Danton - Part V

Ok, second-to-last one of these, but somehow the longest. Still we're almost done with this jaunt into my first youthful foray into multiverse superhero-ish writing. I can't say it hasn't been pretty awkward going over this for me, but at least I've seen the origins of some of my broader concepts and tropes, which is pretty cool for a writer.

Prelude to Bonaparte - A Danton Adventure

A young General, Napoleon Bonaparte, has risen to prominence under Dracula's regime. He is raised to the rank of General after the Schama War, being before the reunification of France a mercenary, continuing to lead his same force independently of Chewbaca in the Zombie Jesus War. During the final battle with Zombie Jesus, Napoleon discovers his ability to fire energy blasts. As a reward for his service in both the Schama and Zombie Jesus campaigns, Chewbaca grants Napoleon stewardship of Brittany.

This position makes Napoleon hunger for power, he stages a coup, killing Chewbaca and taking control of the French Lawyer army, adding it to his mercenary force. Napoleon embarks upon a naval voyage to the Middle East; upon arriving, he leads his army to victory in Jerusalem and takes for himself the Lance of Longinus, thereby becoming nigh-invincible. Upon returning to France, Napoleon discovers that it has been taken over and is ruled by a Decepticon who can transform into a Guillotine. The armies of Napoleon easily conquer France again, but are unable to penetrate the walls of Paris. Napoleon commissions Einstein to build a chronosphere.

After the chronosphere is completed, Napoleon shifts into Paris and confronts Guillotron. The battle between Guillotron and Napoleon carries on for days, much of Paris is leveled between Napoleon's Gallic Gun and Guillotron's Blaster Canon. In desperation, Napoleon uses the chronosphere on Guillotron, while he is stunned, Napoleon uses his Final Flash, which raises almost of that is left standing in Paris and destroys Guillotron. In the wreckage of Guillotron, Napoleon finds the first Dragon Ball...

Danton - Part IV

You know, when I started writing these up again, I really had no idea just how much of it there was. I mean, I wrote this all in a few dull History lessons in 2004, that's long enough ago that it's pretty fuzzy for me, so I guess I suspected I didn't do all that much of this? And we're only halfway, well halfway-ish, so I hope you're not as sick of this as I'm getting.


Danton 4: Napoleon Ball Z

While Danton and company were defeating Robespierre in Otherworld, France was conquered by Napoleon, through an alliance with Chewbacca and his army of lawyers. Napoleon became Emperor by finding the Lance of Longinus and forging a series of rings. Now he seeks to become immortal by finding the Dragon Balls; to achieve this he dispatches Inspector Clouseau. Meanwhile Blanka/Danton returns from Otherworld, when he sees what has happened to France, he travels to Paris and challenges Napoleon to single combat, be prize being leadership of France. With the powers of the Lance of Longinus and the One Ring, Napoleon could easily defeat Blanka/Danton, but instead prolongs the combat, making a fool of Blanka/Danton before blasting him to Russia with the Kamehameha technique.

Burning for revenge, Blanka/Danton seeks out allies to fight Napoleon; he stumbles upon Simon Schama, who has led the Mongolians to victory across Asia, forging a massive empire. After striking a deal, Schama dispatches Sniper Wolf to assassinate Clouseau; he fails miserably and is killed by Link. Schama's army marches across Europe, making allies against France. In fear, Napoleon visits a coven of witches, who tell him that "No man of a woman born" can kill him. Now over-confident, Napoleon leaves his army to its own devices, awaiting the final battle in his Volcano Death Fortress.

Without their leader, the French army is quickly defeated by Schama's hardened veterans. Blanka/Danton and Schama confront Napoleon, unfortunately Clouseau has returned with all of the Dragon Balls. Napoleon wishes himself immortal and proceeds to brutally kill Blanka/Danton. Despite his advanced battle-armour, Schama looks doomed, until, at the last minute, Doctor Strange returns from the Hell Dimension in which he was trapped. Strange opens a Dead Zone into which Napoleon is drawn and sealed forever. Schama and Doctor Strange establish democratic rule in France.

Danton - Part III

That's right! We're not done with this nonsense yet. In fact, this marks the halfway point of the Danton saga, a mostly nonsense story I wrote in my final year of High School and found when moving house. Whilst this story is pretty poor by my current standards, I like to think I can see shades of Ultimate Alliance and other projects in how I went about this all those years ago.

Robespierre: Master of Otherworld

Simon Schama's army of Battletoads has splintered after their defeat at the hands of Danton and Doctor Strange. The new French army, led by Chewbacca and make up entirely of Lawyers, has confined the undead army of Zombie Jesus to the area of Brittany. Dracula, Doctor Strange and the Last Ninja have disappeared off the face of the Earth. Unbeknownst to everyone else, our heroes have been transported to Otherworld by the ghost of Danton in the hopes that they can help defeat Robespierre and restore balance to the multiverse. Robespierre gathers his greatest warriors for the Mortal Kombat tournament; Blanka, Pope John Paul II and evil mutant Toad.

In a Martial Arts battle greater than anyone has ever seen before or since, Dracula brutally slays Blanka using his Dragon Fist technique. After a pitched battle, Pope John Paul II banishes Doctor Strange to a Hell Dimension. Last Ninja uses his cool headband thingy attack to simultaneously defeat both Toad and Pope John Paul II. In the final battle, Robespierre destroys destroys Dracula by driving a stake through his heart. It looks as if the Last Ninja will be defeated as well, until Danton's soul enters Blanka's body and the pair utilise the "Two-fisted Monkey Style" to finally kill Robespierre. Just as Last Ninja and Blanka/Danton turn to leave Otherworld, Robespierre springs up in a dying effort and grabs the Last Ninja, dragging them both into a lava pit. A distraught Blanka/Danton returns to France.

Danton - Part II

When last we left off this juvenile screed of pop-culture miscenallia that I wrote one fateful week in the last year of high school, I was wondering why I bothered to keep these scraps of loose leaf for almost two decades. And I'm still wondering. But at least I'm getting this down and I'm finding that cathartic.

Danton 2: Stone Cold

After the events portrayed in Danton, Dracula has been able to rebuild Paris, but the rest of France has descended into chaos, leaving Paris as a city-state. Simon Schama travels back in time and raises an army of mercenaries to conquer France under his sovereign dictatorship. Robespierre returns after becoming the new evil ruler of Otherworld and incites the Parisians to rebellion against Dracula's rule.

Dracula turns to the Justice League for help, joining them for a time. The Last Ninja returns to finally avenge his brothers against Robespierre and allies himself with Dracula and the Justice League. Doctor Strange joins with a coalition of demons to resurrect Danton's soul into a robotic body, christening him "Robo-Danton". Doctor Strange and Robo-Danton travel to fight a guerilla war against Schama and his Battle-Toad bodyguards. After a pitched battle, Schama and Robo-Danton fight in single combat while Doctor Strange raises Schama's fortress to the ground. Robo-Danton realises that he cannot defeat Schama whist he wears his battle-armour, so self-destructs, destroying the armour, though Schama survives the attack.

Meanwhile, the justice League put down the rebellion, forcing Robespierre to retreat to Otherworld, only to discover that Zombie Jesus has raised an army of undead and is now conquering the West coast of France.

Danton - Part I

Whilst moving house recently, I came across some pages of loose leaf I've saved since my final year of high school. They contain a silly little story I wrote while bored in class one week and I just never seemed to throw them out for some reason. Reading over them again, I found that in these silly stories is something of the origin of some of my approach to gaming storytelling as it is nearly two decades hence. So for a little bit, I'll be writing up the story, which spins out of a synopsis of the first part of the 1983 film Danton, it's very silly and rather juvenile, and I've only edited the spelling mistakes and worst grammar, so maybe come back next week if you were hoping for anything more meaningful.


Danton

During the Terror, Robespierre and the Committee struggle to maintain control over the masses. Danton, the Great Orator, and his followers seek to overthrow the Committee and end the Terror. Robespierre seeks to imprison Danton without inciting a popular uprising. Danton allows himself to be imprisoned to further his cause. Some of Danton's followers turn against him. Robespierre decides to release the Sentinels to quell the mutant menace. The Justice League break Danton out of gaol and give him the armor of "La Dynamo Tricolore". Dracula seizes control of the Committee and reactivates Voltron, making the Marquis de Condorcet Voltron Commander. Seeking revenge, Robespierre allies himself with The Iron Paw, a coalition of werewolves. Gamera is awakening from his hibernation imposed by Doctor Strange, who has repaired Gundam Wing Zero.

When Gamera awakens, he goes on a rampage in Paris, Dracula sends Voltron to stop him. A team of Werewolf-hunting Ninja attack the Iron Paw, who are actually evil and trying to release a Storm Elemental into the world. In a pitched battle all the Werewolves and Ninja, bar a single Ninja, are killed. The last Ninja swears to hunt down and kill Robespierre, who has gone to Otherworld to fight in the Mortal Kombat tournament. A pair of Japanese fae turn Danton into a giant badger to battle Gamera and Voltron. During the battle, Voltron accidentally destroys Master Mould's holding cell and it attempts to destroy all humans in Paris. Doctor Strange arrives in Gundam Wing Zero and destroys Master Mould with his Beam Cannon. Voltron kills Badger Danton but is destroyed by Gamera, who leaves mysteriously with Doctor Strange.

Team Finished: The Heroes of the Revolution

Those across the Omniverse who have encountered the being known as "Ulysses" mark him mostly as an enigma, but there are those who have spent more time around him and formed what could be called relationships. For a fortunate few in the right place and era, Ulysses can be called a teammate and a hero. During the worst days of the French Revolution, those that would become known as "The Terror", a war for the future of humanity was waged in the shadows between strange factions. If not for the actions of a handful of adventurers and a man out of time, the history of the world would have been much different.

The Heroes of the Revolution
(Fleu-de-lis, Baron Munchausen, Ulysses, The Highwayman and The Scarlet Pimpernel) 

The Heroes of the Revolution
In the early days of his inter-dimensional adventuring, Ulysses most often operated alone, challenging himself to conquer and defeat his foes without aid. All that changed when he first encountered a time-line in which Maximilien Robespierre attempted to conquer the world with Chaos Magic. Knowing that a magocratic dictatorship built on terror would lead the the end of humanity before the century was over, he decided to intervene in a way he had never considered previously. Ulysses gathered the best adventurers and warriors he could find, and built a superhero team.

Fleur-de-lis (Privateer Press) and Ulysses (converted Heroclix)

Fleur-de-lis: One of the greatest bounty hunters of her day, Fleur-de-lis was renowned for being as beautiful as she was ruthless. Armed with unique and hand-made dueling pistols, Fleur is a dead-eye shot as well as an expert tracker and a pugilist not to be underestimated. Due to her mercenary nature, Fleur was, in fact the easiest member of the Heroes for Ulysses to recruit, buying her loyalty and expertise with gold. Fleur is a woman alone in many ways, keeping much of her history to herself, though her decent physical health would seem to indicate a moneyed birth, and her taciturn facade an unpleasant past. 

Ulysses: In this, more primitive, era than were Ulysees can typically be found, the enigmatic adventurer is forced to remain more in the background of events to preserve history. Directing his team to fight the good fight is a new experience for the conqueror, as much for the company as for unambiguously fighting on the side of justice. Will this become a trend for Ulysses in his personal future? Only (relative) time will tell. These things get screwy when dealing with time travelers.

The Scarlet Pimpernel (Reaper) and the foppish Sir Percy Blakeney (Eureka) 

The Scarlet Pimpernel: Few who know the foppish dandy Sir Percy would credit that he is, in truth, that damned, accursed Pimpernel. Blakeney is a master of guile, having the world convinced that he is an idle dandy and that the Scarlet Pimpernel is a gentleman adventurer. In truth, as the Pimpernel, Blakeney is a brutal fighter, having trained in hand-to-hand combat for years and having little to no regard for the anti-monarchist Frenchmen he's beating to a pulp. Another loner not used to working with a team of equally-able comrades, the Pimpernel's aristocratic origins often have him biting his tongue when receiving orders or having to wait for others to catch up.

Baron Munchhausen (Eureka) and The Highwayman (Black Scorpion) 

Baron Munchhausen: Baron Hieronymus Karl Friedrich, Freiherr von Münchhausen was a legendary hero long before Ulysses turned up at his door and requested his help to save the world. A veteran of the Russo-Turkish war, Munchhausen's extraordinary life is rendered all the more fantastic because of the reality of it all. That Munchhausen has survived everything he has, fought giants, flown to the moon, ridden cannonballs and danced with a goddess mark him as a Superhero long before the booms of the 20th Century. How did he get his, clearly luck-based, powers? The truth may never be known, but Munchhausen himself will remain a legend for all history. 

The Highwayman: Most people believe that the legendary Highwayman, Dick Turpin, was executed in 1739, but the truth is far more sinister. The Royal Intelligence Office undertook an elaborate plan to fake Turpin's death and install him as a deniable agent in external affairs; after all, how could a dead man be responsible for the kidnap of a foreign dignitary? A skilled gunfighter, brawler and burglar, Turpin has been a mole inside of the Revolutionaries since the fall of the Bastille, feeding information to the British government and working a small profit for himself on the side. Ulysses sought out and recruited Turpin for his team knowing that his larcenous skills were of as much value as his penchant for murder. 

Name: The Scarlett Pimpernel

BP: 85

Affiliation: Heroes of the Revolution

AP: 10

Strike: 7 (1)

Strength: 4

Dodge: 7 (1)

Sense: 4

Toughness: 4

Mind: 3

Resolve: 3

Damage: 6

Powers

Alternate Form (Alter Ego Only) – Sir Percy, 2 AP to switch Forms

Super Strike 1 – May use Strike for Initiative Rolls

Super-Dodge 1 - +1D to resist fall damage, Cloak (Immunity) – 2AP 1” Radius gain +2D Dodge

Foresight – Counts one less for in Multiple Combats, may re-roll one scenario die

Combat Reflexes – May break from Combat with an Opposed Dodge Test (Ricochet)

Weapon +2D, Climbing (Vertical Charge), Escape Artist +4D, Reach 1”, Instant Stand, Perfect Timing

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

KO

Name: Sir Percy Blakeny

BP: N/A

Affiliation: Heroes of the Revolution

AP: 6

Strike: 4

Strength: 4

Dodge: 6 (1)

Sense: 2

Toughness: 3

Mind: 2

Resolve: 2

Damage: 4

Powers

Alternate Form (Alter Ego Only) – The Scarlett Pimpernel, 2 AP to switch Forms

Super-Dodge 1 - +1D to resist fall damage

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

KO

 

Name: Fleur de Lys

BP: 85

Affiliation: Heroes of the Revolution

AP: 11

Strike: 8 (2)

Strength: 3

Dodge: 7 (1)

Sense: 4

Toughness: 4

Mind: 3

Resolve: 5

Damage: 3/6

Powers

Foresight – Counts one less for in Multiple Combats, may re-roll one scenario die

Sense Weakness – 2AP TN3 Sense Roll, +2D on next Attack against target in LOS

Super-Strike 2 – May use Strike for Initiative Rolls

Super-Dodge 1 - +1D to resist fall damage

Ranged Attack 6 (Short Range)

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

KO

 

Name: Ulysses

BP: 85

Affiliation: Heroes of the Revolution

AP: 13

Strike: 5

Strength: 3

Dodge: 4

Sense: 4

Toughness: 4

Mind: 7 (2)

Resolve: 5

Damage: 5

Powers

Telekinesis – 2AP hovers 22” in the air until start of next turn, Immune to falling damage

- Manipulate Object – 3AP Mind Roll, move object 2” per Goal, 15” Range

- TK Grab – 3AP, 15” Range Mind vs Dodge target is Immobilised

Pushing – Once per Turn +2D to any Goal Roll at the cost of 1 Vitality

Combat Reflexes – May break from Combat with an Opposed Dodge Test

Super-Mind 2 – May use Mind for Initiative Rolls, Second Sight – Can target models without LOS.

Nemesis (Robespierre) - +2D Resolve against attacks from Nemesis

Weapon +2D, Hard to Kill – 4AP to Cuff or Ace Ulysses

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

KO

 

Name: Baron Munchausen

BP: 85

Affiliation: Heroes of the Revolution

AP: 12

Strike: 5

Strength: 4

Dodge: 6

Sense: 4

Toughness: 4

Mind: 7

Resolve: 8 (2)

Damage: 4

Powers

Lucky – Once per game, the Baron may re-roll any one Die Pool throw for or against him

Tactician 1 – 3AP, Grant 1 Re-roll to friendly model within 15”

Edge 3 - May add +1D after or +2D before a roll per level once per game

Implacable Charge - +1D Strike on Charge

Banter – May make an additional Soliloquy Attack each game

Super Resolve 2

X

X

X

X

X

X

KO

 

Name: Dick Turpin the Highwayman

BP: 85

Affiliation: Heroes of the Revolution

AP: 11

Strike: 5 (1)

Strength: 3

Dodge: 5 (1)

Sense: 4

Toughness: 3

Mind: 3

Resolve: 4

Damage: 3/5

Powers

Lone Wolf – Does not gain Friends in Combat bonus or Tactician

Combat Reflexes – May break from Combat with an Opposed Dodge Test

Super-Strike 1 – May use Strike for Initiative Rolls

Super-Dodge 1 - +1D to resist fall damage

Larcenous (5AP) – Immune to Damage rolled against Toughness, cannot make melee attacks, may move through terrain, immune to fall damage and knock down, +2D Dodge and Strike against Foes, +2D Doge to resist being spotted

Ranged Attack 5 (Short Range)

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

KO