. THE NEW ULTIMATE DC RPG .
Character Application
.Screen name: Eddie Brock
.Character you wish to portray: Mayor Harvey Dent
.Hero, villain, or walking the line?: Mostly Hero, but with a touch of Walking the Line
.Powers and physical attributes: No powers. No special physical attributes, though his good looks have earned him the nickname "Apollo."
.Origin and backstory (as you see it): Harvey Dent grew up in what we might call a "broken" household. His father, Harry, was an alcoholic who went from job to job, usually being fired for his unreliability. Harry Dent met Lucy, Harvey's mother, at a bar, and they had a one-night stand. When Lucy became pregnant, Harry did what was most likely the first responsible thing in his life and stuck around for the kid's sake. However, his responsible streak didn't last. Eventually, Harry returned to his own ways, abandoning Lucy and young Harvey.
Lucy, never intending to be a mother so soon, did not cope well with the pressure. She was working almost nonstop - between a dayjob as a waitress and a nightjob as a barmaid. Harvey was a gifted child, but this only added further burden. The public school system was insufficient for a child of Harvey's intellect, but the Dents couldn't afford anything else. Like Harry Dent, Lucy eventually found relief in the bottle. Unfortunately for Harvey, Lucy became abusive when she drank. It left permanent psychological scars on Harvey.
Despite his tough upbringings, Harvey was determined to make something of himself. He managed to win a scholarship to Columbia, where he excelled. Harvey graduated in the top five percent of his class, and he gained admittance to the Columbia Law School. He was an exemplary pupil, earning him much praise and admiration. In fact, Harvey passed his bar examination on his first attempt - a considerable feat.
When Harvey announced that he wanted to practice in Gotham, many of his peers thought he was being too ambitious for his own good. Gotham was a cesspool of corruption and indecency. This only strengthened Harvey's resolve. He wanted to prove that no city was beyond saving. His meteoric rise through the Gotham court system led to a landslide victory in the District Attorney elections.
Harvey's term as DA was one of the brightest spots in recent history for Gotham. Crime rates plummeted. Corruption was outed and cleansed. Jails filled with members of organized crime. The major crime families realized that they weren't invincible. This all earned Harvey the admiration of the public - who dubbed him their "White Knight" - but it also earned him the loathing of the criminals, who wanted nothing more than to see Harvey fall.
It became clear to Harvey that as DA, he could only do so much. Corruption ran deep in Gotham, even all the way up to the Mayor's office. Harvey, despite his rousing public support, didn't have enough power to cleanse that. So, instead, he did what he could. When the time came, Harvey ran against incumbent Gillian Loeb. Riding on a wave of public opinion, Harvey won the office in a tightly-contested battle.
Harvey, now almost a year into his term, realizes the immense pressure on the Mayor. Even with Commissioner Gordon and new District Attorney Rachel Dawes working tirelessly, the crime seemingly never stops. While it's still way down from before, it has begun to plateau only slightly. However, everything isn't as straightforward as it seems. Despite his attempts to stay true to his morals, Harvey is quickly realizing that a deal with the Devil may be unavoidable. It's far better than the alternative of outright war.
.The burning question - Why this character?: Harvey Dent is a challenge, but that only makes him all the more appealing. In many ways, it forces the writer to develop two separate characters simultaneously: the heroic Dent and the sinister Big Bad Harvey. If it can be accomplished, however, the result is a delectably torn character. This inner struggle, this question of justice and punishment is something we all tussle with at times. How many of us have been wronged and wanted nothing more than revenge? How often have we denied ourselves that revenge because it isn't "right?" Well, this is the issue Harvey struggles with every day. His position of power leaves him ultimate responsibility.
Furthermore, Harvey's fall is a tragic story that any poster would give their left hand to write (and my opponents actually will!
). It affects all the members of Gotham deeply, but perhaps none more than Batman. With Harvey as a trusted ally, Batman sees the light at the end of the tunnel. Suddenly, ultimate victory over crime in Gotham doesn't seem so impossible. Batman's crusade can finally have an end. But when Harvey falls, it undoes everything for Batman, rattling his core - as well as Gotham's. The same is true of Gordon, another one of Harvey's confidants.
Finally, I've been dying to play Two-Face at some point. He has too much history to wrestle with in World of Heroes, on top of the fact that he's taken (love ya, Syn! :heart
. In One Universe, I'd be forced to follow Keyser Soze's epic three-season long arc. That's an act I'm not sure many of us can follow. And, finally, in here (pre-reboot), the RPG was dying, and Batman - at the time - was in another dimension. Not exactly the environment one wants for a character. But here we are, at the precipice of a brand new continuity, which means no history to contend with - save for the backstory I've created.
.How will this version of your character differ from others? How will it be Ultimate?: Well, I don't know why, but something about having Harvey abused by his mother rather than his father appealed to me. Thus, I've decided to keep that small aspect. I guess it's new and "edgy," the very definition of "Ultimate," but I think there's a part where I can see Lucy Dent scolding her son for being a "bad boy." Of course, this means I'll have to make the coin come from somewhere else, but I'll figure it out. Honest.
Unlike most continuities, my Ultimate Harvey Dent has made it through life as a District Attorney. Granted, there were probably enough attempts to kill him to count on two hands, but they were all unsuccessful. He survived the mob and moved up the ladder to Mayor of Gotham, where a brand new set of problems will face him. Maintaining control of Gotham will be far different from what Harvey was expecting, and - though he's almost a year into his term - Harvey's still learning the ropes. Making him Mayor changes his dynamic with Gordon, Rachel, and even Batman. It also gives him the ability to realize how deep corruption runs, and how great the task facing him is.
.What do you believe you can bring to the RPG?: Reliability, above all else, is probably my best quality. If it's an RPG concept I'm committed to, I'll stick with it (see also: Dawn/Rise of Marvels). I don't often hold up arcs, and - when I do - it usually takes only one reminder to get me back on track. I'm looking forward to playing off of the other members of Gotham, and I hope they can look forward to playing off of me.
Next, I hope to bring an honest portrayal of Harvey. I want to make his quest for justice a genuine struggle. Harvey's not naïve. He knows that sometimes conventional justice isn't going to work - not in a city so corrupt. However, he simply can't bring himself to cross that line. Luckily for Harvey - although also unbeknownst to him - there is a part of him that will cross that line. Yes, I want to bring a honest portrayal of Big Bad Harvey (who I might rename), including a realistic depiction of Multiple Personality Disorder - before the accident, that is.
Finally, I like to think I'm continually progressing as a writer. The more I do it, the more I'm able to pick up on flaws (or what I perceive to be them, anyway). I try not to post for posting's sake, so everything I do will have a point and purpose. Interaction is the lifeblood of all RPGs, and I hope to clearly define Harvey's relationship with all the characters.
.Provide a sample post as the character you wish to portray, in three paragraphs or more:
As the car pulls to a stop, I resist to urge to let out a groan. The growing pain between my eyes is almost all I can think about. It also doesn't help that I haven't gotten a good night's sleep in almost a week. I'm haunted by these horrific visions - some past or future I'll never know. It doesn't matter. All that matters is that I feel
terrible, and
this is the last thing I need.
My driver opens the door, and I nod approvingly. I step out onto the damp sidewalk. It's been raining for the past three days. Seems like Mother Nature echoes my mood. My driver closes the door a little too loudly, and I wince as my head throbs. I shake it off and begin to slow walk up to the front door.
A small crowd has gathered by the police tape. They're looking on with malicious curiosity. They remind me of the Romans, flooding the Colosseum with a horrifyingly natural bloodthirst. It's human nature, I suppose. No matter how terrific, we can't help but watch and study. Something about blood and death captivates us. It's this very nature that I must fight against. However, I believe - in my heart of hearts - that the human race can overcome it. We're more civilized.
I hope.
On my way to the elevator, I pass several officers. Some of them are too engrossed in their work to notice. Some simply nod. A couple acknowledge me aloud. No matter the response, I'm too engrossed with my own thoughts to notice them. I make for the elevator with a dreaded sense of purpose.
I ride the elevator car alone to the sixth floor. When the doors open, I'm greeted with a busy sight. Police officers moving to and fro with the urgency befitting of a crime of this nature. I'm forced to walk almost sideways down the hallway to get to my destination. The room itself, however, contains only two people. Two
living people, anyway.
Commissioner Gordon clears his throat, and the photographer stands up. Nodding to me, he scurries out of the room. My eyes immediately go to the tarp placed against the far wall. Beneath it, the telltale shape of a body can be seen. Like the onlookers below, I can't tear my eyes away. It takes Gordon's throat clearing to get my attention once more.
"Another one?" I announce dully. I don't know quite what else to say. Gordon crosses the room to where I'm standing. He holds out a folder. Obediently, I take it and examine its contents.
"One of Maroni's men," I note aloud.
Gordon nods.
"A low-level enforcer," he explains with a sigh.
"Odds are, Maroni won't notice he's gone for at least a week. He's a nobody." Gordon crosses his arms. I notice that he, too, is focused on the tarped body.
"My men brought him in a few weeks ago. We thought we had him cold on a rape and murder."
"What happened?"
Gordon shakes his head.
"You know how mob lawyers are. He managed to get some key evidence thrown out, cast some suspicion on the girl's alcoholic ex-boyfriend." Gordon hangs his head. I know he hates losing these guys as much as I do.
"He got off clean. Had a Hell of a celebration from what I heard."
"I think Rachel," I begin. Gordon turns his head. This time, it's
me who clears a throat.
"I think Miss Dawes handled that case," I state emotionlessly. She told me about it over the phone. I was reading a proposal at the time, so I was only half-listening. I think she realized.
"It's a shame."
Gordon allows some silence to pass before saying in a low voice,
"Mr. Mayor, this is the fourth one this month." A fact that I was already aware of. A fact that has me feeling
very uneasy.
"Mob ties, recently acquitted, and - of course - the M.O." It just so happened that, at that particular point, I turn to the photos of the uncovered body. Gruesome, to say the least.
"Two shots. One in the heart, one in the head."
I close the folder. I've seen enough.
"How long can we keep this under wraps?" I ask nervously. I know how quickly the public panics at the mention of "serial killer" - even
if that serial killer seems to be targeting mob members.
"Not long, Harvey," Gordon answers honestly and informally. Our relationship far surpasses that of a Commissioner and a Mayor. Gordon and I are old friends, dating back to my early days as a fledgling attorney and his days as a sergeant. Gordon moves closer.
"The public, they're getting suspicious. And I don't need to tell you that the families don't like someone targeting their own men."
"You worry about the families. I'll take care of the public," I explain. I place a reassuring hand on Gordon's shoulder.
"We'll catch this guy, Gordon. I promise." At that moment, I only wish I believed myself.
***
THE PREVIOUS NIGHT
Mario Visigolio enters his darkened apartment at night. His hair and jacket are coated in a fine layer of rain. He shakes his head vigorously as he removes his jacket. As his apartment door closes, the room is bathed in total darkness. I watch silently from the armchair. When Mario finally does turn the light on, his back is turned. That's when he hears it.
Tiiiiiiiiing-thap.
Tiiiiiiiiing-thap.
Tiiiiiiiiing-thap.
He turns slowly, almost petrified in horror. "Dent?" he coughs. His voice almost fails him. I watch his eyes follow my coin as I goes up and down. Up and down. Up and down. Always moving, always shifting. Like justice. Fleeting, yet powerful.
I ignore his question. I'm tired of being referred to as this "Dent" character. To me, he sounds like a schmuck. "Heard about your trial," I growl. I spin the coin between my fingers for a moment before flipping it once more. My eyes never leave his. Finally, he forces himself to look away. "Certainly was a whole lot of evidence stacked against you. Looked very bad." I catch the coin and grip it in my fist. "I guess you're a lucky man."
Mario clears his throat. "What can I say?" he begins sheepishly. The moisture on his forehead isn't rain water, anymore. Now, it's a cold sweat. Frankly, I'm surprised my senses haven't been bombarded by the familiar smell of urine yet. "Justice prevailed."
"JUSTICE?!" I bark, jumping to my feet. "YOU CALL WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU 'JUSTICE?!' YOUR TRIAL WAS A FARCE!" I take my hand out of my pocket, revealing the loading revolver for Mario to see. "No, Mr. Visigolio, I'm here on behalf of justice." I pull back the hammer.
"Please, Dent! I'll turn myself in!" he pleads.
I scowl. "You think I wouldn't want that?" I ask incredulously. "It's called 'double jeopardy,' Mario! A major flaw in a majorly flawed justice system!" Oh, how I hate the courts. They're so powerless. Too busy fighting the symptoms and not the disease. "Besides, you had your chance to come clean. And no man gets a second chance."
I raise the revolver.
"Dent, don't do this! Please! I'll do anything! I'll...I'll...I'll tell you about Maroni! Huh, how's that sound? I'll help you take him down, Dent!"
I laugh maliciously. "YOU help ME?! You're just an enforcer, Mario! What the Hell could you possibly know that could be of any use to me?" He has no answer. That's because there is none. "And don't worry, Mario. I'll take Maroni down soon enough."
BANG!
BANG!
"And the name's not Dent."
(not including WSS)
