Gotham City...Jim Gordon lights his pipe under an umbrella as the crime scene from earlier that night is attended to. Sirens swirl. Gordon closes his eyes and shakes his head as the gurneys go by. The Swat team still suffers in a cold sweat from the chemical attack. Gordon mutters to himself, “What next? What else can go wrong tonight??”
A dark figure passes by Gordon without a word and begins to inspect everything in sight. One of the patrolmen on the area starts for his gun, but Gordon waves him away. The Dark Knight Detective takes his index finger and takes a sample of sweat from one of Swat team and drops it from a pipette into his belt. He pauses for a second before taking a few pictures of the armored car. “It was Falkirk…” Gordon says, “He paid Crane to spring him. We’ve got a manhunt started, but he could be anywhere in his network. These people are fanatics. I…”
Batman turns with a glare that pierces the steady rain, “Jim, I’ve dealt with cults before; smash the altar, put their leader in handcuffs, and show them he isn’t above the law. I’ll handle it… and Crane.” He disappears into the night. Gordon looks at the rest of his men with a shrug.
Moments later, the Batman is leaping into the Batmobile. “Run something for me Alfred. I need to narrow down arms dealers… someone sold Crane something big… something out of his usual habit. That means Crane was probably sloppy.”
Batman’s faithful butler appears on the video screen; his face lit from below by the Batcave’s powerful computer, “Your cape is soaked, Master Wayne. That’s another interior we’ll have to replace. A moment with your data, sir…” He pauses for a moment as the bat-mobile races through the streets, “There are clear signs of professional quality explosives with less than professional modifications. Could Crane have built these dreadful weapons from scratch?”
Batman frowns, “not likely. He bought them from someone well equipped. He probably left a trail. I’m going to hit the Narrows. If he follows his MO in any of this, he’s also testing new batches of chemicals… he left someone like he left those men back there in the armored car and the arms dealers know about it. Ratface Ramone. He’s a small time street informant in the arms trade and I’ll bet you someone is moving drugs in his direction trying to make more for Crane. Chemicals aren’t cheap.” With a jerk of the wheel and a furious roar of the engine, the Bat-mobile makes a sudden turn.
In the Narrows, Batman perches high above a neon billboard and spies on a diner where mobsters and police alike sometimes frequent. Tonight it’s Ratface Ramone and his five paid bodyguards; all small time low lives with unimpressive rap sheets. For hours, Batman waits. His muscles begin to ache as he waits patiently for them to finish their business. Finally they exit… they’re sticking close to Ratface. Not a problem for Batman. He fires his grapnel gun across the street and swings down at them. His cape spreads as he comes out of the driving rain. One of them calls out for help, but it’s too late. Batman slams into the crowd of thugs and begins to take them apart. In seconds they’re down or running. Ratface makes a brake for it, but Batman produces a bola. He whips it around and downs his man.
Batman drags him into an alley, kicks open a dumpster full of roaches, and forces him face first into it. “Where is Crane getting his shipments? Gordon told me I can put you in the hospital. He didn’t say how.”
Ratface screams and starts to frantically spit the roaches out, “It’s… not Crane you need to worry about. It’s the cult! They’ve made enough fear toxin for Crane to cover the whole city… they want him to modify it. They call it ‘the Dark’… some kind of chemical weapon they’re paying through the nose for. That’s all I know!” Batman drops him and leaves with a flourish of his cape. “I talked. What’s going to happen to me??” He screams…
Batman looks over his shoulder, “stick with the roaches.”
Scene 2: Roaches- Code: Select all
Challenges: Thunderstorm (rain, strong wind; -2 ranged combat, -5 perception, -7 auditory perception, half visibility. no tornado)
Gordon (using stock police chief) waits by the scene of the crime for Batman (routine perception in this storm is going to get Gordon an 11 perception) against Batman’s stealth (routine 30 check). He appears behind Gordon unnoticed.
Batman’s detective work: Batman analyzes the crime scene (2 minutes for a 30 foot scene) and finds clues (that skill mastery of his knocks out a 32 check every time, so I’m just going to note the difficulty and how well he succeeds). Batman analyzes some of them on the spot (the materials used is a DC22; Batman succeeds with +2 degrees. He can tell it was definitely Scarecrow, that the bomb used was outside of Crane’s usual line of work, and that the attempt to follow who sold Crane the bomb is probably the hottest trail right now). Batman also gathers a computer image of the blast to discover exactly which caliber of black market dealers he needs to start talking to (DC25 to gather). Once back in the batmobile, Batman asks Alfred to take a look at what he’s got from the crime scene and run it through the Bat-Computer (essentially using Batman’s own Tech skill here. DC20 challenging, but Batman gets it. I’ll grant him a +2 circumstance to gather info). He hits the streets and begins gathering information (34DC gets Batman up to restricted info). Lastly, the Dark Knight sets up surveillance (and anyone who he’s after has to contend with a DC32 stealth check). After a few hours, Batman runs into his obsession complication. Consider him fatigued for the duration of this (and possibly the next scene) in exchange for +1HP.
The street informant he’s after runs with a gang of thugs (5 thugs = force size 2, trained). Batman’s 30 stealth check isn’t in danger in this rain and he gets a surprise round (32 intimidation check vs one of the thugs’ will; disabled. I’ll force a morale check for that; DC10 yields no effect). Batman goes to work with martial arts (30 check routine beats ‘em by 18 for a +9 effect; DC28 makes short work of them. They’re destroyed). Batman coerces the street informant after using bolos to trip him (22 check to trip; hit and +4 effect. DC18 dodge leaves him defenseless and immobile). Batman gains his circumstance bonus to boot during intimidation. The answer the informant gives affects his responsibility and leaves him impaired.. +1HP.
Batman: 4HP, fatigued (obsessed with crime fighting), impaired (responsibility to Gotham)
Thugs: Destroyed
Scarecrow: Wealth 4
And as always that fear gas of his is scary effective. Nice to have you back, BARON, and nice start to what looks to be a very interesting storyline.
