. Time to do what Bruce never could."

His pistol is raised, pointed directly at the Joker's face.

"This is for you, Bruce."

A single shot.


Coup-de-grace on the Joker.
DC 26 Toughness Save, and if he isn't dead, DC 21 Fortitude Save.

[Evil DM Mark3]

I am just going to wait a sec, at least one person (frostbite) is close enough to potentialy intervine and I want to give them the opertuninty.

Also, have a pp each!

[The Dark Fiddler]

(The following is assuming that Case is withing 500 feet (250 move, 250 reach) of the Red Hood. Otherwise, I'll rewrite it).

It looked like that was it. The battle was mostly over. And Case wasn't alone in this new, Batman-less world. He looks around at the others who had fought, making sure that his hood is still up and obscuring his face. As he does, however, he notices one of the heroes dangerously close to the Joker. Just as he pulls a gun and points it at him, Case leaps into action. His limbs again stretch out, both bringing him closer to the two and trying to wrap up the armed man. "Hey, now! He may be The Joker, one evil dude, but you can't just kill him! What would Batman think?"

[roll0] Grapple Attack Roll
[roll1] Grapple Check

[Zerkai]

Frostbite

Blood had splattered on the sheet of white ice armor that covered Frostbite's body as the multiple knives of ice hit the Joker. There wasn't much you could tell by her covered face, save for the fact she was panting.

Frostbite took a step back from the Joker as the Ace of Knaves hit the ground like a ragdoll, her hansd reaching up and holding her head, smearing some of the blood. "No... I-I didn't... I just wanted him to stop, just wanted him to stop, I just wanted..."

She didn't even notice the arrival of the Red Hood or Case's intervention as flew off towards the rooftops to retrieve her jacket "Just wanted to stop... I didn't mean to..."

Whelp, we just broke my character, good times.

[Terron]

The Shambling slowly descends from the building as the Joker is about to be killed.

"Terminate him, his existence is a perturbation for the living. If this individual would have been ended before, none of this would have happened. Behold the consequences of your pathetic mercy." says the creature, advancing and gesturing towards the wounded civilians.

[The Dark Fiddler]

"They're already injured, killing Joker now wouldn't solve anything!" Case shakes his head, trying to ignore the fact that he's talking to a giant mass of plant matter. "Batman is already dead... we can't let his memory die too. He wouldn't kill The Joker, so why should we? Let the cops handle him." He glances over at The Joker again, noticing the terrible state he seems to be in. "...and the paramedics too, it looks like."

[Terron]

"Batman is dead, memories are an artifice you create to have the illusion of immortality. Philosophical discussions apart, you can deny the fact that the police handling the Joke has lead us to the current state of events." replies the Shambling, showing the facts.

[Evil DM Mark3]

OK, seeing as only one person who is close enough to try did, and they missed, the Joker is shot.
[roll0]
[roll1]

Giving us a dead joker.

[industrious]

The Red Hood

"...I did it. I actually did it!"

He laughs in triumph, his voice unyielding and tinged with a slight madness.

"Oh, Bruce. It wasn't hard at all. Not. One. Bit."

The seals on his helmet flip open, and the Red Hood takes off his helm, revealing the unmistakable domino mask, now red instead of green, that shows him to be a former Robin.

"And this...this is only the beginning."

[Terron]

The Shambling approaches the corpse, and after inspecting it, raises and declares. "It's done at last. But there's still wrong to erase. Nature wants it that way, balance is still not recuperated."

Search Joker for something useful: [roll0]

[The Dark Fiddler]

Case stares at The Joker, and the fresh bullet hole in him. His mouth is agape, and he's completely speechless. "H...he's... you..." Case turns to the Red Hood, just in time to see him remove his helmet. "Robin..." He shakes his head, hardly able to believe what he just witnessed. "You shot him! You! You were Batman's sidekick, and you... that's way too far! We're not the law, we can't just do whatever we want! You're a murderer now!"

[industrious]

The Red Hood

"It isn't Robin any more, kid. And look where Bruce's method's got him; a wooden box and a nice funeral. Times are changing, kid. The rules are different."

He spins his guns, then returns them to their holsters at the bottom of his spine.

"How many lives did I just save? How many more would he have killed if I hadn't pulled the trigger? Face it, kid. They should be handing me a medal for this."

The helmet comes on once more.


"And the I'm just getting started."

[Evil DM Mark3]

You find nothing on the joker save the usual gags. The air is now full of police and ambulance sirens.

[The Dark Fiddler]

"So what, you're going to kill more people? I mean sure, The Joker may have deserved it, but what next? Heroes already toe the line by taking over for the cops, but now you're going to be the judge, jury, and executioner? And where's it stop? The Joker today, Penguin tomorrow, and a bank robber next week?" Case stops and looks around as he hears the sirens approaching. "I mean, I understand what you're saying, but it's a slippery slope. 'He who fights monsters,' and all that stuff." Case is actively looking for approaching cops; the last thing he needs is to get taken downtown so soon after starting this hero thing.

[industrious]

The Red Hood

As Case turns around, looking for The Red Hood, he finds the man gone. Batman's apprentice has learned well.

Atop a nearby building, the Red Hood watches the approaching sirens. Time to see the first reactions to his new way of doing things.

[Evil DM Mark3]

Anyone want to do anything else or do we want to move on?

[Ditto]

The Riddler has nothing to say to the assembled folks at this time. He waits until the police arrive to ensure Harley is taken into custody. Maybe hope to learn something about how Gotham PD let one of their helicopters slip out from an officer who shows up.

So, the Shambling can talk? When it listed Complication: Communication I wasn't sure if that meant it couldn't speak or such. I guess it just means people have to get over the fact that they're talking to a pile of plants...
And the Red Hood can teleport! Very cinematic! :smalltongue:

[Zerkai]

Frostbite

"Like the Joker wouldn't have bled out if he didn't get shot..." Frostbite slid back to the scene on a slid of ice once she had calmed down and retrieved her jacket, no longer wearing the ice armor. Without it and the jacket it looked like her outfit just consisted of a playboy bunny costume.

She made her way over to the knocked out Harley Quinn, putting out the fire on her jester hat with her jacket, then carefully removing the hat and pulling two pairs of handcuffs from her jacket

[Evil DM Mark3]

When the police arrive it is in full riot gear, they push the crowd aside and when asked any questions ignore you.

As for Harley, you try and remove the hat, but it seems to have been made of synthetic fibres and the heat has melted it onto her skin and hair.

[Terron]

The Shambling slowly makes it to the nearest sewer entrance and disappears under the pavement.

[Zerkai]

Frostbite

Frostbite winced when she noticed the mask has melted on her skin. Trying to remember some4 first aid as she made a small knife out of ice, cutting the pieces of of her hat off that weren't melted and leave the rest to paramedics.

[The Dark Fiddler]

The cops don't seem to be looking for questions, so Case slinks off into the shadows and onto a rooftop to continue keeping watch. It's better that way; no need to get in trouble so early in his career.

[Evil DM Mark3]

"This is the 5pm news on Gotham FM, keeping the voice calling out in the night. Grim news in Gotham today as The Joker attacked Bruce Wayne's funeral. Unconfirmed reports indicate that The Joker was killed by an unknown assailant, details still unclear at this stage. Commissioner Gordon told the press that he did not know who the apparent vigilantes where, that he does not condone or condemn their actions at this time and that they where still looking for leads in the Batman murder case.

In related news, the details of Bruce's will have been made public, in accordance to his wishes. Aside form significant charitable donations, estimated to be worth approximately 40% of the estate, to the Wayne Foundation, the Gotham PD widows and orphans fund and various other local charities, the assets of the Wayne estate have been left to one Alfred Pennyworth, who it is understood has already entered into negotiations to sell the stock in Wayne industries to Markus Hardcaste of Hardcastle Pharmaceutical and Diana Waterley of Prince Cosmetics. Alfred said he wanted to keep the stock in Bruce's family.

I should say that this was a prepared statement, to be issued after the funeral. I can only imagine that someone made a mistake in issuing it.

Hardcastle, who was admitted to Gotham General in the last hour with burns and an injured arm, has issued a statement thanking "Those brave Gothamites whos actions might have saved my, and other's lives."

On a personal note my heart goes out to the victims of today's attack and their families. And, and I am aware that this may not be the safest thing to say, no Julian, NO! I am going to say it, because it needs to be said that's why! THEN QUIT IF YOU ARE SUCH A COWARD! GET AWAY FROM THE MIKE! FIRE ME THEN, LIKE I CARE RIGHT NOW. To the vigilantes who stood up and took down the Joker I say, the Bat will never die.

This is Gotham FM. Next up, Michelle Askley interviews Dr Strange of Arkham asylum about his recent paper on "The Batman Effect" in the Journal of Criminological Psychology and asks "Is this too soon?" Good bye Gotham, for what Justin is telling me is the very last time."

OOC: That are you doing? There are a few clues in there to follow on from, or your could do other stuff.

[industrious]

Wayne Manor

A rustle of wind. An open window. And the Red Hood appears in front of an elderly man.

"Hello, Alfred. Miss me?"

[Evil DM Mark3]

The soft, gentle, click of a handgun's hammer being drawn back. From behind the Red Hood.

"Not especially sir, but Miss Waterley however was expecting you."

From behind Red Hood comes a soft, feminine voice. "Don't worry, I just wanted to make sure you would listen. We need to talk. Urgently."

[Terron]

The Shambling had followed Red Hood to the Mansion secretly. It wished to see what this human was up to. He was unreliable. Today he served balance, but what about tomorrow? Human psyque is a strange thing to the Shambling, and it wont trust someone who seems so unstable. Who knows? The Joker might be dead, but was Red Hood going to fill his spot in the future? Like an ivy growing on the wall, the Shambling watches as the events unfold inside.

OOC: You need a stealth check?

[Evil DM Mark3]

Yes please

[industrious]

The Red Hood

"Oh, Alfred. Is this how the prodigal son is greeted upon his return? What would Bruce think?"

He slowly raises his hands, careful to not make any sudden movements, and keeping his limbs away from his utility belt. Not that he needed the belt; his modified stun gun was up his sleeve.

"I'm all ears."

[Evil DM Mark3]

"I am about to let you in on one of my biggest secrets. Because it is important. Turn around."

[industrious]

The Red Hood

"Sure thing. Now Alfred, don't shoot me in the back. I got killed by the Joker last time; I want my next death to be a bit more impressive."

He turns his back to Alfred, facing the woman.

[Evil DM Mark3]

Sat at a semi-circular table is Mrs Watterly, late middle aged and effortlessly stylish in the shadowly light from the window. In her right hand, an efficient and businesslike handgun. In her left, a deck of cards.

"People ask me what my secret in business is. I tell them to **** off. The real reason is that possess precognitive instincts." She holds out the deck of cards. "Not much you understand, I get a distinct aesthetic of "rightness" about certain things. I get the occasional flash of instinct, the odd vision, 3 so far, including today. And I can make Tarot actually work. Something happened today, something that knocked Gotham onto a path of pain and fire. I saw that fire burn over the city, burning in the shape of the domino mask.

Cut the deck."

[industrious]

The Red Hood

He's done a bit of street magic before. Or at least, has seen them do it. Most people cut at or around the center; keeps things symmetrical. Not him.

Jason takes the bottom three cards, and places them on the top.

[Evil DM Mark3]

"We start with the past, the event that cuased the now." She deals two card near her, Death and The Knight of Swords. "Well no surprise there. A major change concerning an honourable, clever and domineering warrior. I wonder if this has anything to do with Bruce's death? Then we turn to the future." She deals two cards at the far end of the table, and her face falls. She puts the gun down and stares for a moment at the Tower and the Devil, which was dealt upside down. "OK. At best the Tower is pride or sudden changes. And at best an inverted devil is Uncontroled ambition. And at worst, well the term "True Evil" gets thrown around a lot these days doesn't it? My advice to you? Don't screw this up. And about you." She deals three cards near her, The Magician, Inverted three of wands and Temperance. "You're wasting your effort in a plan that will come to nothing, diplomacy will better serve you here. Wonder what would have happened if Batman had someone to watch his back? Anyway, moving on to your future." She deals two rows of cards, first four (King of swords, Inverted ten of pentangles, Queen of Pentangles and Star) below the "you" cards and three (Inverted nine of swords, five of swords, inverted eight of swords) above. "Right. A lawmaker and a buisness woman will offer support, and the gain to you will be the healing of old wounds, hope, that jaz. Beware of the negative effect of great wealth. And that's..." Her hand slips and three more cards tumble onto the display, The lovers, The Two of Wands (lands facing her, so inverted) and The King of pentangles. "And I have no idea if that is relevant."

[industrious]

The Red Hood

Well now. That was either a very good cold reading, or the woman had a link to the future after all.


Sense Motive Check to see if that was a bluff:[roll0]


"Is what relevant? Considering all you just said, don't think discounting anything would be a good idea."

[Evil DM Mark3]

"I dropped them. I don't know if I dropped them because I dropped them, or dropped them because it is necessary. OK. The lovers, as well as lovers, may denote harmony, synchronization or any major joint effort. The inverted two of wands would be illicit or immoral gains, often money. Finally the King of Pentangles, I hate these modern decks the original deck had staves and coins, far more honest about what they are up to, The king of pentagles is a man who has built himself to a position of success through his own skill, effort and efficiency." She goes to pick up the three dropped cards. "OK. These are warm. That is wrong. This is creepy, I am officially going home as soon as the sun is up."

[Evil DM Mark3]

Guys? Hello?

[Terron]

Apparently this woman had some insight on the events to come...
Good, thought the Shambling.
Slowly filtering through the small holes on the wall, the shambling recomposed inside the house.
"There seems that it's much to be done, for the sake of the balance."the plant creature stated. "We'll aid you in your quest, your actions have spoken better than your words Red Hood."
Somehow, the statement was not much of an offering as it was a declaration of a fact.

[industrious]

The Red Hood

"Yeah. Because fortune telling is always so nice and predictable."

Sarcasm? Alfred would probably disapprove, but it seemed to fit.

The revelation of the Shambling's appearance shocks him, but he quickly controls himself, betraying no reaction.

"And now a plant has declared his allegiance to me; a few more villain knock-offs, and I get the whole set. Isn't life just grand?"

[Evil DM Mark3]

(I am going to assume you moved on from there, and set up the next scene.)

Three nights of hell. Three days of dread.

Every night, the sun goes down and the effective curfiew begins. Muggings, inter-gang wars and other, even less savoury, crimes flare up and an unarmed civilian walking the streets is a dead man walking. In the mids of this, record resignations from Gotham PD and, last night, the death of the Mayor in a drive by bombing. The state governor is reportedly considering asking for federal or even military assistance. This morning, as he goes out on his daily routine, Case is confronted by a siege tanking place, one block from his home.

Police have seemingly trapped armed criminals in a corner shop, along with the owner, his family, and two early morning shoppers. You are all there if you want to be.

[Terron]

From the sewers surges the Shambling! The plant creature lumbers in front of the police cars, and without saying anything, it collapses to the ground, and slithers into the sieged building.

Stealth: [roll0]

[The Dark Fiddler]

Case shakes his head when he sees the siege, muttering to himself. "This... is what the city's come to now?" He looks around, and notes the cops. None of them seem to be looking his way, but he can't risk anything. "But should I? I have to get to school, and... the cops are already here." Case shakes his head and turns the corner, putting a building between himself and the siege. He looks down at himself. "If I'm gonna make a habit of this, I need a better costume... I can't believe I'm about to do this..." Case puts the hood of his hoodie up, like he did the other night at Bruce's funeral and drops his backpack on the sidewalk. He stretches himself up on top of the building, then onto the roof of the store.

[industrious]

The Red Hood

"You really do, kid."

He's on that same roof, staring down at the situation below. Case hadn't noticed the older vigilante earlier.

[Evil DM Mark3]

(This everyone?)

[The Dark Fiddler]

Case jumps a bit as The Red Hood speaks, not expecting anybody else to be up on the roof with him. "You're here too? Same reason as me, I assume..."

[Zerkai]

Frostbite

The pale blue-haired heroine stepped out of an alleyway a few buildings away from the corner store, hastily pulling on her jacket. She had planned on getting some food to fill the cupboards of her new home.

Frostbite has expected an increase in crime, but also hadn't expected it to increase this much, considering Batman's funeral also heralded the death of his greatest enemy. She carefully made her way towards the police cars, wanted to speak with the proper authorities first before jumping into a dangerous situation.

[Evil DM Mark3]

The thugs don't seem to see the Shambling.

The police sergeant turns to frostbite and gives here a look that says it all, what on earth are you doing here?

[Zerkai]

Frostbite

Once the sergeant looked at her she froze up for just a moment, not sure what to say to the authorities when in costume. She hadn't cooperated with the police in bludhaven during her short time as a hero there.

"I... um... figured you could use some assistance, and I didn't want to mess up any plans you have to deal with... well, that." She jerked her thumb to the store with the armed thugs and hostages.