Planning: League of Assassins

***Dasquian Belargic*** · Jan 9th, 2013, 12:36:05 PM

RE: my girl Cassandra Cain

As I mentioned in another thread (I think?) I'd like to have her back story tie somewhat with Cassandra's DC backstory, in that she would have been trained from birth as an assassin in the League of Assassins, with the intention of her becoming a bodyguard for Ra's al Ghul.

Canonically, she is driven away from the League after executing her first real kill (as an 8 year old). She runs away when she realises what she has done is wrong, and spends the next 9 years homeless and confused.

The tweak I was thinking of making is having her leave the League when Ra's is killed by Batman (in Batman Begins). She has been raised to protect him and subsequently probably has a lot of awe and respect for him. Losing him to Batman is going to throw her entire purpose into question, and send her off on a path that will probably lead towards trying to assassinate Batman.

Most likely this will put her at odds with other League members, since she has all of their training / probably knows a bunch of their secrets.

Does that jive with what everyone has going on RE: the League?

Roy Harper · Jan 9th, 2013, 02:11:33 PM

That's a cool idea!

I definitely like the revenge against Batman idea: it potentially creates all sorts of revenge triangle problems. Maybe the League sends someone after her and Batman helps (creating one of those awkward "I still hate you, but I owe you one" situations); or maybe Batman ends up working with the League against her.

Dee and I were planning to have some sort of "grew up together" vibe with Roy and Cheshire. Not sure about Cheshire, but Roy was "adopted" by the League instead of being adopted by Green Arrow. Maybe there's some sort of "little sister" vibe, and Cassandra "betrayed the family" by running away? Might make for an interesting angle if they end up being sent to stop her?

Something else to consider: if Cassandra was raised to be unwaveringly loyal to Ra's, how would she react to someone replacing him as head of the league? Would she simply not care, or would she see it as a betrayal and try to take them out, too? That could lead to some interesting stuff with whoever takes over the league, whether it be Vandal Savage, Talia, or someone else entirely.

***Dasquian Belargic*** · Jan 9th, 2013, 02:15:41 PM

Maybe there's some sort of "little sister" vibe, and Cassandra "betrayed the family" by running away? Might make for an interesting angle if they end up being sent to stop her?

I like that. Weird, mute little sister

Something else to consider: if Cassandra was raised to be unwaveringly loyal to Ra's, how would she react to someone replacing him as head of the league?

Angrily? I think that if/when she returned to the League, and found someone else in charge, she would feel like they were usurpers.

Jade Nguyen · Jan 9th, 2013, 03:24:22 PM

Yay weird little sis

Also, I'm keeping a little of Jade's original backstory, in that she was sold, but not into slavery. She was 'sold' to the League as payment for a debt her [insert seedy family member here] incurred.

Really looking forward to Cassandra

*absently thwacks Roy in the shoulder*

Cassandra Cain · Jan 9th, 2013, 03:25:28 PM

*glares at big brother and sister*

Roy Harper · Jan 9th, 2013, 04:12:01 PM

Jenny and I were just talking about some of the League of Ass/Shadows kids being associated with a particular animal that has Asian/Oriental significance. If Jade is associated with cats, then that explains why she goes by Cheshire. Jenny was thinking owls - owls are both awesome, and they often show up within the nemesis of Batman pantheon.

There are quite a lot of other DC characters with animal ties, if people wanted to leap on that bandwagon. Bronze Tiger, and the snake-themed Shrike, and at least one incarnation of Mad Dog are League of Assassins members; Lady Shiva once used the alias Paper Monkey; and both Richard Dragon and Shado could potentially be dragon-themed assassins.

I have absolutely no idea what animal to use for Roy, though.