World of Legends The New DC RPG: Character Application
Character Name: Stephanie Brown /
Batgirl
Alignment: Hero
Character Speech Color and Font: Purple Comic Sans for Stephanie /
Bold Purple Comic Sans for Batgirl
Powers and Abilities: Stephanie possesses no superhuman abilities. In the beginning, what she does possess are gymnastic skills and preliminary martial arts training. During her time as a crime-fighter, Stephanie has trained under Cassandra Cain, Tim Drake, Bruce Wayne, Barbara Gordon, and others. Through this training, she has greatly improved her martial art skills, aptitude at stealth, and proficiency with various gadgets.
Character Origin/Backstory: Stephanie Brown is the daughter of Arthur Brown, better known to the world as the would-be supervillain Cluemaster. Stephanie spent much of her childhood without a father as Arthur would be locked up for one crime or another. Once she was old enough, she had had enough of her father's act. When Arthur finally broke the habit of leaving clues behind, Stephanie took up the identity of "Spoiler" and left a trail for Batman and Robin to follow. With Spoiler's help, Cluemaster was apprehended. So began Stephanie's involvement in the world of costumed crime-fighting.
From time to time, Arthur Brown would break out of prison and embark on a new crime spree. Stephanie was always there to stop him as Spoiler. During these occasions, she grew quite close with Robin, and the two developed a mutual attraction. Despite Batman's disapproval and Robin's attempt to dissuade her, Stephanie began fighting crime as Spoiler on a regular basis. Spoiler and Robin began a relationship, and Robin helped Stephanie through her pregnancy with her ex-boyfriend's child. Eventually, she learned Robin's true identity, Timothy Drake, and the two would have an on-again-off-again relationship thereafter. During this time, Stephanie also trained with Cassandra Cain, the second Batgirl, and the two became friends.
When Tim was forced to give up the Robin mantle, Stephanie managed to convince Batman to take her on as his new protege. Stephanie became the fourth Robin for a time, though she was dismissed by Batman for disobeying a direct order in the field. In an attempt to prove herself a worthy crime-fighter, Stephanie inadvertently triggered a massive gang war in Gotham. She was kidnapped and tortured by Black Mask. Later, she seemingly succumbed to her wounds and died. Batman found out that Dr. Leslie Thompkins could have saved Stephanie's life, but she let Stephanie die as a warning against vigilantism.
Later, it came to be known that Stephanie had faked her own death with the help of Dr. Thompkins. She moved to Africa and tried to find a new calling doing volunteer work, but it wasn't long before she realized that her heart belonged in Gotham. Stephanie returned and resumed the identity of Spoiler until her mother asked her to stop. Stephanie agreed to give up on being a vigilante and focus on being a normal college freshman, but she found herself unable to keep this promise. After a disillusioned Cassandra gave up the mantle of Batgirl in the wake of Bruce Wayne's apparent death, Stephanie borrowed Cassandra's old costume and took on a new identity as Batgirl.
Stephanie encountered much resistance for her attempts to be the new Batgirl, chiefly from Barbara Gordon, the original Batgirl. However, the two women finally came to an understanding, and Oracle began to train and assist Stephanie in her new crusade. Eventually, she earned the approval of Dick Grayson, who was Batman during Bruce's disappearance. Upon Bruce's return from the grave, he put Stephanie through a test, which she passed, earning his approval as well. She has continued on as Batgirl ever since, taking an active part in Batman, Incorporated, and continuing her ever-evolving relationship with Tim Drake.
Why this character?
Well, I think we all know I like 'em young.
... wait. That came out wrong.
What I
mean to say is that I've always been more comfortable writing younger heroes, in no small part because, well, that's been my world. I'm very familiar with it. And I've always enjoyed writing legacy characters because it's easy to relate to someone trying to live up to this rich history before them. Stephanie has been met at every turn with doubt and disapproval, but she hasn't let that stop her because being a hero is the one thing she wants most in the world.
What can you bring to the RPG?
A young, hip,
trendy vibe! I'm all up on what the kids are doing these days with the Face-Tweets and the Insta-Vines. And since Stephanie is a college student, I'll be able to make all kinds of references to celebrities and pop culture. Won't that be fun!
Provide a short sample post as your desired character, in three paragraphs or more and featuring at least one line of dialogue:
My name is Stephanie Brown. My father, Arthur Brown, used to commit crimes under the moniker "Cluemaster." That bugged me. So I put on a costume, called myself "Spoiler," and made it my sole mission in life to spoil
(get it?) my father's schemes. I even got to meet Batman and Robin. Eventually, though, I found myself wanting to stop more than just my blood relatives from hurting people. So I became a full-time crime-fighter, and... well... let's just say I've made mistakes. But I'm learning to be better. I've even traded in my old costume for a new one, and I've got a new name to boot. But, with all that said, I'm still just an ordinary college student.
And what does an ordinary college student do on a Friday night?
... that wasn't rhetorical. I'm actually asking you, because I have no idea. But I'm pretty sure it's
nothing like what I'm
actually doing.
Don't let me give you the wrong idea, though. The lifestyle I've chosen for myself isn't all glamor and excitement. In fact, on quiet nights like tonight, patrolling ends up being a whole lot of sweating - in spandex, no less - over nothing. It's a little underwhelming, actually. I mean, this is Gotham! The most crime-ridden city since... well, ever! (I should really pay attention more in History...) Where are all the bad guys tonight?! Is there a big game on or something? Ugh!
"What was that?"
The voice you hear is Barbara Gordon a.k.a. Oracle a.k.a. the original Batgirl. She's also been my mentor. The other half of Team Batgirl. And sometimes - though never tell her I said this... - a giant nag. Don't get me wrong, though. I'm happy to have her. Probably wouldn't be alive today without her guidance.
"What was what?" I ask as I land on the head of a gargoyle.
"That noise you made," Babs buzzes in my ear.
I bite my lip. "A noise? Did I? Yeah, I dunno, O. Maybe it was just white noise. Radio static, you know?"
"No, it was a... sigh? Did you sigh?"
I fire my grappling hook at a nearby water tower. "A sigh? No, I don't think so. Maybe your hearing's starting to go." Pushing off of the gargoyle, I throw myself into the air, delighting at the feeling of weightlessness before my grapple line goes taut.
"I can play it back if you don't believe me," Babs offers.
"Wait a minute... you record this?" I say. "Creep!"
"Yeah, yeah. Well, you can stop pouting about the lack of activity. Someone just triggered a silent alarm at the tech firm on fifty-seven and Brunswick." She pauses. "Unless you'd rather call it a night and head in early to get a jump on your homework..."
I smirk. She does know how to push my buttons. "Not on your life," I answer. "I'm on my way."