Gowi — Roleplayer Guild

“For years we believed The Batman to be a ghost; an urban myth. But we were wrong, and for these last few years… things have been better. How is it that one man in a Halloween costume gets more done than an entire Police Department? I don’t understand it.”

| Identity |
Bruce Wayne / The Batman

| Origin & Backstory |
Bruce Wayne was the heir to two distinct people of Gotham City, New Jersey – Thomas Wayne and Martha Kane. Wayne was an ethical businessman and proprietor of Wayne Enterprises, a company that was in a constant battle for dominance against Stark Industries. Thomas Wayne had no interest in a corporate war when the city of Gotham continued to dive into corruption, anarchy, and filth; making it his mission in life to give as much as he took, the businessman founded the Wayne Foundation. The foundation was Thomas’ sub-organization that handled charities around the poverty-stricken and those who needed rehabilitation – it was here where Leslie Thompkins, Alfred Pennyworth, and Martha Kane met Thomas. The four became quick friends and together with their places in Gotham society strived to make it better. Thomas Wayne would end up marrying Martha within the next three years of meeting her.

Bruce Wayne for the most part had a good and privileged childhood, although on a vacation to Oceania an incident with a group of bats terrified the young boy for quite some time – something he would never forget through his life experiences. However, tragedy hit the Wayne family when Bruce witnessed the murder of his parents at the hands of Cyrus Gold and Joe Chill; the two staging the “robbery” to put an end to Thomas Wayne’s invasive mission to clear Gotham of poverty & crime. Bruce was left there only as the appearance of a rookie police officer arrived on the scene. This would be the makings of Bruce Wayne as he is today. With Thomas & Martha Wayne dead, Bruce Wayne had few options and during the reading of Thomas Wayne’s Last Will and Testament he discovered the Wayne Estate in a surprising move would not be left to the Kane family of which Bruce had been connected to through his mother but rather Alfred Pennyworth. A security contractor for Wayne Enterprises and several other companies; Alfred had since his initial meeting of Thomas Wayne gone from the best in 20th century security to a socialite and this sealed the deal. Alfred’s friendship with Thomas led to his acquisition of Wayne Manor and the guardianship of young Bruce Wayne. This Will of Thomas Wayne infuriated Martha Wayne’s Brother Jacob Kane; and splintered the family even more—a thing that a young Bruce Wayne did not need.

Bruce’s friendship with his cousins Katherine and Elizabeth grew distant and when Bruce became more aggressive and detached with every year until he was eventually sent to military school; specifically the Samuel Lane Military Academy for Youths. This is where Bruce Wayne met Lane’s daughter, Lois Lane; and learned his discipline that he would later learn to centralize in his mission as Batman. At the age of eighteen, Bruce opted out of the academic school despite what it had taught him for a more personal goal: prepare himself for his war on crime. With the discipline he had received at the military school he now realized to center himself on a goal. Bruce Wayne used his college fund his parents had left him (one out of two trust funds) to study criminology, psychology, and business—testing out of each course when he absorbed the knowledge needed. It was around this time that Edward Nashton became the majority shareholder of Wayne Enterprises when Lucius Fox bowed out of the company to start his own after meeting investor, Jack Drake. After his formal education ended Bruce then looked to the east; and he left for the eastern hemisphere to learn pursuits of the body.

Bruce traveled the world learning from a variety of men and women in his pursuit to obtain the skills to become a spirit of justice on Gotham City. This inspiration never teetered but it didn’t take until Bruce Wayne met the one man that would change his life: David Cain – Cain found Bruce on one of his missions to discipline himself but after a run-in with criminal individuals in Bangkok it triggered something in the self-destructive (but skilled) Bruce Wayne. Bruce was at the end of his ropes as he found himself being tortured after weeks of attacking drug lords in Bangkok. That was when he was found by him, a man who had actually been sent to destroy the cartels himself as a member of the League of Shadows. He took Bruce in as a potential candidate before the leader of the group that at the time ran its organization out of Bialya: The Demon's Head, Ra's al Ghul.

What happened between meeting Ra's and leaving the League of Shadows was complex as Bruce was groomed to be one of the society’s top operatives. That was until Talia, his daughter, died on a mission in Qurac and the impending result was in a induced state of grief Henri went insane as he began a vicious turn, and Bruce found himself unwilling to follow the same self-destruction he once felt inside especially after Ra’s re-purposed his society into one of violent discord rather than patient dissent. Bruce did not leave however until he discovered through the history of the guild that The League of Shadows itself had been responsible for the death of his parents and all of his recruitment was all patiently planned. But Bruce did not act out in a burst of rage; but a sense of clarity and resolve. Burning all of his bridges he completely abandoned the League of Shadows—and looked back… back to Gotham. He had seen evil and it had manipulated him- he knew how to face it and now it was time to start his mission against the thralls of evil and the darkness it utilized to corrupt his home.

Returning home twenty-five years after he was born was simple enough. As Alfred welcomed him back with open arms, the press began to chatter about the return of Gotham’s prodigal son—though Bruce had much more ambitious plans for his return to Gotham. Wayne then looked to his father’s legacy; the Wayne Foundation as his public responsibility. However, in the darkness Wayne knew he had more power than what a charity and welfare program could do and took to the streets with a ski-mask and his bare hands. His first few weeks of vigilante justice came through the event of several near-death scenarios and wondered what he was doing wrong. A documentary that Alfred was watching as he came back home about bats triggered the memory and Wayne had an answer – looking to the television serials he watched as a kid he begins to become Batman. After speaking to Lucius Fox, a former Wayne Enterprises R&D specialist and founder of the technological advancement firm called FoxTech; everything changed.

The Dark Knight, The Batman debuted. Beginning to work ferociously against the crime families of Gotham and soon anyone else. This began Bruce Wayne’s triple life as Batman, Bruce Wayne, and Matches Malone. Bruce begins to date Julie Madison some time during this first year. In time, a group of people (Detective Katherine Webb, Lieutenant James Gordon, and the lawyer team of Harvey Dent & Julia Pennyworth); become vital assets in the start of Bruce’s quest to clean up Gotham City as the corrupt members of legal society begin to be pushed out. The Roman Empire begins to lose its hold on Gotham as Carmine Falcone is sentenced in prison and Gotham’s criminal underworld falls apart as several crime families and syndicates fight for the Roman Empire’s lost territory and strength. This war is not without its casualties as Harvey Dent's wife; Gilda Dent is attacked by Roman mobsters. This has a detrimental effect on DA Harvey Dent, but he attempts to power through as he tries to rebuild Gotham as best as he can as he wants to raise his daughter in a Gotham free of chaos and determined by order. In the smoke of the aftermath of the ordeal Carmine Falcone is sent to Blackgate Prison with no possibility of parole and the Roman Empire’s hold on Gotham begins to fall apart.

The following year in 2002 shows promise as the criminal factions of Gotham fight amongst themselves as they stake claims on the territory left weakened by the incarceration of Carmine Falcone. Left with a deteriorated hold on the underworld, Mario Falcone steps up to aggressively hold Roman territory. This of course, makes criminal trade much easier to infiltrate and manipulate to Batman’s favor. However this also causes suspicious behavior in actions spearheaded by Yuri Dimitrov which cumulates in a heist at Ace Chemicals which the caped crusader quickly stops. An investigation into Dimitrov leads him to nearby Bludhaven which is where he discovers something that could implicate his father’s company when experimental Wayne Enterprises technology falls in the hands of The Blockbuster Gang who intend to use it to annihilate their rivals, The Red Hood Gang. Working with former JSA member, John Law aka The Tarantula, Batman races against time to defuse the situation and restore peace to the city. In the aftermath, the technology is stopped but not before the leader of the Red Hood Gang is murdered in a crossfire between the corrupt police and both gangs. The death of Willis Todd would be one of Batman’s first failures which becomes clear as Willis’ son, Jason, is left with no family and shipped off to the Bludhaven foster care system as his father lies dead from a police sniper. 

Returning to Gotham, it is clear to Batman that he needs to find out how Wayne Enterprises technology got into the hands of the Dimitrovs who sold it to the Blockbuster Gang in the first place— but before he can continue the investigation tragedy hits as a string of murders are reported by Victoria Vale regarding the production of a movie adaption of Basil Karlo’s “The Terror”. It becomes another race against time as the niece of Alfred Pennyworth, Daphne Pennyworth, is involved in the production and thus a target. In no time at all Batman comes to blows with the mysterious “Clayface” who is discovered to be the disgruntled Basil Karlo himself who refuses the producers to ‘ruin’ his story at any means possible—he is apprehended and sent to Blackgate Prison.

Returning to the case, he goes back to the source of the Bludhaven incident: Yuri Dimitrov. After a vicious conflict in Dimitrov’s nightclub the answers seem to fall into place, but only to ask more questions and for Batman betray the trust he gave out to his father’s business partner— Edward Nashton. The dark knight reminds himself to not act impulsively as he plans out the confrontation between himself and Edward Nashton; after research put into Nashton’s activities he discovers this enigma of a man is funneling and laundering money for his own benefit. In the end with a confrontation and a call to Detective Katherine Webb he is incarcerated. This event becomes a catalyst as Stephanie Nashton, Edward's young daughter becomes obsessed with who Batman is.

December exploited a truth to Bruce as all of the ties to one case he had been working for as it happens that Yuri Dimitrov and Edward Nashton's criminal activity links to a concerning foreign element in the city which reveals itself to be the League of Shadows itself, who have apparently survived Bruce’s attack on them when he was a member. The investigation explodes come Christmas Eve when Henri Ducard reveals to Bruce that he had indeed survived and he because of such treachery by Bruce intended to use Gotham as the blueprint for his new world but not before dealing the same punishment to Bruce that he had received at his hands and the penthouse he was throwing his party at is filled with a deadly nerve toxin—in the aftermath he is rescued by a man called Wesley Dodds who gives an antidote to those infected. Dodd’s reveals to Bruce that he’s been following a trail of strange chemicals, thefts at ACE chemicals, and other such things for several months and believes that Ra’s al Ghul intends to make Gotham suffocate on the toxin through the water supply or controlled infections of some sort. It is later revealed that Dodds is the vigilante detective known as “The Sandman”. In the end the two work together and foil the League of Shadows plot.

What happened next, some would say was inevitable as the presence of the ‘superhero’ was met with its antithesis—the ‘supervillain’. Much like in other cities around the world, Gotham’s underbelly revealed its madness to fight the righteousness of the Dark Knight. As the clock revealed a new year so did it reveal The Joker who took it into his capable hands to give a declaration back at Batman that there was nothing he could do to stop the chaos that would follow. It was here at the Gotham City Fairgrounds where The Joker revealed himself as he creates an event that would shake Gotham—the Haly’s Circus Massacre. Individuals like Gillian Loeb lose their life during this event. The massacre was random and unpredictable, something Bruce soon discovered as he found himself on patrol on the opposite end of the city. The Batman would arrive at the chaos only to realize that The Joker had disappeared without a trace into the January darkness as if he had never existed in the first place.

In the resulting months, as if following the Joker’s madness comes a wave of criminals who intend to use Gotham as their playground. The first of these happenings is with the psychopathic Niccolai Tepes who reveals his intentions with Gotham as he believes himself to be a “vampire” and fashions himself as what the Gotham Gazette refers to as “The Monk” due to the religious imagery surrounding his cult. This begins a race against time as he announces his next target: Zatanna Zatara— who happens to be the daughter of one of Bruce’s former mentors making the case all the more imperative. Tepes’ obsession with Zatanna ends with the appearance of Batman and he is taken to Arkham Asylum as an end result.

Following his battle with The Monk, Batman then has to deal with a psychopathic scientist named Karl Hellfern only weeks later. Hellfern’s intent is much more grandiose than Tepes as Batman soon comes to realize as the mad doctor attempts to use an experimental poison to extort money from the Gotham high society with the help of his assistant. Julie Madison is poisoned during the investigation and soon it becomes another race against time. Guilty of Julie being involved in the mess he soon discovers Hellfern’s identity and is upon his doorstep where he makes short work of him and his plans. As the work of the Batman continues to spread so does his reputation due to articles springing up from the Gotham Gazette which glorifies the vigilante as he protects the city from villain after villain. The next threat erupts almost on call on the streets of Gotham as a police officer named Adrian Wentworth has a mental breakdown and finds himself murdering a sales clerk immediately after sexually assaulting her. This begins a string of repeated crimes as the former police officer loses his mind. As Bruce attempts to figure out his pattern the media taunts the serial rapists with a press report that calls him “Sick Nick” which leads him to go further into his own depraved criminal actions. It comes to a point when Marcie Cooper witnesses the murder of her father but not before Nick makes it apparent that he’s content with making the teenaged girl watch him violate her mother. Batman arrives at the last second and curses that his abilities and transportation have stunted him from making such a crime not occur. Marcie becomes obsessed with the chaos of Gotham and becomes unhinged—she is admitted into Arkham Asylum months later.

With three psychopaths emerging out of nowhere Batman decides to ask a professional for his views on what was happening to Gotham so in the darkness of the night he reveals himself to Doctor Harleen Quinzel, a dedicated member of Arkham Asylum. This begins a sort of confidential relationship with the Asylum between Batman and Dr. Quinzel who is oddly all the eager to help him in his understanding of crime to prevent it, but not before trying to psycho-analyze the Dark Knight first. While his leads of the instability of The Monk, Dr. Hellfern, and Officer Wentworth lead to dead ends it seems that somebody in the city was creating such monsters or so he begins to believe.

Nearing the end of the year on Halloween, the Joker reveals himself once again as he intends to use the holiday as he ignites a bomb scare by leaking information to the Gotham Gazette that thirty-seven bombs will go off anywhere between one hour to twenty-four hours. A televised journalist announces this to the public and stirs a panic in which the Joker hijacks a local news channel to announce he will be holding a “sort of party” at Robinson Park where he intends to burn a variety of cash at large amount to celebrate the “end of Gotham”. Batman pushes himself as he finds and disables each of the bombs. The Joker is gone by the time all of the bombs are found and disabled—as if he continues to mock Batman himself with his games.

For several weeks preluding the beginning of the year, a particular case involving a string of arsons has been one of precedence for The Dark Knight. Insisting he is ready, Dick Grayson tries to find a way to put the pieces together as the police remain stumped by the actions with no real quality leads to divulge into. Using “outside of the box” thinking and his own deductive reasoning, Dick finds himself realizing that the arsons were not arsons but actual assassination attempts and that the primary suspect is one man—Garfield Lynns. A former Gotham City Fire Department member who later became Carmine “The Roman” Falcone’s number one “eraser”. Batman is impressed and commends Richard on the fact he caught on to something he overlooked—a rare event. In the confrontation with Lynns; Robin debuts and Lynns is arrested by Detective Webb before he can cause more harm thus beginning the era of the dynamic duo.

It seemed with a new era for Batman it meant a new era of crime for Gotham as well as the mysterious “Penguin” and the elusive “Scarecrow” became apparent in the city’s underworld regarding illegal arms distribution for the former and dangerous narcotics distribution for the latter. The era of the Roman Empire had been replaced by a new one—criminals who were likened to mythic figures similar to how Batman was perceived as one himself. Bruce himself becomes worried about his mission even with the addition of his new ‘soldier’ in Dick Grayson: could he ever truly stop crime if it rebirthed itself stronger and quicker? Still he combated crime to the best of his ability despite his doubts given the circular nature of crime. 2004 would prove to be a year of massive work against criminal factions for the dynamic duo when the mysterious “The Freeze” causes havoc at the local branch of Stagg Industries in Gotham City—using their cryogenic technologies to demand ‘retribution’. As Batman & Robin deal with Freeze the truth of Stagg’s criminal actions against them are revealed as well the identity of the villain in Dr. Nora Fries, but Batman quickly makes it a point that the civilians put in danger are not fair exchange for Freeze’s husband’s life being stuck in limbo. The conflict is put to an end and Nora soon finds herself apprehended by the police as she soon finds a new home in Blackgate Prison.

The height of the year would hit Gotham with the debut of “The Circus of Strange”, a strange group of entertainers that happen to be led in secret by the one man that had eluded The Dark Knight’s justice—The Joker. Rolling into the Gotham Fairgrounds, the site of the infamous massacre, the circus claims to be the friendly replacement and as such lures innocents to their show where The Joker’s chaos soon takes full advantage of. It begins as the showcases start to murder the guests and it comes to Batman & Robin to arrive to put a stop to it and revealing themselves to Gotham for the first time in broad daylight. It is here where Joker reveals himself alongside his mutated accomplice, Killer Croc. A savage and difficult fight ensues but in the end The Joker is seriously beaten and all of the psychopaths are arrested by the police as Batman & Robin disappear. This fight would prove for certainty that the existence of Batman was true to the general public, any doubts that could be left would be gone.

Recovering after the tangle with the Circus of Strange, Bruce refuses to let Robin go on duty until he fully recovers—pushing through his own injuries to make up for the intense fight at the fairgrounds. This is when he discovers Superman, the supposed Man of Steel, has visited Gotham with the intent to see who truly the Caped Crusader was and if the press coverage of the Circus of Strange were indeed true. Their conversation is interrupted by a crisis that erupts from the magical underbelly of Gotham as they revive the obscure Solomon Grundy bent on controlling him to invoke their will on Gotham which subsequently backfires. Superman & Batman cooperate to take down the seemingly indestructible zombie.

The investigation regarding the Scarecrow comes to a heading as the criminal reveals himself to Harvey Dent as he exposes the fractured district attorney with a strong dosage of his fear gas. Batman & Robin appear on the scene and are also exposed to the fear gas making the conflict difficult with The Scarecrow slipping into the darkness as the madness of fear overtakes civilian and vigilante alike. After the effects have worn off the dynamic duo slip back to the Batcave where Bruce calls in his old ally, Sandman, for answers about the chemical substance Sandman had exposed Harvey Dent to despite having an inkling that an answer could not undo what they had just experienced. This collaboration between Sand and Bat lead the heroes into a confrontation with the chemist behind all of this—Professor Jonathan Crane. The fight is a vicious one, but having information beforehand they are more prepared for the Scarecrow’s tactics and defeat him. Crane soon is locked away at Arkham Asylum. 

The Scarecrow case is over, but the effects are not—Harvey Dent apparently loses his mind and goes on a breakdown as the press remarks on the ‘new’ Harvey as “Two Face”. The naming convention by the press only serves to continue Dent’s mania to the point even his daughter can’t keep him from embracing chaos. This comes into a confrontation with Harvey and Batman where he starts serving judgement on criminals, supposedly corrupt police, and other citizens in a fit of mania. In the end, Batman looks on as Harvey Dent is thrown in Arkham as his daughter looks onward with a stone heart.

James Gordon, now making Captain after four years of faith service finds himself framed by a criminal element which leads to a case where Batman goes undercover as Matches Malone once again to decipher who in the remaining Gotham criminal underworld has attacked one of his strongest allies in the Police Department. At the same time, Barbara Gordon investigates on her own as she finds herself inspired by the dynamic duo and their crusade in an attempt to clear her father’s name—Robin collaborates with this “Batgirl” as they work together to reveal the truth before it is too late. At the end it is revealed that it is the work of none other than The Penguin’s top man, Ignatius Ogilvy. The battle is difficult for the three heroes as Ogilvy’s x-gene makes him tenacious as well as resilient on various methods of attack. In the end he is defeated and the truth is revealed, cleaning Gordon’s good name for the most part. Ogilvy is apprehended by HAMMER agents.

Bruce had speculated the day would come when a threat with such power would emerge in their world where he would have to work together with other like-minded heroes though he never thought it would come down from the dark corners of outer space. This antagonist would be known as Star’ro, a parasitic alien that intended to use Earth as its breeding ground whilst it fed on the sentient life of the world. Despite being at a disadvantage, Bruce takes to his prototype ‘Batwing’ to respond to the threat which would occupy his primary concern for months as the governments of the world were overwhelmed by the force of the alien. Eventually, an alien named J’onn J’onzz reached out to Bruce and soon the caped crusader found himself fighting alongside with the other heroes of the world: Superman, Green Lantern, Aquaman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Hawkgirl, The Atom, and J’onn who likened himself as the Martian Manhunter. Through their combined strength and intelligence Star’ro found itself defeated. Superman realizing the scope of what they could do together suggests forming a “Justice League” to combat threats of this scale which at the time Batman seems indifferent towards but offers them his aid if they need it. Following the case, Bruce Discovers an experimental artificial intelligence project that was scrapped called “Oracle” which he systematically re-activates and ties into his main computer in his ambiguous batcave hidden deep underneath Wayne Manor. The intelligence is tied to a branch file on a WayneTech satellite is able to detect planetary collisions and synergize with traffic cameras throughout the United States and especially Gotham. He understands this was an unfinished project that went under the radar due to the sketchiness of the legalities of the software. Knowing himself to use it for properly he adds it to his arsenal.

Not too long after this occurrence, it came to a point where the League of Shadows began to plot against Batman once again as a political activist named Olivia Ortega began vocalizing a civil protest against the politics of Gotham City which created a large group of civilians to amass at Robinson Park. The police carefully watching over the rally knew not of the Leagues intentions as a gunshot erupted in the darkness from the gun of a police officer. However, this was all changed due to an interruption by Batman as the officer who did the crime turned out to be a disguised assassin by the name of Deadshot. With cooperation, the scene avoided a potential riot at Robinson Park.

At a Justice League meeting, Batman brings up the suggestion of a training program that he has named “Titans” for repurposing sidekicks and youthful heroes into a sort of defense against lower priority villains to try to relegate the exponential increase in supervillains since the resurgence of superheroes a half-decade ago.  Unfortunately, this initiative of sorts is doomed to fail as misfortune after misfortune befalls the group before Batman ultimately disbands the group at the end of the year calling it a ‘failed project’ and that as a team none of the members were truly ‘ready’. This adds friction between Robin and Batman that would have dire effects throughout the succeeding years. 

The Joker escapes from Arkham Asylum for the first time, appealing to the psychological problems Dr. Harleen Quinzel has. Appearing at Gotham General in full doctor attire and on national television, The Joker challenges Batman to stop him from ‘giving everyone free healthcare’ and asserts a time limit. As Robin is away with the Titans at this time it is up to Batman & Batgirl to stop the insanity from occurring. The Joker is aided by the obscure villain, “Harlequin”, who is a handful for Batgirl as Batman deals with the Joker himself. As with all encounters it ends with The Joker being captured as well as Harlequin—revealing Dr. Harleen Quinzel’s dual personalities which gets her removed from staff at Arkham Asylum. Batman swears to fix Gotham before more people are lured into insanity and commits himself to cases even more fervently. 

This also becomes the year where Batman comes at odds with mutants such as Poison Ivy and the second Clayface. This ‘mutant crisis’ is remarked by the press and HAMMER is once again called in to deal with situations after Batman has defeated them.

At a New Year’s party at the Kane Estate, Bruce Wayne discovers his cousin and childhood friend—Katherine Kane—has been released from the military and has returned home to Gotham. When the party ends he returns to Wayne Manor to gear up for the first patrol of the year. Throughout the week following a new enemy for the Batfamily debuts— Killer Moth. A con man and thief with a murderous motif named Cameron van Cleer, Killer Moth attempts to rob and murder Bette Kane’s mother. The attempt is foiled by Batman but not before injuring Robin due to his surprisingly capable martial arts. Batman ponders if he inspired the villain as he is taken by the police—only to escape them due to the aid an unknown accomplice that was unaccounted for. Killer Moth leaves Gotham as if he was never there. This event would inspire Bette Kane to idolize Robin to the point where she would want to follow in his footsteps.

Then came the first organized group of villains that the Justice League found themselves contending against, they called themselves “Injustice Gang” as an ironic counter to the Justice Leagues own name – led by the former protégé of Professor Ted Knight named Justin Ballantine who took up the alias of Libra in an organized attempt to test his prototype weapon—the Trans-mortifier, a device with theoretical flawless energy with limitless capabilities. The first battle in a chain of conflicts that lasted a year began on the outskirts of Metropolis as Libra intended to see how much nuclear energy the trans-mortifier could absorb and “redistribute”. This caused a near meltdown at the power plant in question. The members of the “Injustice Gang” who were little more than paid mercenaries to bodyguard the project prepared to contend with The Justice League. This wouldn’t be the first battle Libra and his Injustice Gang would lose.

Perhaps it was the weight of the shadow of the Bat, or all of the sleights Robin had thought had been dealt to him unfairly but in the later months of the year it finally came to a point where Dick Grayson had enough. In a discussion between him and the titular caped crusader it came to a point where it spewed into an argument and the first boy wonder retaliated with his abdication of the Robin title. Bruce was hurt and disappointed by this event, but tried to understand it as Dick Grayson disappeared for a time before reappearing in Bludhaven.

Tim Drake debuts as the second Robin months after deducing and convincing Bruce that he is the best choice to succeed Dick Grayson. Bruce likens Tim’s method as to “blackmail” though he cannot but help but admire the deductive and investigative abilities the young twelve-year old has. This would cause strife between Barbara and Bruce for a time as the red-haired vigilante speaks critically of how quickly Dick was replaced after leaving—the argument causes some friction but she stays on as Batgirl as she still believes in the Bat’s Crusade.

The year seems to run on ‘cruise control’ as the Batfamily deal with threats of metahuman, mutant, and mundane varieties—though The Penguin continues to be steps ahead of them as his identity never comes out outright, always having a fall guy in place for whatever scheme he or she is planning. The most notable thing to occur is the murder of the Mayor of Gotham by an anarchist influenced by Batman named “Anarky” tearing the political spectrum wide open in Gotham. Those with a stake in the mayoral seat are many and most seem to be favoring one man— Oswald Cobblepot. As this political scene changes, the organized crime element begins to as well as the Golden Dragons find themselves at odds with a vigilante by the name of Katana, and new drug syndicates pop up in the shadow of The Scarecrow’s absence.

The year ends with a corrupt politician named to a cross outside a cathedral. 

The next year looks... like a handful for the Dark Knight.

| Attributes |
Acrobatics – Starting with his instructor in France, Bruce has in combination with his conditioning trained to be sufficient in parkour and gymnastics allowing mobile movement in any given environment.

Criminology – Starting with his study of criminology in college, Bruce has long since specialized in the thinking and methods of criminals to counteract them.

Escapology – Trained by master magicians, ninjitsu masters, as well as con men; Bruce has found himself skilled in the art of sleight of hand and lockpicking and getting out of restraints whether they are handcuffs, rope, or other objects with the use of restraint. 

Genius Level Intellect – Bruce Wayne is one of the most brilliant minds of his generation with understanding of a multitude of subjects. This can be supported with his analytical and cunning mind as well as his knowledge of the matters of business, mechanical engineering, criminology, and computer sciences. 

Hand-to-Hand Combat – Bruce is an expert on a variety of martial arts that include jujitsu, aikido, boxing, karate, ninjitsu, krav maga, sambo, and various other styles. He has been heralded as one of the finest martial artists in the world for those who know of his ability. 

Investigation – Bruce’s perception is highly astute, allowing him to pick up on things in his environment and in his opponent that would be difficult to others. This allows him to be a master detective and perceptive fighter.

Physical Conditioning – Through intense training, specialized diet, and biofeedback treatments, Batman represents the pinnacle of human physical prowess.

Stealth – His ninjutsu training has made him a master at stealth and capable of breaching high security facilities without being detected.

Weaponry – Bruce is skilled with a variety of weapons and gadgets from swords, throwing weapons, blunt objects, and tools. He is not too experienced with the bow & arrow, however.

| Character Notes |
Prof. Wesley Dodds – A scientist, inventor, detective, and professor; Wesley Dodds is one of Batman’s oldest and most trusted allies. Due to his expert knowledge of chemistry he finds himself a well-regarded ally amongst Batman’s circle that has in the past been invaluable in the pursuit of protecting Gotham from everyone from The Scarecrow to the League of Shadows. Dodds fights crime under the shadows of night through prophetic dreams and his own deductive skills as “The Sandman”.

Tim Drake – Son of Jack Drake of FoxTech, and the current Robin. Attending Brentwood Academy.
 
Lucius Fox – The genius inventor and adviser to Bruce Wayne, suspects Bruce is Batman due to the vigilantes arsenal of technology but never asks out of fear of the answer.
 
Barbara Gordon – Gotham vigilante known as Batgirl, currently attending the University of Gotham.
 
James Gordon – A high ranking member of the GCPD and an ally for the Batfamily. 
 
Richard “Dick” Grayson – Bludhaven vigilante known as Nightwing, former Robin.
 
Mary-Elizabeth “Bette” Kane – Bruce's cousin who idolizes Robin. Her trust fund has gone to some weird investments in FoxTech and other firms since graduating from Brentwood Academy.
 
Katherine Kane – Bruce's cousin who served in the military who has been discharged for "psychological reasons" though Bruce suspects there is more to it than that.

John Law – A former superhero of the JSA known as The Tarantula, and an ally in Bludhaven. Mostly retired or mentoring his protege.
 
Alfred Pennyworth – Bruce's most trusted mentor and friend. A former British military officer who turned to security consulting when he moved to the United States in the mid-seventies. Pennyworth became situated in Gotham City where he met Thomas Wayne at a fundraiser where the two started up a friendship. The British professional's firm personality and unfaltering morals became the traits that made Thomas pick him as his most trusted confidant and the guardian of his son in case of his demise. Alfred’s wife bore a child named Julia who has proven herself as an acknowledged attorney before she was elected as Gotham’s ADA. Alfred is currently widowed, losing his wife years ago to cancer, and despite his misgivings aids Bruce in his guise as Batman.
 
Julia Pennyworth – The district attorney of Gotham City, and Alfred’s daughter. Julia has had a complicated relationship with the caped crusader but has found an ally out of his results. 

Victoria “Vikki” Vale – A reporter and journalist residing in Gotham City who writes for the Gotham Gazette and reports for GNN. She has had a passing relationship with Bruce Wayne in the past but doesn’t assume of the connection between him and Batman.
 
Katherine Webb – A detective on the GCPD who was one of Bruce's earliest allies as Batman. A no-nonsense police officer with a strong sense of morality, she has been one of few in the GCPD to avoid corruption during The Roman Empire's influence.

Tatsu Yamashiro – A vigilante who has been fighting the Golden Dragons triad in Chinatown.

Clayface I – Basil Karlo donned the "Clayface" persona to punish people who were ruining his novel in a movie adaption. Blackgate Prison.

Clayface II - Preston Payne was a scientist and mutant, who reeked havoc when his x-gene turned him into a monster. SHIELD prison.

Firefly – Garfield Lynns was a arsonist, firefighter, and mob eraser. Blackgate Prison.

The Freeze – Dr. Nora Fries was a cryogenic scientist who suffered a breakdown during an incident at Stagg Industries in Gotham. Blackgate Prison.

Harlequin – Dr. Harleen Quinzel was a psychologist with dual personalities who was influenced by The Joker. Arkham Asylum.

Hush – Unknown.

The Joker – A notorious anarchist, murderer, saboteur, and madman. Arkham Asylum.

Killer Moth – A obscure thief who eluded capture, likely used an assumed name. 

Poison Ivy – Pamela Isley was a mutant who found herself in conflict with Batman. SHIELD facility.

Ra’s al Ghul – The Demon's Head and leader of the League of Shadows; former mentor to Bruce.

The Scarecrow – Professor Jonathan Crane was a psychologist and chemist who infected Gotham with a drug that immersed people with fear. Arkham Asylum.

Two Face – Former DA Harvey Dent who broke down after being exposed to an attack on his wife, fear gas, and constant corruption. Arkham Asylum.

Ace Chemicals - The core asset of Bludhaven owned Walker Industries, ACE Chemicals is a chemical processing and transportation company that deals in a variety of industries. A branch of the company often works closely with Professor Hugo Strange and other scientists in chemical advancements. Its R&D head is Doctor Marc Legrande.

Arkham Enterprises - Founded in 1962 by an entrepreneur in the Arkham family, Arkham Enterprises specializes itself as a real estate empire that owns several high revenue businesses such as Marcielios, Tobacconists Club, the Burton & Associates Investment Firm, the High Towers Casino, and Club Vesuvius. The current business head is Jeremiah Arkham.

The Asylum for the Mentally & Criminally Insane - Nicknamed the "Arkham Asylum" after its founder, Amadeus Arkham who started the institution in the early 20th century. It is separated into two wings: the voluntary wing and the criminal wing. In its most recent history it has had two Directors who have run the facility namely Paul Quinzel and Hugo Strange. Psychologist Magdalene Kyle works directly under the director of the facility.

Brentwood Academy - Known for it's subtitle: the "Gotham Academy for Higher Learning & Arts" and often shortened down to as GAHLA, the academy is a preparatory private school that is highly prestigious located in New Jersey. The Gotham high society educate their children here, although in recent years a scholarship program has admitted special cases who don't fit the financial criteria. The academy runs grades 2-12 with advanced courses and distinct extracurricular activities (such as archery, gymnastics, etc.).

FoxTech Incorporated - Founded by Lucius Fox with financial backing from Jack Drake, FoxTech Incorporated has been an affiliate of Wayne Enterprises for the last ten years primarily focused in technological innovations and Gotham industry. A good portion of security systems in the Gotham-Bludhaven area are designed at FoxTech. Their main competitor is Star Labs, an affiliate of Queen Industries.

Stagg Industries-Gotham - The Gotham branch of Stagg Industries is another competitor to Wayne Enterprises and is known for its previous employment of Victor & Nora Fries. It is currently repairing damage done to their facilities due to heavy frost damage.

The University of Gotham - The ivy league university of the Gotham-Bludhaven residents was established in 1901 by the Kane family, originally named Kane College it was systematically renamed in 1948. It serves with highly sought after psychology courses, business courses, and the liberal arts.

| Character Goals |
Well, a lot of our previous Batman players are pretty much missing in action and I’d hate to put up an application without Eddie being around to understand we are rebooting, but as Maximum showed is that I can play Batman with enough inspiration and variety to keep it interesting and experienced. I strive to work with legacy characters and other contenders to make an enjoyable Gotham scene.

To add on to that, honestly, I can be active fairly often, and I’m a general team player. I can provide a competent and active Batfamily with conflicts that isn’t just him thwoping the Joker. There’s going to be plenty Bruce Wayne as much as there is The Batman and his dynamic with his supporting cast is something I can provide that will be different from previous incarnations by Byrd in World of Heroes and MB in Ultimate DC and Singular Universe. I constantly research, make links, communicate, as well as set aside time DAILY to decide what I’m doing with my next post, and read the backlogs of the entirety of the superherohype run as the most immersed player that debuted in 2013. I can tell you one thing: nobody is going to these lengths.

I will go at great lengths to make sure this Batman doesn’t disappear in a month and we have a missing Justice League member on our roster. I will refuse to slip up.

| Sample Post |
It was finished—the replacement module to the motorcycle I’ve been using had finally all come together and I’m rather content with what it appears to be. I glance over to Alfred as I began to explain the vehicle before each of us in the hangar of the Batcave. 

“This is something I’ve needed since the very beginning of my mission. It’s all but indestructible, operates on a jet turbine engine and has night-vision head-lamps so it can run in total darkness.”

To call this development of technology special would be what I’d refer to as an understatement and I believe that as I speak to Alfred, who in the last few months has changed much from the old family friend that helped me to become who I am today. It is a surprise how Alfred has helped me this past year; all with a soft smile. But I suppose it all ties back into on my father’s request that was written in the will, but the lengths he has gone and the secrets he is going to have to keep make me wonder about the lengths. Alfred was my guardian and now he is my closest friend—and that is worth something to me. However, there are many questions going on in my head about Alfred; mostly due to the inexplicable way I can’t read his emotions like I can anybody else—in a way it’s irritating but also intimidating. What had Alfred seen and done before he came to Gotham to be so?

"It’s an impressive piece of technology.”

I’m sure Alfred is more impressed that this piece of technology was created in secret with no traces back to the name of Bruce Wayne. It’s amazing what you can do with discretion and a little edge with Lucius Fox, a man who used to work for my father and like Alfred showed me something about aged loyalty. 

I cross my arms as I sit there in the cowl, staring carefully at the vehicle for a moment before answering Alfred’s compliment.

“Indeed.” My voice is cold as I approach the vehicle. I have no time to test it; an informant has given me vital intelligence that Yuri Dimitrov, an enemy of “The Roman Empire” is making his move on a large freight shipment from Ace Chemicals. If I let any mobster get a hold on that supply innocents will be harmed and I cannot allow that; not now and not ever. 

“Drive safe, Bruce.”

I nod as I enter the batmobile—with this I can cut off the freight shipment and make an ambush for Dimitrov and anyone else that knows about this shipment of government grade chemicals. It was a good investment—and it’s certainly faster than anything else I have in my arsenal. Thinking back to the whole issue with the Justice League and Starro a thought comes to me as I blast out of the batcave: one of these with wings would be rather handy. I make a note to myself to take up flight lessons and investigate the issue later. 

It seems like I’m operating at lightspeed through the dark and seemingly abandoned streets—sliding around what little traffic there is at this hour. Ace Chemicals is on the entirely other side of Gotham—about an hour and a half from the batcave—yet when I arrive at the chemical warehouse and processing plant I arrive in less than half of the time. I’m impressed to see it at work, I really am—but I can’t be grinning over my mode of transportation while counteracting criminals. 

The cockpit of the vehicle slides open as I carefully make sure it’s succumbed in the darkness where few would notice it and prepare my body for what I’m about to do. I move quickly, using my grappling device to get to a quality vantage point—prepared to spot the ambush and the freight that is to be put in transit in due time. When these Russian gangsters decide to reveal themselves they will be in for the worst night of their lives—I won’t go easy on them. I’m prepared and patient.

In this time I tap into the ORACLE network.

“Command: Detect suspicious activity near Ace Chemicals 12, Gotham City—New Jersey.” I whisper as the information gathering satellite and artificial intelligence goes to work. ORACLE is like a watchtower tucked up in space; ready to inform on any given situation at a time. I’m still surprised after its launch it was designated into the equivalent of a floating metal rock. The pitch for it by WayneTech was to sell it the GCPD as well as Gotham General to use to predict car accidents, robberies, and all sorts of observational issues. It was the last project that our former WayneTech head Lucius Fox developed before he resigned from the company and formed Fox Technologies. 

I don’t use it for car accidents. I use it in my mission. 

“{Three vehicles incoming location at erratic speeds.}” The A.I. informs me and I prepare the ambush.

Three cars arrive—the truck isn’t even in transit, they are deciding to cut it off before it makes too much noise. There are ten of them in total and they’ve just made a big mistake. I reach into my utility belt and hit a switch; I’ve hacked a nearby phone-line: I’ve set up an automated 9-1-1 distress call. The cops won’t arrive until I’m done, but these criminals will be all set up for them, I’ll make sure of that. 

I have a few minutes to take down ten armed criminals before the police arrive.

They have no chance.

One of them comments about how this will be ‘too easy’ as he overlooks the Ace Chemicals truck—the driver inside is dependent on Batman to save him from this heist. He’s noticed them and he’s about to leave the truck to question them who they are. My hand reaches to my utility belt and pressed a button down and the power drops for the whole city block—this will operate for ten minutes. Ten minutes is more than enough time for me to work— aiming a device I fire at one of them as they begin to get scared. I’ve operated in Gotham for about a year now and they understand that I’m there watching—waiting—ready to end their little activity. The device I fired holds a tranquillizer capsule of my own design that’s built into my gauntlets. It’s effective and filled with a non-lethal dose of experimentally modified fentanyl—people struck by it are out within seconds.

The capsule breaks—letting out the fentanyl-based gas into a thick smoke, the two caught in the blast try to catch their breath and cover their mouth but it’s too late as all it needs is a few seconds to get into your system.

THUD!

THUD!

Two down.

The other criminals are screaming. They have no clue.

The darkness is my weapon—these Russian mobsters aren’t even equipped with flashlights. That’s too bad.

Gliding downward I take two of the scared mobsters on my way down—their nearest friend aims a gun at me and I’m attempted to smirk, I don’t of course—even as I shoot out my batclaw; the grappling hook tossing and propelling his gun far from us. His face drops and he blinks—I’m in front of him and he’s soon on the ground.

Five more to go—gunfire is propelled in my general direction as I roll behind an industrial dumpster—dropping a general smoke pellet in the process. As I land I prepare a batarang as I toss it in the opposite direction of where I’m hiding; it clanks against an old chevy Malibu which attracts their attention towards it and dropping their guard. One of the mobsters goes closer to the car to investigate while the other four stick close. Before these four realize it I’m behind them and another smoke pellet drops and I begin disarming them and causing them great discomfort… great pain. The noise frightens the lone guard but he’s the only one left.

He’s all alone.

He begins to panic and starts to run. I aim my batclaw at his legs.

THWIP! 

CRACK! 

He’s on the ground and I can hear the police sirens. I look back to the freight truck—the Driver’s been in there the whole time, he’s scared. His eyes meet mine for a second, but before he realizes anything I’m gone—back into the night. Back into Gotham.

Just another night in my mission.
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