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Post by WildKnight on Jan 12, 2021 22:57:55 GMT -5
Bludhaven. Gotham was a festering pit, but somehow Bludhaven, just across a bridge, was even worse. Perhaps it was because Bludhaven had no Batman, no Waynes, no Jim Gordon. Bludhaven didn't even have a single criminal powerful enough to keep the rest under control. Not that his memories could be trusted, but Jason thought that he'd made a few trips here with Batman... maybe. For what, he couldn't exactly remember.
Tracking down criminals who deserved retribution was a great way to avoid thinking about how he remembered, in excruciating detail, dying... not being beaten unconscious but actually dying all the way to death... and had no idea how he was here, now. In this case the criminal in question was one Victor Zsasz, a psycho who had thrown gasoline on Gotham's DA and burned him alive. Jason remembered r Harvey as the only person outside of Wayne Manor that Bruce ever considered revealing his identity to. Jason had never trusted Harvey though... perhaps he recognized something of himself in the DA that Bruce simply didn't, or couldn't, see. Harvey was like Jason, after all... he'd come up in Gotham's streets, something Bruce could never understand. Still, Harvey didn't deserve what Zsasz had done to him.
He'd had to crack a few skulls to get the information, but rumor was that Zsasz had fled to Bludhaven and was operating under the moniker The Tally Man here, working for whoever could pay and trying to keep a low profile. Jason remembered that Bruce's file on Zsasz said he was deceptively intelligent, but in Jason's estimation, Zsasz had run just far enough to catch a bullet. Two days into his stakeout of the bar The Tally Man was known to frequent, however, and Jason was starting to question the lead.
It was then that he realized that he himself was being surveilled. The roof across the way, a radio station from the looks of things. An almost impossibly lean figure rested among the broadcast antenna, watching. How long he'd been there Jason couldn't say, and by the look of the man's frame, it clearly wasn't the stocky but powerful Zsasz. Had he walked into a trap?
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Post by Dhark on Jan 14, 2021 0:56:50 GMT -5
RED HOODJason discreetly scrutinizes the lean figure across the way. The high-ground perch indicated that Slim wasn’t tailing Jason so much as observing him... -OR-... Slim had been staking out the same target as Jason, his more reserved vantage had revealed competition— a notion that hadn’t been (and still wasn’t) a concern for Jason when he’d opted for the more aggressive position in which he himself was entrenched. Jason’s chosen location offered the optimal ratio of cover to approach speed... Slim had chosen the more reserved high ground; Better cover, better view, slower response time (Even a zipline or glider wouldn’t be able to beat Jason to the mark). IF Slim was competition, that said a few things about his style. IF, however, he was watching Jason and not the bar, it said something else entirely. Flashbacks to his youth, his own voice echoing in his head in answer to Bruce’s incessant hypothetical questions: Vanishing act, reappear elsewhere in view, lure them to a blind, execute an ambush, intimidate and disable threats, then question or flee if ineffective. There’s an almost ache in every muscle in Jason’s body, memory and reflex compelling him to do just that. It was The Way. The ache fades, replaced by a tightening of his gut in revulsion. Frak that.Jason wasn’t a little teenager anymore, he didn’t need those smoke and mirror games. He didn’t shelter in The Bat’s shadow anymore. Jason wasn’t afraid of someone following him, he wasn’t afraid of competition, and he sure as hell wasn’t afraid to face a mystery head on. With speed rivaling a guns recoil, he pivots on heel and turns to face his observer. Even as he turns, his leather bomber jacket is thrown wide; His left hand pulls out the grapnel launcher and fires it in one smooth motion while simultaneously leaping from his hiding spot. He watches as the hook latches firmly, and the cranks begin pulling him at reckless speed up and towards the radio tower into which it had latched. His off hand is readied to draw a gun if his less than subtle approach draws fire. ========================= ========================= H: 03/03 E: 14/14MODIFIERS:
MENTAL DEFENSE II
TARGETING III
TOUGHNESS II
REFLEXIVE DODGE II
WEALTH IV EQUIPMENT:
COSTUME (Stolen/Re-Branded Bat Suit, Defense II, No x2 from Firearms)
GRAPPLING HOOK II (MN to Acrobatics for Web-Slinging)
COLT M1911’s (x2) (Weapon Bonus II, x2 Damage)
KNIVES (x4) (Weapon Bonus II, AP)
THE BUNKER
ACTION 01: 03 Stones into Acrobatics plus MN2 Grappling Hook to web-sling up to the Radio tower. ACTION 02: XX Stones into XXXXX H: 03/03 E: 14/14R: 06[
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Post by WildKnight on Jan 15, 2021 10:25:12 GMT -5
Reaching the top of the building, Jason saw that the figure hadn't moved, hadn't even attempted to. It was dark on the roof, and he could make out that there were several lights afixed to the radio tower... all of them not functioning, their bulbs broken, probably by intent. The figure was tall, easily seven feet, and impossibly thin for a man of that height, in a long black coat that covered him neck to toe. A tall top hat added several more inches to his already imposing height. His eyes were covered in a dark blue domino mask, much like the one once worn by Robin, except that it extended to also cover most of the figures long, beak-like nose. In the still darkness, the figure's breath produced vapor, the only sign that it was a real living being, until it spoke. But what disturbed the Red Hood most was the smile. Broad. Too broad. White teeth. Not him... but close.
*************************************************************************************
"What do you think, bird boy?" The Joker cackled in his taunting voice, "Will the Caped Crusader arrive on time to save the Boy Wonder?"
*crack*
"You don't think... you don't think he's too busy somewhere else?"
*crack*
*************************************************************************************************
The voice was not his either. It was high pitched, raspy, but cold and lifeless. "You're not the Batman. How very disappointing. You're not on my list. I could kill you, but it wouldn't count. Go away."
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Post by Dhark on Jan 15, 2021 17:23:17 GMT -5
RED HOODThere’s a reflexive catch in Jason’s throat, irrational fear traversing the length of his spine like a series of immobilizing firecrackers even as he somehow executes a smooth landing. His knees straighten, drawing him vertical from the braced position that had absorbed his impact. It feels so slow, his mind fighting to process through the murk of terror gripping his very soul... face to unexpected face with the terror that had killed him. He’d registered the figure only moments before having to decide to bail out or land. It was hard to say if it was grit or inability to react that had spurred him forward in those last seconds... The JokerNo. It wasn’t him. It wasn’t. He was all wrong. The height, the smell, the sound... And yet, the smile. That smile haunted his sleep, gripping him in terrors the likes of which even the League of Shadows had been hard pressed helping him come to terms with. Even Ducra had been exasperated at how deeply entrenched his murder had become in his psyche. In his defense, none of them had ever been murdered by the clown-prince and brought back to life. That smug, elongated, emaciated, big toothed and nearly gum-less taunting smile... just begging to be smashed in, and Jason very much intended to do that right then and there. But it wasn’t him. Was it? His words settle in, and Jason’s head cocks on angle in thought. There’s a gun in his hand then, appeared as though by magic. ”No one kills The Bat but me, your list be damned... but today’s not about The Bat. You get this one warning: Get lost, or be lost. The Tally Man is mine.”Red Hood stares hard at this Joker-Wanna-Be, looking to see if nis message had been received or if further incentive was required. ========================= ========================= H: 03/03 E: 14/14MODIFIERS:
MENTAL DEFENSE II
TARGETING III
TOUGHNESS II
REFLEXIVE DODGE II
WEALTH IV EQUIPMENT:
COSTUME (Stolen/Re-Branded Bat Suit, Defense II, No x2 from Firearms)
GRAPPLING HOOK II (MN to Acrobatics for Web-Slinging)
COLT M1911’s (x2) (Weapon Bonus II, x2 Damage)
KNIVES (x4) (Weapon Bonus II, AP)
THE BUNKER
ACTION 01: 06 Stones into Combat [Close] shifted to Defense (plus modifiers/equipment) ACTION 02: XX StonesH: 03/03 E: 08/14R: 06
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Post by WildKnight on Jan 19, 2021 8:58:56 GMT -5
The giggle that escaped the thin man was eerily child-like. Innocent, playful.
"You don't see, of course you don't. I am the Tally Man. Your prey isn't here, it never was. The trap was baited, but the trap was for a Bat, not for you. Don't be sad, sooner or later everyone pays the Tally Man. Its just not your night. Go away. If you know the Bat, tell him his time to pay the Tally Man has come."
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Post by Dhark on Jan 22, 2021 11:15:09 GMT -5
RED HOODJason is quiet for a moment, letting the silence sit heavy between the pair. He faces the diner, but his attention is more keenly focused on the slim man beside him. He lets it get awkward, making no move to depart as bidden much less acknowledge that he’d even been spoken to. ”Not Zsasz then. Pity.” He finally says softly, weighing his next move. He’d come here for a reason. It sure as hell wasn’t this clown, and it wasn’t handling Bruce’s debts with homicidal maniacs. Jason’s reason for coming down this cess pool had been predicated upon intel which was slowly proving to be bad... possibly even just a poorly laid trap as claimed. ”Before you go though— If you really were the one who laid this trap, you would have to have been fairly certain that Zsasz wouldn’t show up somewhere prematurely and ruin the plan.”[/color] Disregard for Tally Man’s dismissal, and flipping it back on him, followed by now turning to face him proper. ”Which means you’re a lying idiot, OR you know where Zsasz is.
“I’m willing to bet on the later. Spill. Where is Zsasz?”========================= ========================= H: 03/03 E: 14/14MODIFIERS:
MENTAL DEFENSE II
TARGETING III
TOUGHNESS II
REFLEXIVE DODGE II
WEALTH IV EQUIPMENT:
COSTUME (Stolen/Re-Branded Bat Suit, Defense II, No x2 from Firearms)
GRAPPLING HOOK II (MN to Acrobatics for Web-Slinging)
COLT M1911’s (x2) (Weapon Bonus II, x2 Damage)
KNIVES (x4) (Weapon Bonus II, AP)
THE BUNKER
ACTION 01: 06 Stones into Combat [Close] shifted to Defense (plus modifiers/equipment) ACTION 02: XX StonesH: 03/03 E: 08/14R: 06
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Post by WildKnight on Jan 24, 2021 19:26:50 GMT -5
That grin. The lips didn't even twitch.
"You think this is my trap? I'm flattered, but The Tally Man does not create his own list. The Tally Man was told to wait here for the Bat who would come hunting. If you were on my list, I'd add you to my tally. You're not, and I don't have the answers to your questions. Go back to where you came from, killing you is a lot of effort for no tally mark."
This time he produced a pair of custom pistols, strange looking devices that had a vague menace about them all their own. He didn't raise them to aim them at Jason, but he made it clear he was ready if it came to blows.
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Post by Dhark on Jan 25, 2021 11:22:58 GMT -5
RED HOOD”Fair enough— how does one get onto your list exactly? On the off chance I were willing to subcontract?” Jason asks, curious if the hound could be turned back on the hand that fed it. His stance doesn’t change in the least, but he does take note of the increased threat and the opposition’s choice in weaponry. ========================= ========================= H: 03/03 E: 14/14MODIFIERS:
MENTAL DEFENSE II
TARGETING III
TOUGHNESS II
REFLEXIVE DODGE II
WEALTH IV EQUIPMENT:
COSTUME (Stolen/Re-Branded Bat Suit, Defense II, No x2 from Firearms)
GRAPPLING HOOK II (MN to Acrobatics for Web-Slinging)
COLT M1911’s (x2) (Weapon Bonus II, x2 Damage)
KNIVES (x4) (Weapon Bonus II, AP)
THE BUNKER
ACTION 01: 06 Stones into Combat [Close] shifted to Defense (plus modifiers/equipment) ACTION 02: XX StonesH: 03/03 E: 08/14R: 06
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Post by WildKnight on Jan 25, 2021 17:15:53 GMT -5
"That'd be the bossman. He wants you dead, you are..." he paused, as if something had just occurred to him. "Why, would you like to meet him?" Clearly the maniacal killer hoped that if he took this interloper to his employer, he'd be given the kill order he seemed to crave.
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Post by Dhark on Jan 25, 2021 21:56:14 GMT -5
RED HOOD”Depends, who’s bossman, how well does he pay, and how does he feel about side contracts and/or selling information? Not looking to scalp your gigs, but it sounds like we’re in the same line of work.” Professional courtesies necessitated being very clear about his intentions here. Jason was trained by The League... and with that had come certain understandings and etiquette. Also the considerations already voiced by Slim... The time and effort to kill him without gain wasn’t worth it. ”Worst case scenario, maybe we can work out a trade. You put my target in my sights, and I help get yours into yours. Less waiting around for both of us.”[/color] ========================= ========================= H: 03/03 E: 14/14MODIFIERS:
MENTAL DEFENSE II
TARGETING III
TOUGHNESS II
REFLEXIVE DODGE II
WEALTH IV EQUIPMENT:
COSTUME (Stolen/Re-Branded Bat Suit, Defense II, No x2 from Firearms)
GRAPPLING HOOK II (MN to Acrobatics for Web-Slinging)
COLT M1911’s (x2) (Weapon Bonus II, x2 Damage)
KNIVES (x4) (Weapon Bonus II, AP)
THE BUNKER
ACTION 01: 06 Stones into Combat [Close] shifted to Defense (plus modifiers/equipment) ACTION 02: XX StonesH: 03/03 E: 08/14R: 06
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Post by WildKnight on Jan 27, 2021 9:31:39 GMT -5
The Tallyman tilted his head at an extreme angle, which oddly didn't cause his tall hat to shift its position on his head in the very slightest. "You're trying to trick the Tallyman. Clever, but not clever enough. The Boss said the Bat was clever, not to underestimate him. Maybe you are The Bat. Just left the cape at home?"
The Tallyman raised his guns, still not firing, but now they were aimed directly at Jason
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Post by Dhark on Jan 28, 2021 21:45:54 GMT -5
RED HOODThe helmet doesn’t budge, and Jason slowly counts to three inside his head. It wasn’t easy. Finally, he answers: ”Professional courtesy only gets you so much rope. You don’t wanna trade, that’s your loss.
“You keep pointing those antiques at me though, and I might just decide that the inconvenience of stopping to squash you like a bug outweighs the enjoyment I’ll feel watching the slack go taught on the rope right before your neck snaps.”Jason’s voice maintains the hard edge of someone who has done as much, and enjoyed it as indicated. He deliberately begins manually winding that last foot of zipline into the grapnel launcher he’d used to reach the location. ”...and to be clear, as my final good deed of the day... confusing me for The Bat is a surefire way to learn the easy way just how different Justice and Vengeance are.... How much further than either of you that I’m willing to go.”========================= ========================= H: 03/03 E: 14/14MODIFIERS:
MENTAL DEFENSE II
TARGETING III
TOUGHNESS II
REFLEXIVE DODGE II
WEALTH IV EQUIPMENT:
COSTUME (Stolen/Re-Branded Bat Suit, Defense II, No x2 from Firearms)
GRAPPLING HOOK II (MN to Acrobatics for Web-Slinging)
COLT M1911’s (x2) (Weapon Bonus II, x2 Damage)
KNIVES (x4) (Weapon Bonus II, AP)
THE BUNKER
ACTION 01: 06 Stones into Combat [Close] shifted to Defense (plus modifiers/equipment) ACTION 02: XX StonesH: 03/03 E: 08/14R: 06
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Post by WildKnight on Feb 1, 2021 8:13:49 GMT -5
"You're fun. I hope the boss puts your name on my list, I'll enjoy adding you to my tally." Without a sound, he was gone, and Red Hood's line on the murderous thug Zsasz was vapor. That lead exhausted, it seemed like all trails led back to Gotham, and every hour that passed was more likelihood that a lunatic like Zsasz was finding victims.
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Post by Dhark on Feb 1, 2021 23:42:15 GMT -5
RED HOOD”Well damn” Jason says out loud, expressing how impressed he was. That was a vanishing act that could give even Bruce a run for his money. He scans the surrounding rooftops and alleyways for any sign of his colleague, and finding none he doubles down on the uttered explicative. From beneath the helmet, Jason turns his eyes back onto the bar below. He considers the presented story. It felt... hollow. He’d already been starting to doubt the lead that pointed him here... was it too convenient that someone had shown up to validate his skepticism? Was Tally Man legit? Who was bossman? Zsasz? Or another interested party with more money than sense? Deceptively Intelligent had been the description in Bruce’s files. Not a description he’d use lightly. He hooks the grapnel launcher to his belt with an unseen grimace. There were days he missed the beltThere just wasn’t enough to go on, and Bludhaven had few trees left to rattle. Back to the bunker then.Jason discreetly works his way back to where he’d stashed his bike, and turns it back towards Gotham— leaving Bludhaven, and the autonomy it had offered him behind. His prey wasn’t there OR was too entrenched to locate without better bait. ========================= ========================= H: 03/03 E: 14/14MODIFIERS:
MENTAL DEFENSE II
TARGETING III
TOUGHNESS II
REFLEXIVE DODGE II
WEALTH IV EQUIPMENT:
COSTUME (Stolen/Re-Branded Bat Suit, Defense II, No x2 from Firearms)
GRAPPLING HOOK II (MN to Acrobatics for Web-Slinging)
COLT M1911’s (x2) (Weapon Bonus II, x2 Damage)
KNIVES (x4) (Weapon Bonus II, AP)
THE BUNKER
ACTION 01: 05 Stones into Black Ops w/ Specialties in: Counter-Surveillance/Evasion: Trained by Batman ACTION 02: XX StonesH: 03/03 E: 09/14R: 06
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Post by WildKnight on Feb 8, 2021 7:22:24 GMT -5
The trip across the bridge back to Gotham was relatively peaceful, but almost as soon as he entered the city, he saw signs of movement that he recognized from years on patrol in these streets... the police were re-positioning, attempting to make it appear as if the patrols were moving normally, but officers were being shuffled. Something big was going down,and all currents were leading old downtown, the area where the museums and now mostly empty shopping centers were located. Something was going down, and it was happening in broad daylight.
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