At the start of the campaign the party are rescued from a secret underground laboratory.
At the lab they were experimented on by a man referred to only as 'the doctor', they do not know that this was Dr. Jonathan Crane, a professor of psychology at Gotham University, who has since disappeared. Jonathan Crane will become the Scarecrow.
There was another man, tall, smartly dressed, east asian looking, with a weathered face. He only came to the lab occasionally. He was only ever referred to as 'the Master' (Ra's al Ghul). He was clearly in charge but rarely visited. The G.C.P.D. raided the underground lab, the Master wasn't there and Dr. Crane (Scarecrow) got away.
But the cops did manage to rescue the party members from the lab.
There was also another child with them at the lab - a teenager called Jean-Paul. He had been there from before they arrived. He was deeply religious and the doctor would torture him with religious fears.
They think he was taken by 'the doctor' when the police raided the lab.
They were taken into the custody of the state until to Police Chief Gordon's surprise, billionaire Bruce Wayne told him in private that he would adopt them. James Gordon agreed to keep the adoption a secret to avoid inflicting any more trauma on the young people rescued from the lab. To the public Bruce would announce that they were relatives of his come to live with him as their parents sadly died.
The players do not know about the adoption or batman theme at the start of the campaign. They only know about their backstory at the lab - ending with them being freed by the police and taken into a room at the police station.
GCPD HEADQUARTERS
We start with the players characters at G.C.P.D. Central. They have been there a couple of days giving statements etc to the police to help with their investigation.
They are taken into a room. Captain James Gordon enters and says that someone has agreed to take you into their care.
The party might suspiciously object to that.
Gordon says their new benefactor is a very rich man.
He then reveals that it is the millionaire Bruce Wayne.
He explains that they will go and live in Wayne Manor and as far as the public is concerned they are relatives of Mr. Waynes.
Gordon will tell them that a car is outside.
As they come out there is an enormous stretched limo parked on the curve. The door flies open.
WAYNE MANNERS
Getting in the limo seated inside they find an elderly, thin faced man in a suit with tails.
As the limo drives from G.C.P.D. Central to Wayne ManorAlfred Pennyworth introduces himself, he tells the kids that his master knows they have abilities. That he intends to help them train those abilities.
As the car goes up the drive they see the wealth on display.
When the car stops the front door of the Manor is opened by Alfred Pennyworth and inside they are introduced to Bruce Wayne.
He points out that they have a lab where they can analyse evidence.
The Trophy room - explain that they get trophies instead of experience. Their trophies will also be displayed here.
When they get to the trophy room get the players to describe their costume - that is the costume standing in a glass case alongside the one that houses batman's own costume. He tells them to put their costume on.
He takes them down to the final level and there they see The Batmobile. Plus a Night Bike for each of the party.
