The Commish

And now, the hero cop.

Commissioner JAMES “JIM” WORTHINGTON GORDON 
Male Human Strong Hero 1/Dedicated Hero 3/Investigator 9; CR 13
Medium-size Humanoid (height 5’ 11”, weight 168 lb.); Age mid 50s

Init +1; Senses (core) Listen +9, Search +8, Spot +7; Senses (house) Listen/Spot +16, Search +16
Languages English

Defense 19, touch 19, flat-footed 18; Defensive Martial Arts (+1 Dex, +8 class)
hp 71 (13 HD); Mas 13
Fort +7, Ref +6, Will +8
AP 10

Speed 30 ft.
Melee unarmed +10/+5 (1d4+2 lethal/nonlethal, 20) or
Melee by weapon +10/+5
Ranged 9 mm pistol +10/+5 (2d6 ballistic, 20, 30 ft., S, 14 box) or
Ranged S&W pistol +10/+5 (2d6 ballistic, 20, 30 ft., S, 6 cyl.) or
Ranged by weapon +10/+5
Space 5 ft. by 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
Base Atk +9; Grp +10
Atk Options Bull’s Eye, Double Tap, Point Blank Shot
Special Qualities None

Abilities Str 13 (14), Dex 12 (13), Con 13 (14), Int 15 (13), Wis 15 (13), Cha 13 (11)
'(-)' indicate original ability scores.
          Note: Jim has age penalties and bonuses due to middle age.
AL justice, Gotham City, good, GCPD, his family, the Bat Family; Rep +4; San 53
Feats Alertness, Armor Proficiency (light), Bull’s Eye (see Ultramodern Firearms), Combat Martial Arts, Defensive Martial Arts, Double Tap, Educated (Knowledge [behavioral sciences, civics]), Personal Firearms Proficiency, Simple Weapons Proficiency, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Trustworthy
Skills (core) Bluff +7, Climb +5, Computer Use +4, Diplomacy +10, Drive +4, Gather Information +8, Investigate +12, Knowledge (behavioral sciences) +7, Knowledge (civics) +7, Knowledge (current events) +8, Knowledge (streetwise) +11, Knowledge (tactics) +7, Listen +9, Read/Write English, Research +4, Search +8, Sense Motive +12, Speak English, Spot +7, Swim +4, Treat Injury +5
Skills (house) Athletics +9, Computer Use +4, Deduce +16, Drive +4, Gather Information +10, Knowledge (behavioral sciences) +8, Knowledge (civics) +7, Knowledge (current events) +10, Knowledge (streetwise) +12, Knowledge (tactics) +7, Perceive +14 (+2 on Listen, Spot), Persuade +14 (+2 on Diplomacy), Read/Write English, Research +4, Speak English, Treat Injury +6
Talents (Strong) Melee Smash
Talents (Dedicated) Empathy, Intuition
Talents (Investigator) Contact (high-level, low-level, mid-level), Discern Lie, Nonlethal Force, Profile
Starting Occupation (core) Military (Drive as permanent class skill, +1 on Climb; Combat Martial Arts)
Starting Occupation (house) Investigative & Military (Drive as permanent class skill, +1 on Athletics; Combat Martial Arts)
Possessions (carried weight 17.5 lb.) basic evidence kit (6 lb.), FN BDAO 9 mm (2 lb.), formal outfit (office attire; 3 lb.), overcoat (3 lb.), steel handcuffs (1 lb.), Smith & Wesson Model 10 (2 lb.), concealed carry holster (shoulder; 0.5 lb.), various personal items
Wealth Bonus +11

Last Hurrah In Japan

And so we gathered—my mom, fiancé, and coworkers, both at separate times and together—to join in fellowship and express our gratitude for things given us by each other and the opportunities shared. It was a joyous time, not entirely without a healthy amount of stress and doubt over the future to come, but a time marking the end of a major chapter in my life.

In mid-July, I was welcomed into the Hashimoto home, the first of several visits to the place where my lady was raised.

The Hashimoto Family (Zen-Buddhist) Shrine

I spent considerable time conversing with Yume's mother and grandmother while seated around the kitchen table—the more exclusive domain of the Japanese women. Here, Yumeko poses with a bowel of dried, salted veggies as we munch on other healthy snacks.

Then we bounce outside to visit with the family dog—Mabou!

A dog and his owner.

Much as I love dogs, my camera can't help but veer more toward the adorable girl kneeling beside him.

That weekend, Yume and I made for Shimoda Park to go jogging and take in the sights from atop the high observation tower at its heart.

Some of my last views of the gorgeous "blue forests" for which Aomori takes its name.

The two of us at the end of our jog. (I wonder if you can tell what question she had just answered for me by the look on her face.)

A couple weeks later, my mom arrived in Aomori to help me pack and return to the US. Our first walk out around town and she stopped to snap this shot: something about it screamed "missing 'L'" to her~ ;)

Later, we ran across the Colonel who decided to follow suit and ask my mother's hand in marriage. (Don't know what you're getting into there, Colonel~!)

My mom got a kick out of this example of wasei eigo ("Japanese English") found in the food court at the local mall.

The following day, we drove to Kabushima Beach, and took a stroll up to see the adjoining shrine.

Climbing to the top…

At the pinnacle, we encounter no shortage of fearless "sea cats" (umineko, or sea gulls) guarding Kabushima, having dodged white splats from their backends all the way up.

That's right—shirtless and braving the bird scat!

A beach angel on patrol

Fortunately, the beach angel takes kindly to my presence after a brief swim.

At my farewell dinner, Mom was asked to get up and show off her tap dancing skills, minus the taps.

She clearly still manages to enjoy herself.

And I will never forget you. (Clockwise starting from the left: Ruairi McLaughlin [friend and fellow ALT], Mr. Yoshida [office aide], Mr. Tsukuda [schools coordinator], Mr. Tsutsumi [office head], Mr. Fujimori [schools coordinator], Mr. Kawaguchi [ALT coordinator], Mr. Isezuki [office aide], Ms. Komukai [office aide], Mr. Hakamada [superintendent], Mom [wonderful parent], and this guy [lucky dude]). Thanks Japan!

Sayonara!

The Butler

Having presented the main Bat-villains featured in the Nolanverse of films, let's delve into a couple allies of the Dark Knight Detective. First up, loyal servant and confidant of the Wayne Family:

ALFRED THADDEUS CRANE PENNYWORTH
Male Human Strong Hero 1/Fast Hero 1/Smart Hero 1/Dedicated Hero 9; CR 12
Medium-size Humanoid (height 5’ 10”, weight 160 lb.); Age early 70s

Init +1; Senses (core) Listen +10, Search +7, Spot +10; (house) Listen/Spot +19, Search +11
Languages English, French, German

Defense 20, touch 20, flat-footed 19 (+1 Dex, +9 class); Defensive Martial Arts
hp 40 (11 HD); Mas 11
Fort +5, Ref +5, Will +11
Action Points 8

Speed 30 ft.
Melee unarmed strike +7/+2 (1d4 lethal/nonlethal, 20) or
Melee by weapon +7/+2
Ranged Mossberg shotgun +8/+3 (2d8 ballistic, 20, 30 ft., S, 6 int.) or
Ranged by weapon +8/+3
Space 5 ft. by 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
Base Atk +7; Grp +7
Atk Options Combat Expertise
Special Qualities none

Abilities Str 10 (13), Dex 12 (15), Con 11 (14), Int 15 (13), Wis 19 (15), Cha 16 (13)
'(-)' indicate original ability scores.
          Note: Alfred has age penalties and bonuses due to old age.
Allegiances the Wayne Family, good, the Bat Family, the British Crown; Rep +4; San 94
Feats Alertness, Attentive, Combat Expertise, Combat Martial Arts, Defensive Martial Arts, Iron Will, Meticulous, Personal Firearms Proficiency, Simple Weapons Proficiency, Surgery, Trustworthy, Windfall
Skills (core) Bluff +7 (+9 after 1 min. of study), Computer Use +6, Diplomacy +8 (+9 after 1 min. of study), Disable Device +6, Disguise +6, Drive +6, Forgery +6, Gather Information +8, Investigate +7, Knowledge (behavioral sciences) +6, Knowledge (streetwise) +9, Knowledge (tactics) +6, Listen +10, Perform (act) +6 (+9 after 1 min. of study), Pilot +4, Profession (butler) +13, Profession (chef) +8, Read/Write English, Read/Write French, Read/Write German, Repair +6, Research +5, Search +7, Sense Motive +11 (+9 after 1 min. of study), Speak English, Speak French, Speak German, Spot +10, Survival +6, Swim +2, Treat Injury +15, Tumble +4
Skills (house) Computer Use +6, Deduce +9 (+2 on Investigate, Search), Disable Device +6, Disguise +6, Drive +6, Forgery +6, Gather Information +8, Knowledge (behavioral sciences) +6, Knowledge (streetwise) +9, Knowledge (tactics) +6, Perceive +19 (+9 on Sense Motive after 1 min. of study), Perform (act) +6 (+9 after 1 min. of study), Persuade +10 (+2 on Diplomacy [+9 after 1 min. of study]), Pilot +4, Profession (butler) +13, Profession (chef) +8, Read/Write English, Read/Write French, Read/Write German, Repair +6, Research +5, Speak English, Speak French, Speak German, Survival +6, Swim +2, Treat Injury +15, Tumble +4Talents (Strong) Extreme Effort
Talents (Fast) Evasion
Talents (Smart) Savant (Knowledge [streetwise])
Talents (Dedicated) Empathy, Faith, Healing Knack, Intuition, Skill Emphasis (Treat Injury)
Starting Occupation Military (Drive, Pilot as permanent class skills; Personal Firearms Proficiency)
Possessions (carried weight 10 lb.) dustpan, formal outfit (English butler's suit; 3 lb.), hand broom, Mossberg 12-gauge Model 500 ATP6C (7 lb.), various personal items
Wealth Bonus +16