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Behind The Scenes
by Robert A. Hayden
The Cat
Dylan Northrup
Archetype: Catburglar
Background:
He is a Cat burglar who was very famous before the secession of the CFS. Caught and put in jail before the war he was released during the battling to help out. He and several like him survived and were granted parole.
He lives well. He steals from the rich and gives to himself. He was a thief, but has enough now such that he doesn’t want to endanger his parole. However, he is still one of the best.
Chex, C. “Corn”
Marcel Emami
Archetype: Johnson
Biography:
Chester Chex, or “Corn” Chex to all on the streets, is perhaps the luckiest jack-of-all-trades in the shadows. Most of his extraordinary allotment of luck goes to keeping him alive, however.
Chex is known for setting runner teams up with missions that are bad from the start, for getting merchandise that usually gets himself and the buyer in a bit of trouble (e.g….take the Fairlight he sold to some poor sot even though it once belonged to an Aztechnology undercover operative who had a “cryer” alarm built into the casing…), etc. Many former “clients” (the only kind he has) have a grudge with him for one reason or another, but he usually avoids angering them to the point of attempts being made to his physical person… usually…
Last seen in Houston, Chex was involved in some sort of outrageous insurance scam that involved the robbery and burning of his own residence…while his wife was there. It is rumored he is now in the F.D.C. sprawl…
Description:
Chex is about 5’8” tall, black, with a stocky build. He is always seen wearing a large pair of mirrored sunglasses, day and night.
Conner, John
Dylan Northrup
Archetype: Detective
Background:
Once running under the name of Ranger, John Conner now works above the table. He is the owner, manager, financier, and an operative of ConnerSec Inc. A man who realized that there are not very many old runners, he got the big payoff and got out of the biz….sort of. With his money he started a security agency. After getting weapon permits and fairly lucrative arrangements with several armaments manufacturers (i.e. beta testing new designs in the field) his agency opened for business. Finding the security business boring, ConnerSec began to accept cases which were less than legitimate to offer their operatives better conditions to test their equipment in. If runners have need of equipment and they know Conner personally, often arrangements can be made to rent or purchase equipment that would otherwise be almost impossible to obtain.
Although he has much cyber enhancement, most of the cyber is of non-offensive. He is a master of surveillance having enhanced eyes and ears and enough memory to make him a walking archive site. It is a sure bet that any and all dealings with this man are recorded and dumped to a safe backup as soon as possible. When an impartial observer is needed to record dealings between companies Conner is often called in. Though he looks at this sort of operation as boring, it is lucrative and pays for most of his operating expenses.
Daemon Rage
David J. Altman
Archetype: Human Psycopath
Description:
Pale Caucasian male, long black hair, black eyes, black motorcycle leathers. Slightly deranged. His enormous IQ. coupled with maniacal cunning and various sociopathies make him a dreaded figure in the underworld. Has very fluid movements.
Background:
Daemon Rage’s background is sketchy. Apparently he was a soldier turned biker turned psychopathic serial killer. He was infamous throughout the world for his string of 53 serial murders. Apparently he took great delight in finding ways to kill the most heavily guarded people. Usually he disposed outsmarted all the protectors in order to reach his prey. When he was finally caught (by a detective who to this day remains anonymous) he avoided the death penalty by being his own lawyer and using a legal defense that crushed all four federal prosecutors opposing him. He was sent instead to Cypress Mental Institution. During his 10 years there he earned a JD, MBA, MD, and Ph.Ds in psychiatry, chemistry, and biology. After driving his first three counselors to insanity and slavery to his will, he was put in maximum isolation; no contact block.
He escaped 6 months later using unknown methods. Upon his exit he has worked diligently to put together a far-reaching crime and terrorist syndicate called RAVEN. Rage delights in making common appearances and belittling his position, nevertheless he is universally feared.
Apparently, his treatment at Cypress did ameliorate some of Rage’s insanity, and Rage can now act normal for short periods of time.
Domino
Tim Rayburn
Archetype: Elven Investigator, Male
Description:
Domino is and Investigator of great repute he has an eye for detail that some computers can’t touch. He can hold is own in the Matrix but relies on his wits before his utilities (which is why he doesn’t deck full time). The only obvious Cyberware he has is a fine Datajack and Softlink (but astrally shows to be very low on Essence). He is dressed in the finest clothing, but don’t let appearances fool you he knows more folks than your average fixer but he’d better owe you one or you have a dreks chance in convincing him do you a favor with less than three zeros and a nuyen sign attached.
Background:
Domino was a low line decker running the shadows till he got hold of a scene where two groups of runners bumped into each other and took each other out. He called in about 5 contacts and offered the all they wanted for about half what it was worth on the street and a handshake, nothing more. Though details aren’t known all know that Domino’s rep is one of a chap that will cut you a deal and the initial high price tag on his services are to weed out kids and drekhead gangs that would waste his time, and will only accept one tenth the agreed upon price when the job’s complete. The one thing to remember is that he feels he’s doing you a favor so he will expect courtesy at all costs and a fare bit of confidence in his abilities. Besides for his obvious cyberware he also has a Encephalon, Cerebral Booster, Vehicle Control Rig and a Smartgun Link installed making him the perfect backup to a group of over anxious Street Sam’s. He lives out of a Rolls Royce Prairie Cat who’s Uplink has been modified for decking and carries a rack of drones in the back.
Draugnim, Elendil
Benjamin Legangneux, Paolo Marcucci
Archetype: Elven Detective
Background:
A tall elf (1.99) with long black hair. His real name is unknown. He was born in Tir Na nOg in 2024 and, after the rite of passage, he left his country disgusted by the sheer power of Nobles. He rejected his family and moved to the London sprawl.
After a period of activity in the shadows, he was employed by the brits as an undercover agent for information gathering in the UCAS.
Now he works in Seattle, has a good rep among the shadows, and occasionally keep himself in contact with London.
But there is someone around that wants him dead. His brother, Aleendel, get the Noble’s privileges being the second in the line of succession in his family. He is rich, and has power. He is well respected in the Tir, but, if one day Elendil manage to come back at home, he will loose everything.
He wants Elendil to stay away, not to come back. Never. There are so many ways to accomplish this…
Elenbright, Dr.
Dwayne Baker
Archetype: Psychologist
Background:
Dr. Elenbright is the head of psychological studies at SSECCa Technical Academy (see sprawl of the same for more info). Dr. Elenbright spends most of her time interviewing students and producing psychiatric profiles of them for their permanent records. This information and Dr. Elenbright’s skills are used to convince the best and brightest at SSECCa that they are oppressed by government and corporations and that they (the students) desire to fight this by running the shadows. Dr. Elenbright’s co-conspirators are Mr. Finaish, Coach Cackrin, Dr. Reaves, Dr. Eizenreich, and Dr. Lientze. Dr. Elenbright is a Highly Charismatic (10) elf.
Gabriel
Nathan Yourchuck
Archetype: Human Terrorist
Background:
Gabriel is the head of a semi-international terrorist organization known as the GUISE. Don’t bother asking him what it stands for, he and his followers are too busy fighting corporate oppression to come up with cool acronyms that actually stand for something.
Gabriel is in his late thirties, although his exact age is not known. During the early ’40s he was part of a top-secret military project in which he was implanted with a large amount of modification, and in which he also lost all memories of his past life. Gabriel escaped, but he took with him a hatred of big government and big business. Although the GUISE often works for its own interests, they are available for mercenary demolitions work, money earned from these ventures is used to fuel the “cause.”
Gabriel shows little respect for those in the folds of the corporate oppressors. Mr. Johnsons that hire the GUISE usually find themselves under attack as soon as their job has been completed.
Grimm
David J. Altman
Archetype: Ork ‘Runner
Description:
Ork male, 6’7”, black hair, brown eyes, 140 kgs, well groomed, and well spoken.
Background:
Grimm (Pellaus Grimsby III) started life as a very privileged young man. The Grimsbys’ were extremely affluent (and influential) bluebloods. He led a cultured life that included polo, fencing, Latin, karate, and hunting. Pellaus went to Harvard for a degree in Economics, and Princeton for a degree in Business. Just as he was about to assume his rightful place in the clan “The Change” happened. It was quite traumatic on everybody. After rest and recuperation (at home, tended by private nurses) Pellaus got well. At that time Pellaus’ father, Winslow, had “The Talk” with his son. Shortly later Pellaus left home, never to return. Oddly freed of responsibility, and with a good deal of money, Pellaus fell in with the wrong crowd. After various illicit dealings with the Mafia and the Tongs, Pellaus was impressed into service to pay off his “Honor debts”. Several years later, Grimm met up with an Elf of like tastes called Flash. They teamed up and went independent.
Hollister, Bill, Rev./Dr.
David Dauwen
Archetype: Humanis Policlub Leader
Background:
His fiery southern voice stirs many members of his congregation to believe that he is the Lord’s Prophet in these troubled times. Reverend Doctor Bill Hollister is the voice of the Lord to billions of believers in the Sixth World. Hollister is called the ‘Firebreather’ by many of his opponents due to his ‘damnation and hellfire’ methods of both business and preaching. His communications empire, based in Atlanta, CAS, spans nearly the entire globe. FireHeart Ministries is on par with many small corporations-asset wise- and far more popular with the man on the street. His views, however, haven’t gained him many followers among the Awakened of the Sixth World. Hollister believes that the Awakening was an outpouring of Satan’s energies into the world. He believes that anyone ‘tainted’ by the Awakening- i.e. any Metahuman or Magically adept person- has been sent by the Devil himself to taunt and trick the God-fearing people of the Christian Religion into sin and wickedness. Hollister is also at the head of a rather large Humanis Policlub organization. This, along with his frequent affairs, are kept secret from his adoring audiences. (GM’s Info: Hollister is an untrained and undiagnosed Sorcerous Adept, and as such he can only use his abilities when in a highly emotional state- when delivering a sermon, or when his life is in jeapordy. As compensation for this, ALL spell-like abilities he manifests are STUN-only Drain. He unconsciously uses the spells ‘Decrease:Willpower’ and ‘Mob Mood’ on his congregations. In times of danger, he can protect himself with ‘Anti-Bullet Barrier’ and others. REMEMBER GM’s, Hollister DOES NOT know he has these abilities! His unusual luck is usually attributed to his faith in the Lord protecting him.)
Description:
Hollister is around 6’ tall with a very slim build. He wears his hair in a prominent pompadour. His eyes are bright violet and appear to have a spark of impishness in them.
KB (Kay Be)
Christopher Ryan
Archetype: Metahuman Rights Activist
Description:
Kathy Benton, “KB”, is an Ork with an attitude towards metahuman rights. A female Ork of average appearance, she tends to wear casual clothes with messages on them like “Peace to all races”, “Sentient Beings of the World Unite” or some other pithy saying.
Biography:
Although KB is not active violently in support of metahumans, preferring protest marches and letter writing, she has some friends who engage in violent activities against various anti-metahuman groups. Perhaps with the right words, she might be willing to pass on the names to sympathizers…
KB hangs out in various nightclubs, mainly those that are not low dives or expensive snobbish joints. She is quick to lecture others on rights, especially if they were violating any at the time. Naturally this had led to the occasional unintentional fight, but KB been able to defend herself adequately.
Kelley-Neufeldt, Jason
(AKA Dancer)
David Sherohman
Archetype: Human Rich-Kid
Background:
Jason Kelley was born to a wealthy corporate family 17 years ago. He was, however, born at a bad time for his father, the CEO of (insert name of local corp from halfway across the country) and was almost immediately turned over to Lisa Neufeldt to be raised as her son. Additionally, after providing Ms. Neufeldt, a retired championship ballroom dancer, with a formal education, the Kelleys loaned her the money to establish her own dance studio. At age 10, Jason was officially adopted by Lisa, who had also trained him in ballroom dancing.
In his early teens, Jason met (insert name of local matrix.god) - the two got along extremely well. (The matrix.god) taught Jason well, not only in computer hardware and software, but also in the construction of cybernetic implants, specifically, implanted cyberdecks. Jason came to love decking quickly, as it allowed him to exercise his grace and finesse at levels beyond the abilities of the human body. With the aid of his mentor, Jason built himself a cyberarm with exceptional dexterity and an inbuilt cyberdeck.
All was going well for the Neufeldts until last year, when Jason’s true parents chose to re-exert their authority in his life by arranging a political marriage between Jason and (the daughter of another corp bigwig). Jason and Lisa immediately liquidated what assets they could and fled to Seattle, where they are now trying to reestablish the lifestyle to which they are accustomed.
Having been raised surrounded by wealth, Jason has never felt that money was very significant, and tend to spend it quickly on whatever his whim of the moment may be. His naiveté extends to other areas as well, as his time spent in the matrix is the closest he’s come to prolonged experience on the streets. He has a basic understanding of guns and judo, but would be of little use in a firefight.
Maestro
Steve Mancini
Archetype: Male Elven Rocker
Description:
Thanks to cosmetic surgery, Maestro portrays himself as a banshee and dresses in medieval dark clothing. He is never without his chosen instrument, a platinum plated flute.
Biography:
Maestro is the lead singer of the gothic shadowrunner rock group, Maestro and the Musical Madmen. Many of his songs caterer to the youth of Seattle who find the whole shadowrunner image “cool heh heh heh heh…” Starting out in the Tarislar performing more traditional elven music, Maestro played in the shadows for a short time and eventually made several contacts in the shadowrunner community. He has since written several songs which glorify the real runners in songs about actually runs. Among his number one hits are “Look ma! No Skillwires!” and “God ain’t nuthin but a really big Watcher!”
Man-with-Summons
David Dauwen
Archetype: American Indian Lawyer
Background:
Man-With-Summons is, naturally, an Amerind. He is also one of the best lawyers on the North American continent. He is an ex-Runner gone “straight”, but he still has a soft spot for the more flamboyant ‘Runners and will, without fee, agree to represent any Runner or ‘Runner team that has done anything that really flies in the face of the major Powers That Be. His track record for freeing ‘Runners has put many a price on the head of Man-With-Summons from many different Corps, but most of the ‘Runners he has freed keep the bounty hunters well off his trail. Man-With-Summons is a rarity, a lawyer out to deal real justice mainly by keeping the Robin Hood types after the Corps and governments to keep things on the (relatively) straight and narrow.
A man of deep personal honor and passion, Man-With-Summons is a deeply committed man with a mission. As such he should never be used as an NPC who is out for himself: instead, he should appear to be chasing a moral victory. He is from oil-rich Apache ancestry and obtained his law degrees in Corporate, Civil, and Criminal Law from some of the most prestigious Universities in the World. Apart from his pursuit of the Law, Man-With-Summons is a Dog Shaman Initiate 3rd level. He has no spells that would influence a court case. Most of the spells that he knows are extra-sensory in nature(to help him investigate)and protective/healing spells.
Author’s Note: M-W-S started as a joke that gained a life of its own. Played half-way intelligently, he can be a rich NPC to include in any game.
Morgan, Thaddeus
Robert A. Hayden
Archetype: Metahuman Rights Activist
Thaddeus Morgan is the leader of the local Minotaur separatist group advocating the establishing of a Minotaur culture. 31 years old and an outstanding orator and writer, Morgan does possess a dark and murky past. Many metahuman rights groups have accused Morgan of fostering a movement that in the end splinters or defeats the political initiatives being made and gained by metahumans.
Background:
Morgan grew up in the sprawls and goblinized at the age of 14. He was immediately rejected by his parents as being “one of those” nasty metahumans. He survived on the streets, racking up quite a number of criminal convictions, but serving no jail time due to his young age and non-violent nature. At the age of 18, he was convicted of armed robbery after holding up a convenience store for food money. He served 14 months of a 38 month sentence in a medium security prison.
While inside, he was able to expose himself to works of law and politics and literature, and quickly learned the ins and outs of the political and legal system. He also honed his ability to speak and write. About half-way through his incarceration, he discovered a scientific paper that clearly differentiated between the Minotaur and the Troll. For years he had grown up thinking that he was a Troll, but quickly his symmetrical horns and lack of dermal plating more aptly described him as a Minotaur. He then made it his goal in life to bring about a socio-cultural revolution that would define the Minotaur as a race unto itself; as a race worthy of respect.
Upon leaving prison, he returned to the sprawls and worked up a small band of fellow Minotaur. Unfortunately, the campaign for recognition has not gone well. Twice he was indicted on chargest stemming from violent activities. Once for an assault on a Humanis Activist and the other for inciting a riot at a metahuman rights convention when the organizers refused to recognize the Minotaur contingent. Both times the charges were dismissed due to lack of evidence.
Currently, Morgan can be found as a sought-after convention speaker. It is expected that within the next few years, he will be a probable candidate for various local, if not national, political offices.
He has no spouse, children or siblings. Both his parents passed away several years ago.
Ned
Robert A. Hayden
Archetype: Human Squatter
Description:
‘Ned’ is a lowlife squatter. His brain has been fried by BTL and other, unidentifiable, drugs. He does have one redeeming feature in between his incoherent ramblings and droolings fits of paranoia, he know A LOT about the street. When people go missing or when someone is gunning for someone else, he usually catches the drift, and will happily pass along the information for the price of a fix or two. Rumor has it that he was once a city councilman, before the drugs and the chips fried his mind.
Pooh
J.D. Falk
Archetype: New-Age Mystic
Background:
Ambling along the street in a large town can be seen many strange characters, but very few are as strange – and, yet, as familiar – as the Taoist speaker known only as Pooh.
“Where do you go,” one may ask the cuddly-looking CyberBear, “wandering the streets all day and all night?”
“I just follow the tip of my nose,” Pooh replies. “It always knows where to lead me.”
Though largely a forgotten philosophy in the hustle of the 2050’s, Taoism still has a small following in any large city. The tenets are simple, though often misunderstood, and appeal to those who’ve tired of this high-stress, low-yield society.
One of the greatest schools of Tao thought in the West was located high in the Rockies, but was destroyed by an avalanche around the same time as the Awakening. Hospital reports indicated that the two survivors, both Westerners, were transferred to a private clinic as soon as they were well enough to travel. The records, however, are extremely sketchy, and it is unknown just which clinic this was.
Thus, it is theorized that one of those survivors underwent a custom CyberFurry modification (see NERPS Shadowlore) and became the soft, cuddly “teddy bear” which now walks the streets and calls itself Pooh.
When asked any question, Pooh always offers up perfectly sensible responses, but somehow never gives the information needed. “I am Pooh, of course. Or at least I think I am. But then, who else would I be? I’d hate to think that I was somebody else, and that the real Pooh was walking around saying they were me! Except, who would I then be?”
Always a friendly face in an otherwise dark and dreary sprawl, Pooh has been elected mascot of no less than twelve completely separate street gangs, all of which separately conspire to insure the bear’s safety. They will also, from time to time, help t o assure the delivery of a jar of thick, viscous, yellowish fluid which Pooh calls “honey.” It is usually delivered by a helicopter, strangely enough, registered to a Japanese company which seems to have absolutely no other purpose. A new jar of “honey” is delivered once every week.
GM Notes: Pooh personally has no weapons, but seems to be the recipient of some strange form of magical protection. Even from Astral space, all that a mage can discover about this protection is that it is permanently bonded to the living flesh, has been beautifully crafted, and bears little resemblance to any known magic.
One possible short session to teach your party to ask questions before they shoot would be for them to be hired to deliver this “honey” (which is actually an extremely complicated molecule which I personally am not competent to describe). Various street gangers will separately come up to offer help, but (of course) they’ll be swaggering and brandishing weapons. If the jar doesn’t get to Pooh, another helicopter will be dispatched the next day, and the group of Shadowrunners will be in large and varied amounts of trouble.
Progman
J.D. Falk
Archetype: Elven Bartender
Background:
The bartender of the converted warehouse called Stuff, this relatively elderly elf renounced his given name when he, and his human family, realized that his Elfinness wasn’t curable.
He is most skilled in mixing drinks, but also has been known to practice various martial arts, and seems very good at throwing darts. He’s kept himself fit, and is extremely muscular for his age.
Also, he seems to have an eye for antique computer equipment.
Sandman
David J. Altman
Archetype: Unknown
Description:
6’3”, pale skinned, red-haired, green-eyed, lithe Caucasian elven male.
Sandman usually wears a rather voluminous greatcoat that is sometimes more like a robe than a coat. He prefers darker shades. Often if he wears colors other than black they will be the darkest shade available. Other than his hallmark greatcoat he always wears a pendent that no one can really remember well afterwards.
Background:
Sandman is a marvelous enigma of the Sprawl. He is not a real shadowrunner, although he has gone on many shadowruns. He seems to have no real goals or means that anyone can discern, and yet . . . He will show up in time to give a mysterious piece of advice that always turns out to be useful. He will know much, but leave people as if he knows more than they can imagine. His elegant manners can give way very quickly to deadly intensity. His performs tricks of amazing sleight-of-hand and speaks in mysterious tones. A person gets the feeling of being both with a jester and an executioner when they are around Sandman. He is seen in company both high and low. Although he can be dramatic, he can also move as a whisper through darkness. Surely he is magical, and yet no one can assense him. Wisecracking, acerbic tongued most times he can be profound and poetical on occasion. He seems to have no friends, but favorites and devotees.
Sir Ignacio the Anti-Technical
J.D. Falk
Archetype: Male Anacronist
“We gots all this drek goin’ on in the streets, and you know why? Because of all this technology! Hundreds of years ago, mankind turned its back on simple values and embraced the steam engine, the television, the computer – and now even the metahumans act inhuman!
That ain’t for me, chummer. I’m goin’ back to a simpler time, when all a man needed to be a man was his sword, his horse, and the blessing of a lady.
Hey! There goes a lady now…wonder if she’ll bless me?”
Wearing clunky-looking metal chain armor and wielding a large sword, the only reason this kook (known as the Don Quixote of Seattle) hasn’t been gunned down is that most of his family fortune has been spent on all sorts of expensive protection. He pretends not to know it, but his armor is made of high-quality, virtually impenetrable metals, and his sword has a monofilament edge hidden inside the blade until voice-activated by his usual war cry of “Sword, don’t fail me now!”
Though nobody can tell for sure, it is also thought that much bioware was introduced into his body as a teenager – perhaps leading to his current state of delusion.
As to how he got all of this stuff, well, it is rumored that his overprotective mother was the sole heir of the Gates and Perot fortunes, and his father was the brother of Sadato Shiawase, CEO of the Shiawase Corporation (see Corporate Shadowfiles).
This may or may not be his true parentage, but if so, the union was never recognized by the Shiawase corporation. But, somehow, Ignacio has never gone hungry, always getting money forwarded from a well-protected node of the Japanese net.
Steel Heart
Brad Caldwell
Archetype: Human Rocker
Background:
Not everyone in the sprawl is on the down and out. Robert Baker, AKA Steel Heart, is one of the bright lights in the shadows. He is the lead singer in a Industrial-Punk band known as Steel Heart (Hey he runs the band he can call it whatever he wants too).
The other members of Steel Heart are Jason Walters (Beater), Susie Jennings, and Tommy Rose (The Ripper). They are popular with the university crowd and are known to play for free drinks at the local nightspots. Their favorite hang-out is Mike’s Place, a new bar trying to get off its feet.
Description:
Steel Heart is a light-skinned human standing about 2m and weighing in just over 65kg. He has long black hair which he wears pulled over to one side. He is usually decked out in black leather and his “signature” is a black leather jacket with a shiny steel heart on it.