Previously on Batquest...

Issue 1: I Shall Become a Bat
https://lws.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/2022/5086723/

Issue 2 Part 1: Warriors of the Darkness
https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/2022/5180270/

Issues 2.1-4.1 + Annotations:
https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=batquest
Previously on K9jgL238's The Man of Tommorow!

https://archived.moe/qst/thread/5089042/

>>5891913
Not sure if I care for Ivys romantic angle for the boy wonder. But hey, I get the sensation that while she normally would do as she was told and run, this is the second mission she and Dick are apart of. Probably warming up now.

>Union

>>5891913
>Union
Green can be a heroic color too!

>>5891913
>Union
We're not letting him die. Not like this.

>>5891913
>>Heartbreak and Vine

>>5891913
>Heartbreak and Vine
She's not exactly a martial artist.

>>5892398
You don't need to. Use your chemicals and sprays, that orca bitch probably has some sensitive skin and nose.

>>5891913
>Heartbreak and Vine

>>5891913
Ok the vote has deadlocked. If the tie doesn't break in 24 hours, I'll figure something out.

>>5894143
I'll change vote to Union, to move things along.

>>5891913
>Union

>>5894484
>>5894191
>>5892888
>>5892398
>>5892108
>>5892061
>>5892017
>>5891965
Locking for Union, Update within 24 hours.

Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>5894547
Rolling for the success of Ivy's attempt to save Dick.

A 5 or a 6 is required to pull it off. The lower the number, the worse the outcome.

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>>5894852
Oh sweet jesus anyone but Dick

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>>5891913
>Pencils & Inks: Marcus To. Colors: Chris Sotomayor
>Alt-text: Orca, a humanoid killer whale woman, holds an unconscious Nightwing by his shirt. Flames and smoke are behind them.
>Sound Effect Sample: Larry Hama
>Content Warning: Gun Violence

IVY: Nightwing!

You turn around and rush for him.
The cultists were blocking the exit, so you have a clean shot towards your ally and the whale woman about to crush him.

ORCA: What are you-
SFX: SPSSSSS!
ORCA: AHHHH!!

Concentrated pepper spray burns Orca’s eyes as you reach Nightwing’s side.

IVY: We need to get out of here.

He winces as you pick him up.

NIGHTWING: I think I broke a rib. Ah- Maybe two.

The floorboard creeks. You turn to see Orca rising above you.

ORCA: A little-known fact about dolphins is they have quite the capsaicin tolerance.

You make a desperate stand, blocking her way to your injured comrade.

ORCA: Give up. No one has to get hurt here.
BLACK MASK: Buzz! Wrong answer!
SFX: BANG!

Pain blooms through your body like a kudzu. It feels like your soul is pushed from your back.
You collapse on the ground. The last thing you see before your eyes close is Nightwing rising from the ground.
__

NIGHTWING: IVY!

Your chest is full of knives. Every breath is a stab wound. None of that matters.
You backflip behind Black Mask and smack him so hard his face cracks.

BLACK MASK: Ah!!! Help!

Orca barrels at you. Adrenaline might be keeping you standing for now, but if she hits you again, you’re not getting up

SFX: CRASH!

The podium shatters under her fist. A well-timed, and painful, salto over her arm keeps you in one piece.

BLACK MASK: Get me out of here!
NIGHTWING: You’re not getting away with this!

You aim your cahchaba and a tazer bolt fires from its tip. Then Orca catches it.
She yanks hard and your bruised core muscles finally give out. You’re pulled into her grip.

ORCA: It’s over.
BATMAN: Yes. It is.

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>>5894929
>Pencils: Scott McDaniel. Inks: Karl Story. Colors: Roberta Tewes & Wildstorm FX. Letters: John Costanza. Sound Effect Writer: Larry Hama.
>Alt-text: Orca slams Batman to the ground by the neck with a “THOOM” sound effect. Smoke surrounds them.
>Dialoauge and Sound Effect Samples: Larry Hama
>Vote Titles: John Ostrander & Kim Yalex, Dennis O’ Neil, George Pérez

Heavy smog falls from the roof, cloaking the church in darkness.
You can hear the acolytes run toward the exit, and scream as someone, or something blocks their way.
Screams of pain and terror echo through the smoke. Black Mask responds by firing his gun wildly.

BLACK MASK: WHERE!
SFX: BANG!
BLACK MASK: ARE!
SFX: BANG!
BLACK MASK: You-AHHHH!!!

From the shadows, he emerges. Standing before you like hell itself. Batman.

BATMAN: Let them go.
ORCA: AHHHHH!!!

Orca charges him. Slamming him by the neck to the ground.

SFX: THOOM!

The shockwave knocks a candle to the ground, its flames spreading quickly through the dry Gotham timber.

ORCA: Huhh wuhhh. Water! I need water!

She lets go of Bruce, bursting a hole through the cathedral’s thin walls.
With the smoke flowing outside, you can see the throngs of terrified churchgoers running after her, including Black Mask.
Batman goes to chase but you reach out.

NIGHTWING: Ivy...
Before you pass out from the pain you see your mentor looking over the bleeding form of your partner.
___

Animals. This city is filled with animals. You try your best to save it.
To free it from the chains the vampires of society have put on it, and time and time again you are stomped down.
Dent gave up power to some cop. Croc is captured. And now Dick and Isley are critically injured.

BATMAN: Failsafe, check Ivy’s vitals.
FAILSAFE: Chance of recovery untreated: 0.6%

Even with the Batblimp, your private hospital is miles away. But you can’t let her die here. You can’t let the evil win!

FAILESAFE: Suggestion: Contact Assistant Mayor Gordon. Gotham Emergency Services--
BATMAN: She’s a wanted terrorist. If they pick her up from here, they’ll know Dr Isley is Poison Ivy. She’ll wake up in a cell.
FAILESAFE: Given our distance, treatment at Gotham General provides a far higher chance of recovery.

The emotions grip you. You look around the building, and see the screaming people... and a jar left on the floor.

FAILESAFE: Analysis: Concentrated mutagen

Ivy told you about this. Its potential is unmatched. That explains the killer whale.
Using it on her would ensure her survival, but there’s no guarantee of the side effects.

>Out of Control
Call Gordon and let the authorities take Ivy to the hospital

>The Poison Tomorrow
Use the mutagen on Ivy

>Casualties of War
Take Ivy to your private hospital. ( 50% chance of critical injury.)

{Whenever there are three or more options, you can vote for any number. The option with the most total votes wins.}

Dice gods really pushing for mutated Ivy. What else can we do in the face of this terror?

>>5894931
>The poison tomorrow.

She did always desire this power.

>>5894974
Though i ask if we can wake her up enough to take it. The mutegen works best when you have an idea of what you want it to do?

>>5894976
>>5894974
Just to clarify, 'Critical Injury' doesn't mean "death." It does mean something pretty bad though.

>>5894931
I'm >>5894947 on mobile
I reread the posts and noticed this
>BATMAN: She’s a wanted terrorist. If they pick her up from here, they’ll know Dr Isley is Poison Ivy. She’ll wake up in a cell.
What stops us from breaking her out, or spiriting her away from the hospital once she's treated to stable? Sure Killer Croc is mutated, but he retains most of his humanity enough to fight for the homeless in the sewers. Ivy could theoretically do that just as well, but that's not the issue here. Ivy has known about the mutagen this whole time and had a chance RIGHT HERE to willingly take it when offered. She refused.
>No matter how much you want this power, the city needs your team more. Taking this would break it, possibly forever.
And going back to the "Ivy hospital but jail" option, I assume this isn't the first time Batman had to break an ally out or sneak them out under the law's nose. He's THE Dark Knight. And in addition, so what if the law knows Isley=Ivy? They would have figured it out by now. Hell, I have no doubts Waller already knows, but Gordon does not. Speaking of Gordon, capturing a critically hurt Isley only to have her disappeared under their noses by Batman is one hell of a way for Bats to start building up his relationship to the Commish. We already got Batman and Superman disliking each other over the kryptonite moment. I dunno if I like Batman having a whole second clenched-teeth ally relationship with somebody straight-laced and in the light. It could simply be the dice gods' taking advantage of us having chosen the tech/gun Batman this quest.

Either way, my vote
>Out of Control
But if some seriously stupid turn of events happens yet again to shove the mutagen at Isley, I want Batman and Nightwing to talk it over with her. Maybe Killer Croc too because he's also mutated. Showing support for her and mutually acknowledging "it's annoying how things keep throwing this mutagen at you" would be a nice team moment, plus poking fun at how the forces of Bat canon is trying to work with the dice gods to mutate Isley so badly.

>>5894931
>The Poison Tomorrow

>>5894979
Oh.

In that case
>swap to out of control from>>5894974

And for the love of god. Secure the mutagen.

>>5894931
>Out of Control

>>5894931
>The Poison Tomorrow
less likely to schism the team now that it's Batman making the decision Isley WANETD to make.

>>5894988 see >>5895122
She refused because of Batman's need for control, and her worry that going against his wishes for the mutagen would fracture their team. If Batman himself administers it, that's a different equation.

>>5894931
>The Poison Tomorrow

Tied up again. I will give it another 24 hours before moving to tie breakers. maybe one of you players can recommend the quest to your friends?

>>5896574
I could. Or I could do this.

>>5895071
>Changing back to The Poison Tomorrow.

>>5896575
Why put off until poison tomorrow what we can do on a poison TODAY?

>>5891913
>>5896575
>>5895131
>>5895251
>>5895122
>>5895074
>>5895003
>>5895071
>>5894974
Locking for The Poison Tomorrow.
Update within 24 hours. Hopefully sooner rather than later. Had surgery yesterday and pulled an all nighter, still a bit groggy today.

>>5897993
Woah shit, you okay QM? Take some time, rest up.

>>5898040
Got the kidney stone out finally. The only issue is

cw: Graphic discussion of genitals

They snaked a laser beam up my urethra to reach the stone and break it up. When they did this, it scratched up the tubes to the point where I have painfully bloody pees from now into the wound heals up

it's a lot less brutal than cutting me open would have been but it's still unpleasant and I am trying to engage with pain management so I don't develop an opioid addiction.

>>5898091
Eeeesh. That's rough. Got some chlamydia-inflicted urethral scarring from my ex years back. I know how it goes. Take care!

>>5898091
sorry to hear that, I hope everything ends up okay

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>>5894931
>Art: Kuro-neko-chan https://www.deviantart.com/kuro-neko-chan/art/Poison-Ivy-89444352
>Alt-Text: Chest-up image of Poison ivy: A red-haired woman with green skin. She has several plants and flowers growing on and around her.

You can’t trust the Gotham Law, not with Harvey out the picture. If Dr Isley is to survive, it will have to be as something...different.

BATMAN: Failsafe: Download metahuman injection protocols. Focus on circulatory functions.

You pick the jar up and load the mutagen into your bat-syringe. Green ichor fills your gauntlet.
You aim it at Dr Isley’s chest.

BATMAN:
Execute.
___
Black. Black is all you see, feel and think. You hear a pulse of red in the background, growing ever dimmer.
Then in the distance, starting as a flicker, but growing to a flame: Green.
You taste electrons cooking down phosphate like a fine glaze. Cellulose chains stitch together like fabric.
A grand orchestra of chloroplasts and algae play together in a saltwater symphony.
You spent your life studying this. Researching it. But for the first time, you know it.
____
SFX: BLOOOM!!

An explosion of leaves and flowers spray from Isley’s body, smothering the fire in a torrent of foliage.
Flecks of soot trace lines in the now-perfumed air of the church. The sensosry obombarge wakes Nightwing.

NIGHTWING: Sunto Del..

Where Isley once stood, a bright red flower stands tall, throbbing with power.

NIGHTWING: What..What did you?
BATMAN:
What I had to.

The flower bursts, releasing an unconscious, but alive, Dr Isley. Her red hair now accentuated by green pulsating skin.

BATMAN: Failsafe, prep the Batblimp for immediate evac. Prepare the Bat-clinic for two patients.

You tie the bat-harness to Dr Isley but when you go to assist Dick....

NIGHTWING: Wait! Over there.

In the corner, trapped under a broken beam is an acolyte.
The same scum that got you into this mess, the reason why Isley lost her humanity!

BATMAN: Arghhh!!

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>>5899490
>Pencils: Shane Davis Inks: Mark Morales Colors: Alex Sinclair
>Alt-Text: Close up on the eyes of 16 year old boy Jason Todd. Bruised and filled with rage.
>Vote Titles: Daryyn Cooke; Jonathan Nolan, Christopher Nolan & David S. Goyer


You leap across the room, ready to grab the cultist by the neck. But when you stare your target in the eyes... you see a kid.

JASON: Go on, do it! Just make sure you tell Riddler I got your fancy ass tires before you dust me.
NIGHTWING: Wait, this kid stripped the Redbird?
JASON: Kid? Screw you, I’m 16!
NIGHTWING: Batman...
BATMAN:You brought up the Riddler. Tell me about them!

You stare into the kid’s eyes, you recognize the look of fear buried beneath adolescent rage.

JASON: What, you two have a fight? You run us off the docks just to blow it all up in some superbeef?
BATMAN: The docks...

You scanned the city for Supertech, but if the Riddler had a mobile base of operations, they could move from location to location, masking his signal behind any other stockpile they could find.

BATMAN: Change of plans, you take the Bat-Blimp, I’ll use the subway.
NIGHTWING: Alone? But-
BATMAN: You're out of commission. The best thing you can do for the mission is survive.
NIGHTWING: And the kid?

You see the street kid struggling against the beam. You can see they try to stay fit, but malnutrition has only gotten them so far.
Like a trapped bird they struggle, even in the face of overwhelming odds, they resist.

JASON: You think you’re so tough!?! Take this shit off me and I’ll show you what a real man can do? You and Riddler and Joker and all the rest think you run this city now? Blowin up whatever you want? Buy you don'r run shit! You don’t! You’re just monsters. Freaks! Ya heard me? FREAKS!

How do you feel?

>I set out to scare criminals. Not children.
You can’t protect a city that fears you. Yiu can't carry on like this.

>I’m whatever Gotham needs me to be.
If they think the devil roams their city, so be it, as long as it keeps them on the side of the angels.

>>5899490
We'll need to talk with Ivy about what we did and why. We need to acknowledge that she did resist the mutagen so much, despite wanting it. We know that takes willpower and effort, to say no to the call of power. But though she chose no while she was alive, that was when she wasn't in critical condition about to end any second. We as the Batman chose to mutagen her to save her; it was do or die. Definitely a heavy topic.

>>5899499
Interesting how Jason thinks Batman is with Riddler and Joker instead of against them. Nobody told him?

>>5899499
>I’m whatever Gotham needs me to be.
the best medicine is often bitter

>>5899499
>I set out to scare criminals. Not children.
If we don't clean up our image, it will be too easy for The Man to point to our 'evil' actions as evidence that our underlying ideology for evolution is bad, wrong, and scary. That will be used by the likes of Waller and Gordon to prop up the status quo.

>>5899499
>Whatever it needs you to be.

We are different from the riddler. But all they need to know is that the innocent have nothing to fear.

>>5899740
+1 for the hero Gotham needs

>>5899499
>I set out to scare criminals. Not children.

>>5899523
>>5899539
>>5899740
>>5899753
>>5899985
Locking for whatever Gotham needs me to be. Update within 24 hours

>>5900473
Update running late. Should be up within 12 hours from now or so

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>>5899499
>Art:Charlie Bennett based on designs from Arkham Knight https://www.igdb.com/games/batman-arkham-knight/credits
>Alt-Text: A room with a door saying "welcome" blocked by beams of electricity. Question mark lights are on the door and wall.

You stare at the eyes of a child drowned by rage and sadness. Eyes you see in the mirror every day. Good.
If Gotham sees you as a monster, so be it.
Better a city of terror than a city of chaos. You raise your bladed gauntlet and swing.
The kid closes his eyes and sees you tore down the beam he was trapped by.

BATMAN: Go. And never come back.

He sprints off, and you look at Dick’s worried face.

NIGHTWING: He was just a street kid.
BATMAN: And now he’s one less cultist.
NIGHTWING: If you think fear of authority is stronger than the need for belonging, you don't know the first thing about teenagAHHK!

He kneels over.

BATMAN: Speak less. It's expanding your chest into your broken ribs.
NIGHTWING: Anything to get me to ..nnng. Shut up right?

The Bat-Blimp flies overhead. You carefully attach it's bat-harness to him.

BATMAN: Rest. I’ll be at the Bat-clinic as soon as I’m done.

As the night sky slowly swallows your partner, you stand ready to complete your mission as you at your core, always felt. Alone.
___
Miller Harbor glows in the multicolored lights of the fashion district.
You’re at the highest concentration of supertech along the water, you just need to calibrate your tracker to mobile targets, and... there it is.
The Lady of Dublin, a small ship whose registration records are buried in a mountain of shell companies and flags of convenience. An ideal hideout. You don your Deep Dive scuba gear and make your way to its hull.

FAILSAFE: One unarmed biosign detected.

You climb up the ship and make your way below deck. You draw your gun.

SFX: BZZZZ

Greenlight blankets the boat. Neon question marks cover the walls. In the center of the room is a clear cube.
Inside it, Councilman Throne. He’s standing gagged on a platform and his neck is held in a question mark-shaped hook.

Speakers screech.

RIDDLER: Wow, it is true what they say. You are much scarier on camera.
BATMAN: Let him go, Riddler!
RIDDLER: Oh I might! But first, you’ll have to prove your wits. And I do have to say you’ve disappointed so far. I waitined weeks for you to find my little Irish hideaway. Guess you never were the brains of the operation.
BATMAN: I’m not here to play games.

You reach for your gauntlet, but the hook raises.

RIDDLER: Uh-uh-uh. If you want this waste of taxpayer dollars still breathing, you have one option.

A keypad on the box glows.

RIDDLER: Gotham’s sins still need to be revealed. Solve the riddle and you claim your prize.

A warm melody fills the room.

RIDDLER: I can be fed, but not held. I can die, but never bred. I was stolen but am made for free. I bring you pain, but you can’t have relief without me. What am I?
_ _ _ _

The panel beneath Throne’s feet lowers, he screams through his gag.

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>>5902573
>Art: The Hypercrisis Bro

{HANGMAN RULES
The answer is a four letter word. You may guess one letter or one word.
Two posts by teo different players for the same letter or word will become Batman’s guess.
If the guessed letter is not in the word or if the guessed word is wrong, Thorne will be lowered.
If Throne is lowered five times, he dies. If you guess the word or all four letters correctly, Batman wins his prize.}

>>5902577
I'm totally lost. First guess
>A

>>5902577
>E

>>5902677
>Support, E

First instinct is fire.

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>>5902685
>>5902677
>>5902673
>Art: The Hypercrisis Bro
{E has been guessed correctly. A doesn't count as a guess unless another voter seconds it so it may or may not be in the word.}

>>5902688
>I

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>>5902573
>You don your Deep Dive scuba gear
Neat, I remember that one.

>>5902577
I think >>5902685 is right
>You can feed a fire, but while it SPREADS, it doesn't BREED
>Fire was stolen from the gods in many myths
>It costs no money to make fire
>Fire harms and hurts, but also heat is needed
Wait a minute... if it's not 'fire', maybe 'HEAT'? You can find relief without fire, but not without SOME form of heat!

>>5902697
Its not heat. As we can see. Lets see if I was right.

>>5902688

>I

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>>5902700
>>5902691
>Art: The Hypercrisis Bro

{I has been guessed correctly}

>>5902702
>Guess Fire.

>>5902703
+1. It's either life or fire, and I'm guessing that fire is more likely.

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>>5902707
>>5902703
{FIRE HAS BEEN GUESSED CORRECTLY. Update within 24 hours. }

>>5902707
Now, The bew question.

How the fuck is fire related to the sins of Gotham? Throne what have you done?

>>5902714
How did you like this minigane? We may see more like it if it was well liked. I do remember a previous challenge in Quest 3 was seen as too hard. Getting them to be not too easy or hard is tricky as you know.
For example for the last Riddler question, I let Batman solve it in-universe without player partipcation, but I did give a delay so players could try to guess it themselves.
In general I would like feedback on how you would like Riddlers handled for this quest, given The Riddler is a main vantagonist.

>>5902719
Riddler as a main antagonist is tricky, as if you make the riddles too esoteric people disconnect after failing a couple, but if they're too obvious he (and batman) seem like clowns. I think you're doing a good job so far, as the riddle itself isn't the main focus so much as the mystery of what it MEANS.

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>>5902714
>that filename
OF COURSE

>>5902753
Kek, I just saw that. Clever.

>>5902700
>As we can see.
Sorry anon, I was trying to puzzle it out and didn't refresh the page before posting.

>>5902714
Hey OP, this one's for you
https://youtube.com/watch?v=TpeCo8-0tJw

>>5903435
It was a fine guess

Update tomorrow

>>5903502
Thanks

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>>5902714
>Art: Anonymous Kenner Toys Artist(s)
>Alt-Text: Batman swimming in a black and yellow suit with a jet-powered scuba tank. It shoots a yellow torpedo.

Cryptography 101: Most words use vowels. The most common vowel is E. You already have an idea of the answer.
This will be an ideal test. You type “E” into the keypad. It chimes and glows green.

RIDDLER: Wow you guessed “E.” The most obvious choice. You’re such a geni-

You type “I” and are greeted by another chime.

RIDDLER: What? Lucky-

Two more chimes prove your first instinct correct. Fire can be fed, but it's not alive and incapable of breeding.
As hot gas, it can’t be held. Fire was stolen from the gods, but can be made from free materials.
While touching it is painful the word “relief” can’t be formed without the letters “f” “i” “r” and “e.”

RIDDLER: You vainglorious overweening, pompous... ARGGGH! Very well, here’s your prize.

The cube opens and Thorne drops to the ground.
When you rush to him, you see his gag is connected to an electronic mask, both of which open.

THORNE:AHHH!!!!! HELP! SOMEONE HELP! HE’S GONNA KILL ME!!!!
BATMAN: Stop! I’m---
SFX: WHHHHHIISSHOOM!!
FAILSAFE: Signal flare recognized. Multiple armed hostiles en route.
BATMAN: What did you do, Riddler? Riddler!

The speakers do not answer, but you do hear helicopter blades and footsteps echo from the deck. You draw your gun.

BULLOCK: Freeze!

A SWAT team bursts from the stairs, rifles trained on you.

BULLOCK: Drop the Councilman, freak!

A setup. Riddler tipped the police off to stake out their own boat.

BATMAN: BAT-SMOKE!

Smog fills the cramped cabin.

BULLOCK:
Fi-
GORDON:
Stop! You’ll hit Thorne!

You weave through the dogs of the state, before you reach the exit your eyes match those of Assistant Mayor Gordon.
You see them twinge with... regret. The deck doesn’t offer the coverage the deck did- the helicopters rain bullets.

FAILSAFE: Multiple impacts registered. Nonlethal rounds.

So Gordon is holding the cops back.
You plunge into the Gotham River, the freezing water soothing the bruises forming under your armor.
You swim to the Batboat and start your long return to the Batclinic.

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>>5904700
>Art: Glen Orbik & Laurel Blechman.
>Alt-Text: Batman stands sadly in the Batcave with his head down. Light from an opening in the roof shines on him like a spotlight. The Batmobile, a giant Joker card, and a giant penny lie in rubble.
>Vote Titles: Don Cameron, Grant Morrison, Bob Haney

The Bat-clinic is silent.
Isley is still unconscious, Dick is sedated, with Croc is still captured, you’re back to how you started this mission: alone.

ALFRED: I’ve brought bedding. I know how dedicated you are to theme, but even Bats need to sleep.
BATMAN: The Riddler wants to turn the city against me. They released an edited video online. It looks like I was controlling the trap. GCPD announced they found multiple Batsuits in the boat. Those fools couldn’t tell they were clearly fake. As if I’d ever put nipples on them...
ALFRED: Imitation as the most sinister form of flattery.
BATMAN: Riddles, The CBI, the cops, this cult. It’s like all this city’s demons are rising up.
ALFRED: And you as the vengent god must smite them?
BATMAN: I don’t need sass right now, I need answers. And allies. I’m short on both.
ALFRED: Perhaps a reunion with Mayor Dent is in order?
BATMAN: Dent sent himself to Arkham and handed the city to Gordon. He quit the mission.
ALFRED: Maybe he’s fighting a greater one.
BATMAN: “Dent” was one of the answers to the Riddles. He might be part of this.
ALFRED: Bruce! You have known the mayor for years!
BATMAN: Either way, he’s not with me. The only other option is squeezing the CBI for intel. I’m already blackmailing them, if I don’t overplay my hand I could find out their plans and The Riddler’s.

But it’s not your only option is it? The Box technology Mr Reese sold to Waynetech gives you access to a million minds in the city.
With the push of a button, everything they know will be your weapon. You’re guaranteed to find Riddler, but can you cross that line?
Violate the private thoughts of your city, to save it?

>The Man Who Could Read Minds!
Spy on the private thoughts of a million people (100% chance of finding Riddler)
>A Serious House On Serious Earth
Talk to Dent in Arkham
>A Very Special Spy
Set up a meet with the CBI.

{Choose up to two options. The One with the greatest total votes wins.}

>>5904762
>A Serious House On Serious Earth

>>5904762
>>A Serious House On Serious Earth
>A Very Special Spy

>>5904762
>A serious house on serious earth.

No, lines must not be crossed.
>sjw 0w
Thanks captcha

>>5904762
>A Serious House On Serious Earth
Alfred is right. We need to have faith
>Those fools couldn’t tell they were clearly fake. As if I’d ever put nipples on them...
Where was this one from? I completely forgot

File: batnips.png (2.37 MB, 1222x916)

2.37 MB PNG

>>5905073
The Schumacher films.

>>5905152
Not much Schumacher campiness this arc, though it seems we're still getting elements from his movies. Maybe after we recover Killer Croc and the team recovers. Just because we picked tech and gun Batman doesn't mean there's no room for fun

>>5905477
We just wore an outfit borrowed from an action figure, and Nightwing fought Orca, so we've got plenty of references to goofier Batman stuff too.

>>5905073
>>5905052
>>5904910
>>5904776
Locking for a Serious House on Serious Earth

Update Tonight

(I've been at a con this weekend thus the slow even by my standards updates. We should be getting back to the update every other day at worst schedule this week)

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>>5904762
>Art:HalHaneyArt https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/734815017/bruce-waynebatman-89-transformation
>Alt-Text: Painting of Bruce Wayne/ Batman as portrayed by Michael Keaton. The image is split in half, one side showing Bruce Wayne in a suit, the other Batman with his cowl.
>Dialogue Samples: VlQ6PDK+, cIDr4kQ0
>Vote Titles: Unknown writer of "Bruce Wayne-You are Batman" from Detective Comics vol 1 # 159
Using The Box is tempting, but some lines can’t be crossed. Alfred is right, about more things than one.
Dent may be going down a different path, but he is still your friend. The question is, how should you speak to him?
He knows Batman as a potential ally, someone dedicated to justice. But your reputation in Gotham grows lower by the day.
You don’t know much information you could get from him.
He knows Bruce Wayne as a trusted friend so he would be far more likely to confide in you. But there are limits to what you can say or talk about as Bruce without putting your secret identity in danger.

>Bruce Wayne -
Go as Bruce

>You are Batman!
Go as Batman

>>5907070
>Bruce Wayne
Last time he saw Batman, it was a fairly scary and traumatic event or him immediately followed by an unknown-to-Batman secondary one that caused him to break down. Now, Harvey may well have hear about Batman as that guy who got caught torturing a man by GCPD. Let's try being Bruce.

>>5907070
>Bruce

it's better to go in the face he knows. We can return to our identity later.

>>5907070
>>Bruce Wayne -

>>5907070
>Bruce Wayne
We're here for you bro!

>>5907073
>>5907091
>>5907101
>>5907141
Locking for Bruce Wayne

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>>5907070
Pencils & Inks: Jermey Haun. Colors: John Kalisz
>Alt-Text: Comic panel of Arkham Hospital, a building with a mix of classical and Gothic architecture. Statues are installed on its roof and its entrance is a giant open-mouth
>Vote Title: J. Michael Straczynski

Arkham’s halls may have gotten a new coat of paint, but you recognize it like home. After all, it used to be.
You walk past the gate where Alfred dropped you off, turn around the garden where you and Harvey met and knock on the door of the giant mouth you two always made fun of.

THOMPKINS: Bruce, Harvey will be happy to see you.
BRUCE: The feeling’s mutual Doctor. I’m sorry I haven’t come sooner I’ve been.
THOMPKINS: Busy I know. My door is always open if you want to talk more about that.
BRUCE: Thank you, but I have other concerns.
THOMPKINS: We talked about self-sacrifice Bruce, it is human to have limits.

Which is why you made yourself something more than human.

BRUCE: I’ll think about it. Now where is Dent? Bet he’s up the wall without a project to work on.
THOMPKINS: Who said he didn’t have a project?

The interior facility is beaming new the best you and The City could offer. It’s only right.
A world that breaks people should supply a place to repair the damage. Dr Thopkins rings the buzzer for Room #22

THOMPKINS: Harvey, Bruce is here!

The door opens and the man who steps out looks like your old friend but he moves differently.
Like the springs wound up inside him have loosened.

DENT: Hey, Bruce. Took you long enough.
BRUCE: Not all of us have time for homecoming.
DENT: Heh. This was our home, wasn’t it? The place that built us?
THOMPKINS: You both built yourselves. Arkham and I merely gave you tools to do so.
DENT: And now we give them back to the city. What a place we’ve built, eh?
BRUCE: We’re still building it, Harvey.

Dent takes a heavy pause, then asks Dr Thompkins

DENT; Hey, Doc could I have some privacy with Bruce.
THOMPINS: Of course. I’ll be just outside if you need me.
DENT: Step into my parlor.

You walk into the room. Comfortable, humane but humble.

BRUCE: You got any Whisky?
DENT: You can cut the playboy act with me. I know you don’t drink.
BRUCE: The way things are going I might.

He gives an exhausted sigh.

>Face to Face
{Investigative Conversation Mini-Game
What do you ask Harvey? Choose one or more. The vote with the most total options will be asked.}

>Why’d you leave the Mayor’s office?
>How are you doing, Harvey?
>What do you know about the Riddler
>Wrie-in

>>5911188
>Why’d you leave the Mayor’s office?
>How are you doing, Harvey
The latter is more important to me, but these are both sensible questions to lead with.

>>5911222
+1
No lies or deceit here if Bruce is genuinely motivated. Straighforward

>>5911222
>Support.

>>5911222
>>5911335
>>5911573
Given this first post said the latter was more important to them would you all be comfortable with a tie break for
>How are you doing Harvey?

>>5912108
I sure am, being >>5911222 and all.

>>5912108
yup.

>>5911188

BRUCE: How are you doing, Harvey?
DENT: Better. Of course, it’s easy to be better when you're isolated from all the mess that put you here in the first place. The real challenge is to get strong enough to handle the world again.
BRUCE: You're the strongest person I know.
DENT: Ha! Cause I had to be. The feds, the mob, Batman, here. I had the whole city on my shoulders and it was just... sinking me down. Hell, some days I don’t even look out the window. Just the sight of it reminds me of all that.

> The City needs you, Harvey.
>I know how that feels.
> Why’d you pick Gordon to replace you?

>>5912289
>I know how that feels.
> Why’d you pick Gordon to replace you?

>>5912289
backing >>5912316

>>5912289
>Why'd you pick gordon to replace you?

>>5912289

BRUCE: But why Gordon? Why did you get her to replace you?
DENT: Jesus, Bruce. I tell you how much that shit got to me and you bring it up again?
He sighs
DENT: Gordon was the best choice. It was either some gentrifier or... well you. And we both know you’re not cut out for saving a city.
BRUCE: Harsh.
DENT: But true. I know you. You’re the planner. Big picture. Always staying in the shadows putting pieces into place, but the guy to get in the field, the front man. That’s a different person. Gordon’s trying to rebuild the GCPD from the ground up. Even wants to work with Batman. A bit coppy for my taste but hell beggars can’t be choosers.

>There is always a choice.
>You’re wrong about me.
>If you trust her, I trust her.

>>5913429
>If you trust her, I trust her.

>>5913429
>If you trust her, I trust her.
Let's see how this goes

>>5913429
>>If you trust her, I trust her.

>>5913429
BRUCE: If you trust her, I trust her.

He lands his hands on his knees, takes a deep breath, and leans back.

DENT: That’s good to hear. You know, I am supposed to be working on my desperate need for approval but it still feels good to have you in my corner.
BRUCE: Of course, Harvey.
DENT: How are things going out there, are things getting better?

> Everything is under control. (Lie)
> It’s getting bad, Harvey. It really is. (Truth)
>I don’t think we should talk about this.

>>5913991
>I don’t think we should talk about this.
We're not here to stress out our friend. The closest we came was asking about Gordon

>>5913991
>I don't think we should talk about it.
>"Lets go back to how I'm the mastermind of the city again. My next Piece to put in place is the soda dispensing fountain outside every elementary school."

Deflect, deflect!

>>5914345
+1

>>5913991

When will Batman have a baseball episode and become Bat-Man?

>>5913991

BRUCE: I don’t think we should talk about this. You just said you’re trying to keep your mind off the city.
DENT: Damn, you’re right. So what DO you want to talk about?

>Write-in

>>5915778
Just for you, I'll try to work it in somewhere. (Probably not this arc)

>>5916281
Hmm. What do we talk about without tipping off that we need to figure out what the riddler was after.

>Are any of your collegues friends? Maybe we can get a party going when you've straightened things out.

And when we get the obvious answer of "no, none of them" retort with skeptism, then subtly lead in to something like "well wasn't DA coleson a friend at least?"

If he reacts badly again, we can apologise and backpeddle with a remark about how so much of our lives is tied up in Gotham.

I just honestly can't think of good ways forwards while maintaining our cover.

>>5916504
I'm less concerned with our cover than his mental state, DESU. Maybe we can ask...

>>5916281
>What do you think of that Superman guy?

>>5916282
Thank you. Here, have this pic I found from a /v/ thread thanks to the recent Suicide Squad game talks. 1/2

>>5916687
+1

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>>5916282
FORGOT MY IMAGE
1/2

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>>5916282
>>5917386
2/2

>>5917387
>>5917386
This entire arc has some of the weirdest cultural paths I have seen if any comic.
Written after a metric fuck ton of overlapping retcons (leading to Hush canonically having Jason pretending to be Clayface pretending to be Jason) formed into a sloppy comic with a solid premise then adapted by the same author into a generally more liked animated film that somehow became a cultural lynchpin of the character to the point it's like the one Jason Todd story anyone uses.
I will say in a spoiler free manner that depending on your votes this quest will go into what I hope are interesting places with Jason as a character.

>>5916281
BRUCE: What about that Superman? You seemed chummy at the rally.
DENT: He’s the real deal, Bruce. A few years ago, I was stuck in a rut. I spent years working up the ranks, thinking if I could just get that next promotion, I could cut through all the bullshit in the law. Actually help people. Then I get the big office and the shiny plaque and it's the same bullshit with nicer suits. When I saw him bust into the Governor's mansion, and demand a woman be taken off death row... Well frankly I thought it was the most illegal nonsense I’ve ever seen. But then it worked. An innocent woman freed. From a legal system that said she deserved to die. The same system I swore to uphold. He showed me if I wanted to help people, I couldn’t work for the law anymore. I had to make the law work for me.
BRUCE: It’s why you ran for Mayor.
DENT: And I’m not the only one inspired. Gordon has her flaws, but she’s with me on Batman. It feels like we’re at the dawn of a new age. One where instead of punishment and pain and war we have...
BRUCE: Justice.
DENT: Exactly. And I plan to fight for it. All those years you spent with the Feds overseas after college? This is my version of that. Once I’m ready, I’ll head out these gates ready to be who Gotham deserves. No, who [/]I[/i] deserve.

>Are you sure you’re up for that?
>I can help. I can get in touch with Superman.
>Would you be interested in helping Batman out?

>>5917435
>Would you be interested in helping Batman out?
Big risk. Maybe bigger reward, for both of us and for Gotham.

>>5917435
>Would you be interested in helping Batman out?
What a speech. Dent the hero Gotham deserves, and Batman the hero Gotham needs. Two sides of the same coin, but both sides equally shiny in their own ways

>>5917435
>Are you willing to help the batman?

>>5917435
BRUCE:
That’s good Harvey. I want to help too. In fact, would you be interested in helping Batman out?
DENT:
Batman? Heh, that’s a firebrand. I think he’s done more good than harm but the way he moves, there’s a ferocity to it, like he’s letting out something more monster than man.
BRUCE:
Maybe this world needs a monster.
DENT:
Perhaps. But that begs the question. The guy blows up billionaire's buildings, he doesn’t work with them. How and why exactly are you in contact with him?

>I’m Batman.
>I’m funding Batman.
>Batman reached out to me. He knows I’m one of the good ones. (I will roll a d2 to see if Dent buys the lie. He believes you if you roll a 2.)

>>5918577
I want to do 1, but I don't want to take that step with Dent yet. Not here, not when he's trying to recover. But maybe Arkham, the place of youth and friendship and healing, might be the place to admit this to the one person that might understand? Or maybe he'll two-face us and go "You should have never left this place." and similar harsh remarks

>>5918577
>I am batman.

Gamble. But I believe in our friendship enough that it can endure this. We can say we are funding him without guilt, but I want full potato

>>5918577
>I’m funding Batman.
This is not a good time and place to reveal our secrets to Harv, guys... And he's not in the best state to receive this news, I suspect. Let's cushion it.

>>5918577
>I’m funding Batman.
I'm rolling with >>5918694

>>5918677
Ill bend.

Changing to support >>5918694

>>5918577
>Dialouge Sample: Grant Morrison

BRUCE: I’ve been financing Batman in secret for years.
DENT: Bruce, how could you?
BRUCE: My parents were murdered in the street right in front of me. When a man like Batman appeared, what ELSE could I do?
DENT: What I did! Serve the people, not bankroll a vigilante.
BRUCE: You said you and Gordon were open to working with him.
DENT: Yes. So he’d be accountable to the people like we are. The world has enough hired muscle for billionaires. It doesn’t make it right just because you think you’re the good guys.

>So vigilantism’s okay when it’s Superman?
>Harvey, you know me. You know I have Gotham’s best interests at heart.
> You’re right. Batman needs a system of accountability. Work with me to make one.

>>5919317
>So vigilantism’s okay when it’s Superman?
I think it's fair to get a little mad at this two-faced approach to law and justice.

>>5919357
+1

>>5919317
>So it's Okay when it's superman?

>Harvey, How can there be a system of accountability for Physical demigod. That he has only acted thus far in the benefit of our morality is both a miracle and a sign that he is working at his whim, how do you plan to make that accountable? What about when he becomes a danger? What about when he stops feeling the common good?

>>5919317
>Dialouge Sample: 9WOcTwDE

BRUCE: So vigilantism’s only okay when Superman does it?
DENT: Superman publically announced himself and gave miracle technology to the world. The superscience he donated helped half the patients here, including me. He works in the open. WITH people. He’s not blowing up buildings in the night.
BRUCE: And what if he wants to? You talk about accountability? With the power he has who could possibly hold him accountable? He can do whatever he wants and no one can stop him.
DENT: Power? You’re the richest man in the country. Even if someone did stop The Bat, you know as well as I do the law has a pricetag. What’s to keep you from dodging consequences and just hiring another one? Starting an army even. Maybe I am being too trusting, putting my faith in false idols, but the old way isn’t working. Not that it ever did for anyone but a few. And if I have to pick a hero, I’ll pick the one meeting me halfway.
BRUCE: That’s just it Harvey, we’ve moved past half measures. He gets someone off death row, but the death penalty still exists. He breaks up a war in San Monte but businessmen who started it and a thousand more like it keep raiding the earth. No matter how many lobbyists or oil barons he takes down there will always be more. We need someone to tear down the whole system. That’s Batman.

Harvey leans back in his chair and gives an amused chuckle.

DENT: Okay Bruce, I’ll bite. What does he need help with?

>The Riddler’s clues were “Dent” and “Fire.” Do you know what those could mean?
>I need to give Batman access to the new GCPD database.
>I need law enforcement to not go after Batman.

>>5919848
>The Riddler’s clues were “Dent” and “Fire.” Do you know what those could mean?

>>5919848
Backing >>5919856
That Riddler sure is a kidder. I figure Dent would be invested not only because of him being a menace but because Riddler went after Councilman Thorne and District Attorney Gil Colson - all people he should know well from his law days and more

>>5919848
>Brace yourself Harvy, this probably isnt going to be pleasant memories.

>The clue is Fire and Dent. What could they mean?

>>5919848

>Dialouge Sample:9WOcTwDE

BRUCE: Brace yourself, Harvey, this might be uncomfortable.

You take your own advice. While you need his help, you are worried about interfering with his healing. But the mission comes first.

BRUCE: Since you’ve been here, The Riddler made another attack and left another clue. “Fire.” His first one was “Dent.” Do you have any idea what those could be about?

Dent’s body language changes. A cold sweat emerges from his skin and his pupils dilate. In an instant, he goes from the collected man on a personal journey to the nervous wreck you met in the Mayor’s office.

DENT: Riddler is an out-of-control Batman copycat. Who knows what sick game they’re playing? They probably want to set me up like they’re doing your pal in the ears.

It’s an interesting theory.
You know Riddler is interested in framing you as an accomplice for some reason, but the attacks on Gotham's political elite suggest Dent could be a target as well.

BRUCE: But why? And why fire?

Dent raises his voice.

DENT: How the hell should I know?! With all the enemies I made over the years, half the city could be behind it.

There’s something more to this. You know it. But if you want to get it out of Dent, your friendship and his mental health, might not survive the push.

>Interrogate him harder.
>” Thanks for the information, Harvey. I’m sorry I upset you.”
>"Harvey I’m your friend, you can trust me. If you’re in some sort of trouble I can help."

>>5920599
>Harvey, I'm not going to push this. I'm your friend and you can trust me and You know I'm never going to use this against you, and I can help. Sorry to upset you.

I'm not going to push this. Have the bat computer and fail safe run through news articals that go back to his childhood, look for mentions of arson or unexpected flames.

If he wants to tell us, then he can but I'm not going to break him over this.

>>5920599
>"Harvey I’m your friend, you can trust me. If you’re in some sort of trouble I can help."
"We've both made mistakes, and compromises, and we're both working to improve ourselves, Gotham, and the world. I know you have your demons; you know I have mine, too. Let me help, please."

>>5920604
+1

>>5920599
>>"Harvey I’m your friend, you can trust me. If you’re in some sort of trouble I can help."

>>5920599
Gonna +1 >>5920604
We want to know, but we can't break him. Not like this.

Locking for "not pushing this"

Update tomorrow and the return to the traditional Batquest mechanics.

While I write (and sleep) what were all your throughts in the interview minigame?
>>5920606
>>5920605
>>5921003
>>5922096
>>5920604

>>5922246
>throughts in the interview minigame?
Unexpectedly difficult, slow going too. Felt like we could easily fuck up any moment.

>>5917395
I only posted it because I felt it was quest relevant, plus there's a bit of humor to it with the line on the second page. It's exactly like the "if you kill him you will be just like him" cop-out seen in lots of media, mostly Japanese. As if you can't simply put your foot back across the line, or pretend there is no line and simply walk whichever direction strikes your fancy. Or try to walk right on it, but fail because you are drunk and your vision can't tell where your feet and and where the line is.

>>5922246
>what were all your thoughts in the interview minigame?
Not bad, but with short updates and a slow update speed it did have a pretty serious effect on momentum.

>>5922499
>As if you can't simply put your foot back across the line, or pretend there is no line and simply walk whichever direction strikes your fancy. Or try to walk right on it, but fail because you are drunk and your vision can't tell where your feet and and where the line is.
Probably true for many a character, but maybe not for the versions of Bruce Wayne written as especially unstable, obsessed, and trauma-driven, maybe even COMPELLED. I believe what he's saying in the scene isn't that NOBODY can kill without turning into a serial killer -- some of his friends and allies are soldiers or former soldiers, after all, and he believes in attempting to rehabilitate criminals. He's saying HE can't or fears he can't, personally; that maintaining a rigid code is helping to control HIS darker urges and preventing him from slowly shifting further and further towards abuse of power to fulfill his own vengeful ends.

>>5922510
>not for the versions of Bruce Wayne written as especially unstable, obsessed, and trauma-driven, maybe even COMPELLED
I see the discrepancy there
>maintaining a rigid code is helping to control HIS darker urges and preventing him from slowly shifting further and further towards abuse of power
People have been saying for DECADES irl that Batman should just kill the Joker and be done with it already. I bet at least several other characters in DC have said as much to his face by now at several different instances. If you left his fate up to other people or a system with a real death penalty, no way Joker would avoid that. But Batman doesn't really want to let Joker go either, does he? For all that he says about himself.

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>>5920599
>Design: Unknown Designers of LEGO Item #70909- Batcave Break-In
>Alt-Text: Lego sculpture of Batman sitting with his back to the viewer, looking at the Bat-shaped monitor complex of the Batcomputer
>Dialouge Sample: 9WOcTwDE

BRUCE: Okay Harvey, I’m not going to push this. I just want you to know you can trust me to protect you. You’re my friend.

DENT: I know you are Bruce. But the other guy isn’t.

He stands.

DENT: I think we’re done for the day. It’s lunchtime and the pudding’s still almost worth losing your mind for.
BRUCE: Heh. The money I’ve spent trying to remake that recipe...
DENT: When I get out, I’ll have a word with GCPD about your “employee.” I can keep them off his back while we try to come to an understanding.
BRUCE: Thank you, Harvey.

Before you open the door he puts a hand on your shoulder and looks you in the eye.

DENT: Keep him under control.
BRUCE: I’m always in control.
___
The cave feels colder than usual. You sit at the Batcomputer, monitoring your team's vitals. You want nothing more than to rush by their side but the mission must come first.

BRUCE: Failsafe, search newsfeeds for all fires reported in Gotham in the past 30 years.
FAILESAFE: Analyzing: 52 incidents.

Now you know how Dick felt. Him, Isley, Croc, and now Dent. By the day the found family you built is slowly contracting.
You pour through the images of charred bodies and ruined livelihoods and can’t help but feel like it’s a night at the movies.

...

ALFRED: Bruce!
BATMAN: I’m fine, Alfred, just a microsleep.
ALFRED: I know on this side of the Atlantic words tend to have different meanings, but I doubt ten hours is an adequate description of “micro.”
BATMAN: Ten! Dick and Isley...
ALFRED: Recovering and unconscious respectively. I have been reaching out to experts in the field but-
BATMAN: The world’s greatest metabotanist in the one on the table. Maybe it was a mistake to bring people into this.
ALFRED: I once thought it was a mistake to let you go on this half-cocked crusade in the first place. But when I saw the good you could do for people, the hope you brought, I realized the true mistake would be to stop you.
BATMAN: I don’t seem to be bringing much hope these days. Even Harvey is doubting me.
ALFRED: Doubting you, or doubting The Batman?
BATMAN: I need to save this city, Alfred. I can’t get bogged down in people’s opinions of how I do it.
ALFRED: And when the only voice you listen to is your own, where does that leave you?

He leaves the Cave. The silence answering his question. This is taking too long, you need to narrow it down.

BATMAN: Filter based on reported foul play.
FAILSAFE: 12 incidents

Drug fires, insurance scams, nothing without an explanation.
Wait, those "explanations" are done by the law and the courts. You know how flawed that system is.

BATMAN: Filter out natural events and reported foul play.

A series of accidents and “accidents” display.

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>>5922822
>Pencils: Chris Sprouse. Inks: Steve Mitchell Colors: Adrienne Roy.
>Alt-Text: Comic panel of a house exploding at night.
>Vote Titles: Stan Berkowitz, Bruno Heller, Mark Waid, Cary Burkett

BATMAN: Show any victims with criminal records.
FAILESAFE: 2 incidents.

First is Garfield Lynns, injured firefighter turned attempted murderer. Currently recovering in Arkham. Second is Rudolph Klemper.
Serial killer dubbed the “Senior Slasher.” The Jury acquitted him. A week later, a gas leak destroyed his apartment.
The state’s lawyer for his trial: Harvey Dent. The only case he lost. Harvey, what are you involved with... No. Can’t get sentimental.
Take emotions out. Assemble the evidence, force your conclusion

>1. Riddler has access to superscience and the ability to construct deathtraps.
>2. Riddler targets politicians and can capture them without being noticed.
>3. Riddler likely is aware of Klemper’s death and connection to Dent and is interested in hinting (but not telling) it to you and the public.
>4. Riddler is framing Batman as their accomplice.
>5. Riddler takes personal enjoyment in challenging Batman.

What is your theory?


> Riddler’s Revenge
Riddler is targeting Dent in vengeance for Klemper.

> Worse Than A Crime
Riddler is a CBI asset working against you and Dent .

>Underworld Unleashed
Riddler is an anti-politician vigilante.

> Riddles in the Dark
Write-in

{There are other hints in the quest besides what Batman noticed. Feel free to ask questions, though I won't answer anything that Bruce wouldn't know in-universe.}

>>5922510
>>5922499
Yeah, I noticed the pace issue as well.
I thought originally it would be faster paced because it was let material to write but I didn't account for how I still had to wait for the votes. What do folks think of for future back and forth set ups like that, to pre-establish a 24 hour time window for more rapid interaction?

>>5922822
> Worse Than A Crime
He's an op! It all makes sense! Waller's trying to discredit our mission and undermine our reforms! The former makes sense... But why the latter? Just because Dent is associated with us, and she knows Batman and Bruce Wayne are the same man and wants us to have fewer pieces on the board?

>>5922548
>But Batman doesn't really want to let Joker go either, does he? For all that he says about himself.
Depends on the writer. DCAU Batman never really seems to mourn or regret Joker's death when it happens or APPEARS to have happened. In the current comics, Zdarsky's "I Am a Gun" or the animated Hush probably present the most compelling case for a Batman who is reticent to even passively allow Joker's death.

>>5922826
>What do folks think of for future back and forth set ups like that, to pre-establish a 24 hour time window for more rapid interaction?
I think setting a narrower vote window makes sense for convos like that.

>>5922824
Reesce is the only man who we have seen produce his own supertech.

What are the qualifications required. How did he get hold of it?
~~Is he using ressce as a pawn to move in~~

>>5922830
?
You might wanna fix that post?

>>5922828
>Depends on the writer
As it always does

>>5922824
>Underworld Unleashed
I don't buy the Dent vengeance angle. CBI might be up there, but I figure this is a job for the Write-in option. I'm bad at it though, so I want the personal theory to be the anti-pol vigilante. Riddles exist to be solved. A riddle that's too convoluted to reasonably deduce, and is more enigma than mystery or riddle, is no good riddle at all. You might as well not bother being humored by anybody at that point. Anyway, maybe Riddler sees Batman as a rival in mental acumen and is doing all this to test him. In that case, would playing his game back on him in some way be a good idea?

>>5922837
No, my post is asking if Ressce is a genius or if he got his invention somewhere.

Superscience is superscience for a reason. What is needed to make it? Is the riddler making his own, or is he getting a supply from somewhere else.

Ive not found any clues, but I also havent been looking too hard at the last thread.

The bit that fits the bill is Wallers CBI affiliation.
But waller wouldnt give out this much leash to an asset, unless the Qm corrects me.

>>5923311
>Is the riddler making his own, or is he getting a supply from somewhere else.
Now THIS is a great question to ask

>>5923338
You don't know where Riddler is getting their superscience from, only that they have access to significant amounts of it.

>>5923314
Waller is a control freak. At the same time, you wouldn't put anything past her.

>>5923311
Background checks of Reese don't show any other sources of The Box technology. You can't disprove that he invented it.

>COLSON: Ggg-gang, the sin is gang.
>RIDDLER: Warmer... Perhaps you have a brain cell after all

So Coleson was involved with a Gang, Either the Owls or more likely, the Gang is related to Dent, Lynns or Klemper. Maybe all three, more likely Dent. Black mask believes it anyway.

Does anyone feel like they want another hint or clue?
(I'll note this vote isn't all or nothing. Even if Batman's initial theory is incorrect or incomplete, nothing stops you from figuring it out later based on new information.)

>>5924180
>>5922824

No, I'll stick with my working theory that the CBI is involved here but Riddler is a free agent.

If we work off the thought that CBI wants us out of here and they are the most able and capable suppliers of supertech, as evidenced by their base in the city and our previous escapades in france, that Riddler is carrying out a self directed mission in Gotham with their backing.

Probably something against us, eitheri ntellectually or professionally, rather than a personal grievance.

By my count we are tied with one vote each for the CBI theory and the vigilante theory.

Fell free to continue to discuss and/or wait for more votes.

>>5922824
>> Worse Than A Crime
Deathstroke's attack at arkham is what does it for me

>>5924201
I think that's sensible as a starting point.

>>5922828
This is me, and I think it's possible Riddler isn't under their direct employ, but I'm still pretty sure the CBI is bankrolling him in some fashion.

>>5922824
Changing my vote from >>5922837 to
>Worse Than A Crime
I can imagine Batman too, would be conflicted between the CBI angle and the anti-politician angle in-story. But then he considers >>5923311 and THEN recalls Deathstroke attacking at Arkham >>5924498 right at the start of this new series of attacks, which solidifies the CBI angle as >>5924201 outlines it. Dent has no gang relation, but let's not forget >>5923484 did happen. Riddler confirmed that "the sin is gang" is warm not cold.

>>5922824
>Riddler's Revenge
Seems like the answer that requires the fewest assumptions. I could be wrong, though.

Locking for >Worse Than A Crime
Update today.
Also asking for feedback on an idea: I was thinking of having set times and dates for update releases, akin to a webcomic or even a TV show (Same Bat-Time same Bat-Channel)
But I am unsure how to square this with the different times readers may be reading and voting (as well as giving fair time for voting and discussion)
Does anyone have any insight?

>>5925184
I think that makes a lot of sense, but at your update speed isn't strictly-speaking necessary since I doubt many people are missing the voting window anyway. A lot of quests defacto do this just because people's work and sleep cycles give them a relatively-predictable window of time to update in.

>>5925184
Its not an uncommon practice.

Most quests opt for inclusivity and have 24 hr window them close and write.
But in the days of the past, Like with DC quest/Hive queen quest/Death among the stars, the Qm set a time he would begin, made an announcement post to rally em and then kicked off a session. To keep the speed, most often had "first votes to 5" or "first votes to three" or "first one to 5 or highest within 20 minutes" and get out 3 to 4 updates in a session.

You can do any, but if you end on a vote anyway, people will still be able to remain mostly involved.

>>5925184
Nah, just keep doing what you're doing boss

File: Ballad of Bats and Tigers.jpg (224 KB, 800x1334)

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>>5922824
>Alt-Text: Comic art of Ben Turner, a Black man with claw-shaped scars on his head, wearing a tiger-patterned shirt, a tiger belt buckle, and gloves with clawed knuckles.
>Pencils: David Finch. Inks: Danny Miki & Trevor Scott. Colors: Jordie Bellaire
>Vote Titles: Dennis O'Neil & Jim Berry, John Ostrander & Kim Yale

Riddler has access to amounts of superscience that would rival most major companies.
And the resources to build death traps and kidnap multiple politicians without anyone noticing.
Couple that with his actions against Batman and the Dent Administration, and it's clear their means and goals align with those of the CBI. Dent banned the CBI from Gotham, but a supercriminal doing their dirty work is perfect plausible deniability.
Dick once worked with a CBI agent. He was too trusting, but the seeds of his work can serve the mission.
Even in a clinic bed, he proves a great partner.
____
TURNER: You’re not the kid.

You leap from the shadowed gargoyle onto the rooftop.

BATMAN: How did you-
TURNER: Know you were there? You’re not the only one who picked up tricks overseas. My turn for a question. I didn’t give that communicator to you. Why are you the one who called this meeting?
BATMAN: The Riddler. They’re one of yours.

Turner grits his teeth.

TURNER: Dammnit, Waller.
BATMAN: She’s with the CBI now?
TURNER: After Dent kicked us out the powers that be wanted a change in tactics. Black ops shit. Nasty business. You’re busines.
BATMAN: I’m nothing like her.
TURNER: You don’t see it? Foreign infiltration handbook: Co-opt local traditions. Since you showed up, theatrics and terror are Gotham bread and butter. What better way to stick it to The Batman than with your own “supercriminal?”
BATMAN: Supercriminals. The assassination attempt on Dent was her. She’s assembling a metahuman army.
TURNER: She calls it Task Force X, I signed up to be the pointman but she’s iced me out. Doesn’t trust me.
BATMAN: I hope for good reason. Do you know what she's planning?
TURNER: I wish. But I got this.

He tosses you a flashdrive. Failsafe scans it for danger before displaying its contents in your cowl.

TURNER: The day Waller came in she sent orders for a shitton of superscience back to Washington.

Magnetic power armor, brain-machine interface, schematics for... The Box! It’s been right under your nose!
Riddler said “you’re scarier on camera” meaning they saw you in person before. Mr Reese. Mysteries. Coleman is The Riddler!

TURNER: You good in there?
BATMAN: I have to go.
TURNER: Nah, don’t pull that fade into the shadows shit. You’re up against the Federal government and an army of supergoons. If you think you’re little blackmail game will keep you safe you’re on one. We need to work together.

Your team is decimated at the moment, another human asset could be useful.
But Turner is still a federal agent, even if one that’s seemingly on your side.

>A Dragon Fights Alone
Work alone

>Debt of Honor
Work with Turner

>>5925555
>Debt of Honor
"Keep your enemies closer." The boy trusts him, maybe we ought to as well... At least long enough to see if we can deprogram him and get him on the right side of the government (ie. against it)

>>5925555
>Debt of Honor
We need an in, and there's an in.

>>5925555
>Debt of Honor
Stop being a jerk

>>5925555
>Debt of Honor
Let's not forget he helped out big time before when he worked with Dick. Even a tiger can hunt at night, surely?

>>5925555
Fuck, I was right. I just didnt put together that he was more than just a pawn.

>Debt of honour
We need crock back turner.

Rolled 4, 6, 3, 4, 1, 6 = 24 (6d6)

>>5925561
>>5925625
>>5925653
>>5925674
>>5925766
Locking for Debt of Honor. Update within 24 hours!

Rolled 4, 5, 3, 4, 6, 2 = 24 (6d6)

>>5925979

THE NUMBERS MASON! WHAT DO THEY MEAN?

Before I forget again.

Check how the mind reading tech is activated. If riddler has a remote control, we have spread the technology wide and far in wayne tech items.

Apologies on the delay. I am working on the update. I am aiming for getting it in 2/16/2024

File: Mysteries of Mr Reese.jpg (20 KB, 349x313)

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>>5925555
>Director: Joel Schumacher. Actor: Jim Carry. Costume Design: Jose Fernandez
>Alt-Text: The Riddler as portrayed by Jim Carry in Batman Forever. He wears a Business suit and hair styled in imitation of Bruce Wayne.
>Dialouage Samples: Lee Batchler, Janet Scott Batchler & Akiva Goldsman. Dennis O’Neil.

No matter your reservations, you need an in.
One of your team is captured, the rest injured. For You’ll have to give Tuner a fraction of the trust Dick did. For the mission.

BATMAN: Agreed. This is the plan...
TURNER: Hold up, who said you’re in charge?
____
You may be The Bat, but the Wayntech launch party for “The Box” is filled with real vampires.
Immortal bloodsuckers, the bodies change, but the names are constant. They feed on your city to fuel their ambition.
Ripping your family legacy from their grip was how you started your mission.
And yet they linger, a shadow of the world you set out to destroy.

REESE: Bruce, old man!

Coleman walks to you, dressed in your exact business suit tailored to his far less muscular figure. He’s even dyed his hair to match yours.

REESE: So what do you think? Barely out of open beta and I’m already getting Nobel buzz.
BRUCE: You’ve earned it Reese. Nice suit by the way. Though I have to know, where did this brilliant idea come to you?

His face goes stern.

REESE: The Human mind is an enigma. I imagined all the knowledge locked away in the skulls of lesser men, taunting me. The honor and glory going to the unworthy due to accidents of luck. Mental treasures squandered in the craniums of those who’ll never know true genius.

He smiles.

REESE:
So I stuck some crystals in a blender and called it a day. Honestly, the hardest part was getting enough test subjects. Do you know how much monkeys cost? I had to sell the corpses for zoo meat just to break even.
BRUCE: Uh right. So the board told me I shouldn’t do this, but I couldn’t deny a mind as brilliant as yours.

You hand him a key card.

BRUCE: This takes you to the premium platinum lounge. Someone of your caliber deserves something a bit more.. upscale don’t you think?
REESE: Oooh, careful Bruce, you get me used to these perks I might come for your job.
BRUCE: I don’t think it’d suit you.
REESE: You’d be surprised.

File: Tiger Faces Death.jpg (565 KB, 1397x1688)

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>>5928373
>Art: Alon Chou.
>Alt-Text: Benjamin Turner with claw weapons on his fists, fights Deathstroke who is in full armor, wields swords and has one eye.
>Dialouge Sample: Michael Jai White, Scott Sanders & Byron Minns. Alan Moore. Frank Miller.

You stalk behind the walls of the private lounge. The watering hole for the wealthy converted to your hunting ground.
It was a mistake for The Riddler to challenge you in your territory.
Every inch of Wayne Tower has been weaponized for your mission. You’ve used your family’s gift well.
Reese walks into the empty room and stares at the blood moon through the skylight.

REESE: Now this is exclusive.

You leap from your hiding place and grab the villain.

BATMAN: Room for one more?
REESE: Buh buh buh Batman!

His eyes widen in fright. Were you wrong? But then the meek eyes of Mr Reese harden to the sneering glare of The Riddler.

RIDDLER: Took you long enough to figure it out. I even spelled it out for you.
BATMAN: This ends now.
RIDDLER: It sure does.
SFX: BANG!

Shotgun pellets blast your armor and knock the wind out of your lungs.

RIDDLER: Riddle me this. What kind of loser gives a keycard to his supergenius archenemy?

Deathstroke comes out of the shadows with his firearm aimed at you.

RIDDLER: A dead one.
SFX: SLICE

Three blades cut the gun into pieces. The armored soldier looks up and catches a knee to his good eye.

TURNER: SUU-EE!!! Told you this would happen, Bats.
BATMAN: Make sure The Riddler doesn’t escape.
RIDDLER: Oh, I’m not trapped here with you.
SFX: CRASH!

The skylight explodes into a mist of glass. The robotic form of Ultimax lands on the ground, carrying Agent Chase in his hands.

RIDDLER: You're trapped here with me.
TURNER: Chase! What the hell are you doing working with criminal-zzzzzsws!!

She tazes him.

CHASE: I could ask you the same thing.
BATMAN: BAT-SWARM!
SFX: REEEEEEEEE!!!

A hypersonic pitch fills the room. Your enemies think you’re outnumbered. But the night is always with you.

BATS: SKEE SKEE!

Your army of the night pours through the broken skylight rendering you invisible under a storm of leather and fangs.

BATMAN: BAT-CLAW!

Your grapnel harpoons into the metal armor of Ultimax, pulling you across the room and onto the steel monster’s back.

BATMAN: Failsafe: Activate Braindrain protocol.
ULTIMAX:Arrêtez! Get this sous-merde off of me!

The machine goes haywire, firing bullets and rockets at random. Everyone ducks for cover as the bats flee the way they came.

ULTIMAX: Éjecte! Éjecte!

A brain inside a cybernetic drone flies out of Ultimax’s cockpit, only to be clawed down to earth by tekkō-kagi blades.

TURNER: This the crowd you wanna run with, Chase?
BRAIN: Unhand me, plouc!
TURNER: Bien sûr, tête de noeud.

He crushes the drone engine with his blades, dropping The Brain to roll impotently on the floor.

FAILSAFE: Hostile ale-

File: A King in Chains.png (1.16 MB, 1200x1604)

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>>5928376
>Art: Rocksteady Studios. Character Design: Carlos D’Anda
>Alt-Text: Killer Croc, a man with crocodile features. Wearing prison pants and chains on his hands. He has a neck collar.
>Dialouge Samples: Lee Batchler, Janet Scott Batchler & Akiva Goldsman. SouthFloProd (youtu.be/watch?v=7Bul8sfEOlY)

Before you can react, Deathstroke grabs you from behind with a superpowered grip and a blade at your throat.

DEATHSTROKE: You’re not the only one Mandy taught this trick to.
CHASE: Stand down, Deathstroke.
DEATHSTROKE: Hold on missy. This one still owes me an eye. Mandy wanted him alive, but she didn’t say in how many pieces.
CHASE: Calm down. That’s an order.
DEATHSTROKE: Hilarious. The powerless beat cop thinks she’s in charge.

Chase points her taser at Turner again.

DEATHSTROKE: There you g-aaaah!

Chase turns on a time and tazes you captor in his good eye. The electromagnetics of his suit spasm, letting you break free.

DEATHSTROKE: I keel u alrrrrzzz

You stab your gauntlet blades into his chest then throw him at Turner.
The agent ax kicks your foe to the ground and as he staggers up he and Chase double-punch the supersoldier to the ground.

CHASE: We don’t have much time, there are more-
NANAUE & CROC: RAUUUGHHH!!!

Two titans of amphibious predation fall through the skylight. Riddler is practically orgasmic with joy as he looks on.

CROC: You better run Batman, like real talk.
NANAUE: E pepehi koke iā lākou!

Croc rushes you, his teeth ripping ribbons out your cape as you dodge.

CROC: I’m tellin’ you boy. I don’t wanna do this, but I’ll tear you apart.

Your eyes focus on the collar on his neck. Waller must be controlling him with it!

CHASE: The carrier frequency is 38 kHz!
RIDDLER: Are you serious right now?!

Without you asking, Failsafe overloads Croc’s collar. He rips it off with a roar and turns to the Riddler.

CROC: I’m finna kill this jit.

The Shark grabs Croc with both hands and throws him at you.
You barely get out the way but then a force like an ocean wave slaps into you. A rib pops like seafoam.
Before Failsafe can shut down the Shark’s collar they bite your head. Your cowl is equipped to handle 300 psi of force.
This creature broke it in seconds.

FAILSAFE: Errorrrrrsssshsaaaa

The Shark squeezes and bites at the same time. The room echoes with the sound of your armor and gadgets cracking like toys.
You trained for decades to face the worst humanity had to offer, but now you face something beyond human.

SFX: SHING!!

The Shark drops you. Through the blood in your eyes, you see Turner’s tekkō-kagi embedded in the broken control collar.
The Shark tears off the device with a single finger and looks at Turner.

TURNER: Looks like carrier frequency: stab works too.
NANAUE: Mahalo i ka kanaka.

The Shark climbs up the skylight and jumps off the building. The Riddler stands alone. And surrounded.

REESE: HEEEELP!!!

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>>5928382
>Environmental Art Direction: Steven Downer. Art Direction: Daniel Kvasznicza and Olaf Quinzanos. Level Artists: Jany Villeneuve, Olivier Rufiange, Andrei Popescu , Loïc RAYMOND, Gwendoline Verpeaux and others at WB Games Montreal.
>Alt-Text: The outside of the Monarch Theater in a rundown street covered with neon signs.
>Dialouge Sample: Lorenzo Semple Jr.

He bolts out the door. You stand on weak legs and give chase.

CHASE: Bruce!
TURNER: Wait!

Riddler runs into the party. You limp after him. The screams of the parasites in fancy suits fall off you like your own blood is.
All this pain, all this destruction. He has to pay.

REESE: He’s gonna kill me! Help!

You grab his throat and slam him onto a table. You push the creep into a plate of overpriced appetizers. The wood cracks under your power.

BATMAN: What are you planning?!

Beneath your imposing form, out of the sight of the terrified guests, he gives a self-satisfied chuckle. He whispers:

RIDDLER: What is it that no man wants to have yet no man wants to lose?
BATMAN: No more games
SFX: POW!

A fist like concrete smashes into your face, you fall on your back.
Through fading vision and see countless phones taking pictures, and... Dr Desmond?
___

You come to. Fully armored in the back of a police car.
The Shark must have crushed your suit into your skin so much the cops couldn't take it off.

BULLOCK: ..he’s some military freak.
DELAWARE: I told you I got friends in the service. He ain’t one them. My bet? Vampire.
BULLOCK: You still on that stuff you got from your mob buddies?
DELAWARE: I told you its-
SFX: CRASH!

Breaking out the cuffs was easy. Hotwiring the windows so you could escape more so.
Diving into the road at 50 mph with your suit burrowed into your skin? That was difficult. You roll into an alley.
Adrenaline the only thing keeping you going.

BATMAN: Penny-one!

No signal... After that mauling, your suit is a $10 million Halloween costume. How did Desmond sneak up on you?
How did he keep his super strength without losing his mutated appearance?
You look around. In a bittersweet blessing, you see the Monarch Theater.
When you began your mission, you lined the city with a series of safehouses. The first of which you HAD to put here.
Your birthplace. You signal Alfred with its radio once inside. Your body gives out. Dreams of rapiers swimming in your head.
_____
ALFRED:Bruce! Bruce you need rest!

You waddle out the Bat-Clinic, Alfred cries having no effect.

BRUCE: Dick and Dr Isley are the ones that need help, not me. The Mission- hnng- the mission must go on.

Once in the cave, you immediately go to the Batcomputer. It’s been a 30 hours, who knows what the Riddler’s up to?
BRUCE: Failsafe: Newsfeed highlights. Keywords: Batman, Riddler

GNN plays onscreen.

RYDER: Breaking news, Coleman Reese, the Waynetech employee behind “The Box” is claiming Bruce Wayne was involved in yesterday's Batman attack.

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>>5928386
>Pencils: Andy Kubert. Inks: Sandra Hope & Jesse Delperdang. Colors:Alex Sinclair
>Alt-text: Batman crying.
>Dialouge Sample: Lorenzo Semple Jr.

REESE: I invented The Box to share the wonders of my brilliant mind with the world. Bruce wanted to use it for money. He was trying to take knowledge from people, siphoning secrets straight from their brains. I told him he was wrong. He couldn’t pull off his scheme without my skills. So he said I better help or “his friend” would do me like he did Gothcorp.
RYDER: Reese has taken legal action against Bruce Wayne, who hasn’t been seen since the attack. Batman was arrested after the incident but escaped and is still at large. GCPD warn he is armed and...
BRUCE: A lawsuit.

Alfred walks in.

ALFRED: Pardon?
BRUCE: Something no one wants but no one wants to lose.
ALFRED: Waynetech’s legal team is top-notch. To say nothing of the fact you were far too incorruptible to plunder the minds of your own city.
BRUCE: Bruce Wayne may have lawyers, but Batman doesn’t. This was his plan from the start. I kept Waller from revealing my identity, but she found a way to attack the idea of Batman. He can’t be a legend if the world thinks he’s a rich man’s hired gun.
ALFRED: Then what is The Batman? Not just to The City, but to you?
BRUCE: Batman is my mission, the same as it always was.
ALFRED: Failsafe: Load Archive: quest
FAILSAFE: archived.moe/qst/thread/5832876/#5854644
BRUCE: Th-This was a thought exercise. The imageboard has scenarios that let me work out problems in an alternative Gotham.
ALFRED: I’m an award-winning fanfiction author, you don’t need to justify your hobbies to me. Look at what the other players posted.
BRUCE: They don’t have my training. Going through the cop's phone was the best choice.
ALFRED: Your character was friends with that cop. Trusted him. You thought you knew better so you wanted to overstep your bounds with your ally.
BRUCE: The mission-
ALFRED: Is not yours alone. That doesn’t just mean other people are fighting your war. It means the war doesn’t belong to you. You’re not always right. If you keep acting like you are, you’ll be alone, no matter how large your team is.

Your team. Croc is still out there. Did he escape? If you hadn’t rushed ahead, maybe he...

For the first time in 20 years, you cry.

BRUCE: I’m lost, Alfred. What do I do?
ALFRED: Find your way home.

He’s right. You’ve been focusing on HOW to fight for so long, you lost sight of WHY.
You need to return to your core.
Build A Better Batman.

>Batman: Shaman
>Vote Title: Dennis O’Neil
Go to the Miagani Lenape land of your ancestors. Your Great Uncle can guide you to a vision quest to find the heart of the bat.

>Batman: Streets of Gotham
>Vote Title: Paul Dini
Become one with the Streets of Gotham as The Drifter, connecting with the city you defend and its people.

>Batman: Fortress
>Vote Title: Garry Whitta
Reach out to the only one you can who is facing your same struggle: Superman.

>>5928387
{Reminder You may vote for multiple options. The option with the most total votes will win.}
After you are done reading, what are your thoughts on very large updates like this?
I enjoyed writing it, but it took a lot longer to do even by oft-delayed standards.
Megaposts like this wont be the norm but if this one is a hit some more may be sprinkled here and there.

>>5928386
>Streets of Gotham.
>Batman: Fortress

>>5928387
>Batman: Streets of Gotham
>Batman: Shaman
Wow a big meaty update for me to read! Thanks QM!

>>5928387
>Batman: Shaman
>Batman: Streets of Gotham
Beat Cop Protag team up when kek

>>5928414
I imagine a crossover thread will only happen in a future when multiverse stuff comes to the fore. Right now, I don't think it's doable outside of a NONCANON SPECIAL ISSUE

>>5928387
Special Thanks to DetectQM for letting me work in this "Flash of Two Worlds"-esque Crossover.

>>5926074
>>5925980
These numbers were to calculate how well Batman and Turner did against Task Force X

4 or higher was a win, and the enemy was defeated if either Batman or Turner had a winning role. (Meaning you needed to have two lost rolls for that enemy to win)
Bruce and Turner bothed rolled 4s against Deathstroke
Bruce rolled a 6 against Croc, Turner rolled a 5 (thus his being freed)
Bruce and Turner both rolled 4s against The Brain
Bruce rolled a 1 against King Shark (thus his crushing defeat) Turner rolled a 6 (thus him being freed by Turner)
Turner rolled a 2 against Chase (thus him getting one shotted) Bruce rolled a 6 (thus her turning on Slade)
Bruce and Turner both rolled 3s against Blockbuster, which is why he was the only Task Force X member to get a win.

>>5928382
>Chase turns on a time and tazes your captor in his good eye
>You stab your gauntlet blades into his chest then throw him at Turner.
Is he going to live from that?

>>5928387
add to my vote in >>5928406
>Check the news and usual info for reports of Croc over the past 30 hours. If he made it out, then that's one small blessing you've earned back from your work. Hopefully Turner also escaped... you were right to have faith in Dick's judgement of him.

>>5928387
Batman hangs out on 4chan? Kek. I mean, he is a lonely and angry white male.
I hope he'd play my quest

>Batman: Shaman
>Batman: Fortress

>>5928447
>Is he going to live from that?
I bet he does. He's a supersoldier with a healing factor.

>Streets of Gotham.
>Batman: Fortress

I love the fact that Waller is attacking the idea of Batman instead of just going head on with it. Just shows how smart and experienced she is.

Also we managed to save croc and possibly gained a new ally in the form of a shark so while we are still fighting and have some character troubles. I kinda see this as a win.

>>5928486
>healing factor.
But his other eye is still bad. I take it he simply didn't have enough time for it to heal back completely before Task Force X grabbed him back in to help take on Batman?
>Batman hangs out on 4chan? Kek
He'd be saddened at the state of current day >>>/co/. He's fighting the parasites ruining Gotham, but nobody's fighting the parasites ruining modern irl society right now. That's why the state of comics and cartoons has decayed and disrupted for so damn long.
>lonely and angry white male
He's how old? He'd definitely be a solid oldfag, but I don't know if he'd have used this place since Moot (who?) created it back in 2003

>>5928530
Gee Batman, how come Hypercrisis Bro gives you TWO giant mutant water predators as allies?

>>5928387
>Batman: Shaman
>Batman: Fortress
God, good thing we brought Turner, that could have been really bad.
Also Alfred I kneel. Such an incredible surrogate father. Such a great scene. Good shit.

>>5928388
It was well worth the wait.

>>5928535
He can't regrow entire limbs or organs, but he's hard to kill.

>>5928535
>He's how old?
Seems like we're a mid-thirties Batman. Not much older than me, alas

>>5928577
>mid-thirties Batman
So much for Mr. "You trained for decades to face the worst humanity had to offer" huh?

>>5928590
In Bruce's mind, his training began almost immediately after his parents died.

>>5928646
Makes sense. Not much else to say about it

Ha. All the options have exactly 4 votes each.

I shall now attempt to sway people to my cause;
Super man option is my preference, it will force Bruce to humanise the alien and perhaps bring about a juicy bit of drama with his past interactions biting him.
And of course, probably get to see his annoyance with everyone getting therapy over continuing THE MISSION.

The drifter is my second preference, because its external focused. Connecting with the city and deepening the understanding we have of it, which will yeild many benefits in the short term and also reestablish and solidify that Gotham is bonded to batman in an incredibly personal way. Its a part of his character that would really play into his bansian mimicry as "The vampire of Gotham".

Spirit quest is not prefered. An internal focused trip out sequence as we inspect internal trauma and emotional wounds was already done when we got gassed with fear toxin.

>>5928406
>>5928414
>>5928565
>>5928395
>>5928486
>>5928530
>>5929259
In honor of this update going over so well. (Seriously thanks for all the votes folks, this is pretty big for me.)
And also because I like all three plot outlines I wrote for these options quite a lot.
As a special deal for this vote:

The Top two prompts will both happen.
That means if what is currently a three-way tie becomes a two-way tie, I will start on the updates instead of waiting for folks to narrow it down to one option. Which both will slow the quest down and pressure people away from options they like.

>>5929267
First man to drop a vote decides the course of this history.

Heres hoping someone debuffs spirit quest!

>>5928387
>Batman: Streets of Gotham
>Batman: Fortress

>>5929353
Locking for Streets of Gothan and Fortress. Update today!

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>>5928387
>Director: Matt Reeves. Actor: Robert Pattison. Cinematographer: Greg Fraser. Costume Design: Jacqueline Durran. Hair & Makeup: m.imdb.com/title/tt1877830/fullcredits/make_up_department Extras: See m.imdb.com/title/tt1877830/fullcredits/cast

>Alt-text: gif of Bruce Wayne as played by Robbert Pattison in "The Batman" (2022). He is disguised as a drifter, walking through a crowd on a rainy night. He wears a large jacket, a cap, and a duffel.
You’ve become disconnected, so focused on the fight you lost sight of what you were fighting for. Gotham. Your beloved. You have been a selfish partner. It is time you reconnected.
____
The city is bleeding. Your body hurts, but its nothing compared to the pain around you.
While the powers that be distracted you with games and challenges, they plundered your home unabated.
When you destroyed the Mob and the Court of Owls, it created a power vacuum.
Their former employees were out of the job and desperate for income, exploitation was inevitable. Abandoned traphouses became ground zero in a wave of gentrification. The gangster replaced with the boardroom.
No wonder the people are turning to cults and mutagen, they are starving for the power denied them since birth.
You predicted this would happen. Its why you targeted Gothcorp. But your war against the Riddler distracted you, exactly as Waller planned.
You and Dent were working to build something better for this city, now you both are debased and injured. You must rise and go where you are needed, so your people may rise with you.

>Just Another Kid on Crime Alley!
>Vote Title: Max Allan Collins
Go to the Narrows, where poverty has hit the hardest and the people are losing what little they have to an invasion of land developers. More people grow unhoused by the day, addiction spreads like fire and The Cult of Crisis grows its flock from those with no other options.

>Corporate Raider
>Vote Title: Gregg Hurwitz
Go to the suburb of North Sheal, where Shreck Industries is building a power plant despite Gotham’s energy surplus. Across the river from Dent’s labor and environmental reforms people desperate for employment suffer slave wages, inhumane shifts, and toxins poisoning their flesh and water.

>>5929836
>Just Another Kid on Crime Alley!

>>5929836
>Just Another Kid on Crime Alley!
Nothing like Crime Alley if we're trying to get back to our roots.

>>5929836
>Just Another Kid on Crime Alley!

>>5929836
>Just Another Kid on Crime Alley!
This is where we watched our parents die. Where else but the place it all began?

>>5929836
>Just another kid on crime alley

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>>5929836
>Art:Michael Grinberg (https://www.artstation.com/artwork/PXqd94 )
>Alt-Text: Painting of a rainy night in a Gotham City street. The sidewalk is very close to the alley. The old skyscrapers bunch claustrophobically together. People huddle near each other.

The Narrows live up to their name. Walls of plywood and brick choking the sky itself of life.
Mr Bloom planned to give these people hope by spreading his mutagenic seeds to the populace.
You stopped him, but the people were left with no alternative.
Through the echo of the rain, you can hear the suffering. Feel the fear. Taste....the danger.
You don't need your technology to sense them. Three kids, none older than 16, approach you on the sidewalk.
You recognise their apparent leader as the child you grabbed in the church.

JASON: Come up off those shoes old man, and what’s in the bag, too.

>The Good Man
>Vote Title: Scott Snyder, James Tynion IV, Ray Fawkes, John Layman & Tim Seeley
Offer them money. These are hungry children in need, not hardened killers. They don’t deserve your full force.

>Dangerous People
>Vote Title: James Tynion IV
Walk away. De-escalate the situation, even if they pursue, they won’t be able to keep up with you.

>Seeing Red
>Vote Title: Scott Snyder, James Tynion IV & Tim Seeley
Incapacitate them. Using your skill to avoid damage, show them why they picked the wrong drifter to mug. You’ll try your best, but there is no guarantee you won’t hurt any of them.

>>5930251
Hmm, how do you fix a situation like this.
I don't think you do.

>The good man.
Offer them enough to get something to eat for a few days. If they get agressive in asking for more, disengage as gently as we are able.

>>5930251
>The Good Man
Strike up a good-natured conversation.

>>5930251
>>The Good Man

>>5930261
+1
Sharing is caring, but giving too much is pearls to swine or something?

>>5930261
>>5930276
>>5930264
>>5930265
Lockign for The Good man. Update today.

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>>5930251
>Production Design: Richard Berg. Director: Nick Copus. Cinematography: David Stockton.
>Alt-text: Picture of The Narrows, a poor island neighborhood filled with worn-down buildings and smokestacks

You pull out a pair of bills.

DRIFTER: Take it. You look hungry.
JASON: I said the shoes and bag, too!
THUG: Hey, Lil’ Red Jason! I thought I told you to get back uptown.

A strongly built man shuffles down the street. The two other kids run off, but Jason stands his ground.

HAMMER: What’s this? Found yourself a sugar daddy?

He snatches the bills from your hand.

JASON: This is my score, Hammer!
DRIFTER: I have enough for you both.
HAMMER: Well look at moneybags over here.

He grabs Jason.

HAMMER: I’ll take his share, it’s only faa-

You twist his arm to his back twist id pin him against a wall. You whisper into his ear with the power of death.

BATMAN: Take this money. Leave and never go near him again.

You free him. He bolts down the ally while Jason looks on.

JASON: Nice moves, where’d you learn 'em?
DRIFTER: I spent time overseas.
JASON: I bet.
JASON’S STOMACH: growl
JASON: Jeet yet?
__
BRUCE: Amazing.
JASON: I know right? It’s no Big Belly Burger but a Sully’s Sub is second best.

You set down your perfectly toasted roll and look Jason in the eye.

DRIFTER: Your accent, it’s not Narrows.
JASON: Yeah I’m from Crime Alley.
DRIFTER:..Same here.
JASON: Guess they drill the Jersey out you in the service. How long you been back?
DRIFTER: A few years.
JASON: Hell of a time for a homecoming. Dagget kick you out, too?
DRIFTER: You’re on the street?
JASON: Nah. Found some folks here that gave me a hohm. That’s actually why I brought you here.

You smile.

DRIFTER: You brought me here?
JASON: You can fight, and by the looks of you, yah spent your last VA check giving yourself that grease stain. The guys I hang with, they can look out for you, like they look out for The Narrows.
DRIFTER: What kind of guys?
___
The building is condemned but its halls echo with life. At its pulpit, a shaggy-faced man and red haired woman lead the congregation.

ABBOT: Now turn your books to The Words of Lilith, Chapter 6 Verse 8. Tremble, for there shall come a time when the Faithless will cast out the prophet from the city of the foolish and wise; and then shall the high madame be lost to us, and the followers of the First, bow before him, will lack for guidance, and be as lost as he in His wanderings.

The congregation cheers, Jason included.

A’DAIRE: This Daggett has cast our people from our holy land for measley coin. Taken you from your homes, and burned the sacred streets baptized by the sacrifice of The Twice-Named Daughter of Cain. Now our enemy comes to this shore, to purge us and replace our houses of faith with hollow halls for the False Faced. What do we say to them?

You turn to Jason and see the fire and vengeance that youth and trauma build.

JASON: DIE!

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>>5930818
>Pencils & Inks: Michael Baer.
>Alt-Text: Comic panel of a man: Abbot and a woman: A’Dair, standing in front of an abstract background. Abbot has a wolf image behind him, A’Daire a snake image.
>Dialouge Sample: Greg Rucka, Greg Rucka & Eric Trautmann

Cultists walk through the pews, handing bags to specific members. As one walks to Jason, you hear what they say.

CULTIST: Take this tool as The First did. And may your red rage smite our enemies. In the name of The Twice-Named!
JASON: IN THE NAME OF THE TWICE-NAMED!

He takes the bag and kneels with the congregation before a portrait raised in the front.
You kneel as well. But not before seeing the image of their idolation. Your mother, Martha Wayne! Born Martha Kane.
___
After the service, you take Jason aside.

DRIFTER: What’s all this about?
JASON: It's about taking our home back. About keeping assholes from kicking us out so rich Bennys can move in and buy 20 dollar wudder ice.

Jason cradles the bag, and instantly you know what grim device it contains.

DRIFTER: Jason, if you go down this path. There’s no turning back.
JASON: No, The Coven is different. I’m not selling drops on a corner to make some asshole rich. I’m fighting for my people and place. Like you did.

He passes you the bag.

DRIFTER: There’s two in there. I saw your moves. I know Uncle Sam’s had you do way worse. Why not knock some heads for your folks for a change? For The Alle?

You look in the bag, past the weapons, and see a map. Dagget has several locations marked for “accidents” including Sully’s.
The kid is smart, he brought you there to get you invested. What do you do?

>Wrath Child
>Vote Title: Tony Bedard
Go with Jason as The Drifter. This is dangerous, he needs you with him to watch his back. Even without your equipment, you can try your best to keep him out of harm’s way.

>The Daring Young Man
>Vote Title: Tom King
Tell Jason not to attack Dagget’s arsonists and instead protect Sully’s as The Batman. You’ll be more effective, but there is no telling what Jason will get up to without your supervision.

>>5930822
>Wrath Child
Bruce took his dad's family business back for Gotham, and now he's taking his mom's streets back for the city. This might be a cult setup, but they're partially right. Daggett's gotta stop. Besides, that bear priest and the snake lady are gaining a couple points for using Martha's portrait. Take it as a sign and roll along with it

>>5930818
I love how you have the line as batman when he gets aggressive

>>5930843
And it's rich boy Bruce going "amazing" at the rolls

>>5930822
>Wrath Child

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>>5930844
>Alt-Text: Comic book panel showing Gotham City in the Camden/ Salem county area of New Jersey. Next to it is a dialect map showing North Jersey using the word "Hoagie," most of South Jersey using the word "sub" and a small strip in the Camden/Salem area also using "Sub." Next to it is a Google Maps screen cap with color-coded pins of restaurants in New Jersey and the surrounding areas. Pins marked for "sub" are clustered in North Jersey and a strip of land in the Camden/Salem area.

>Newsstrip Credits:
>Pencils: George Tuska. Inks: Vince Colletta

>Dialect Map Credits
>Dale F Coye

>Restaurant Survey Credits:
>Steve Chernoski

If anyone is wondering why Jason Todd, from South Jersey, is calling the sandwiches “Subs” instead of “Hoagies” as is usual in South Jersey it's due to geography.
Gotham City’s most standard location is in New Jersey.
The probably originated in the August 13 1978 edition of “World’s Greatest Heroes.” written by Martin Pasko.
That piece puts it in the Deleware River Valley region across Salem and/or Camden Counties.
Based on a 2009 article by Dale F Coye and a 2018 survey of restaurants done by Steve Chernoski, Gotham would lie in the “Sub Belt” a region of South Jersey that uses “sub.” (Chernoski uses the term "Down Jersey Accent" to describe this region's dialect.)

>>5930854
>QM researches so thoroughly in relation to a fictional city that he has cross-referenced real and in-universe maps to justify what they call long sandwiches here
Amazing. We don't deserve you HB.

>>5930855
I'm actually mildly irritated the Coye paper is behind a paywall so all the maps from it I got were second-hand.
Steve Chernoski also wrote and directed "New Jersey: The Movie" which details a lot of these aspects of the State, I'll give it a watch someday.

>>5930822
>Wrath child

>>5930854
Upon further review, Mark Gruenwald set up Gotham in NJ in Amazing World of Dc Comics #14 (A fun little sourcebook series that I wish companies would do more of in this age of fan wiki outsourcing)

https://readcomiconline.li/Comic/Amazing-World-of-DC-Comics/Issue-14?id=100334

But as far as I know the specific location debuted in the Newstrip.