CASE MORNING BRIGHTSIDE: THE PLAYER CHARACTERS

By David Lai & Matthew Pook

The following characters are 65d and are the PCs used in the playtest of Case Morning Brightside.  Together they represent Team Bravo - a team of cleaners and investigators – they are not combat necromancers like Bob Howard, so they don’t have much in the way of “magic”.  At best, they’d probably have a Laundry issue Palm PDA loaded with a thaum detector (magic level measurement) program and a local entropy field generator (zone of silence) program, hence the rather low resources trait for each character.

The native language of each character is set at equal to their Mind dice and was not included in the 65d used to create the characters.

GMs who wish to run Case Morning Brightside should feel free to either use these characters or generate completely new characters more to suit the taste of their players.
 

Mosin “Mo” Mohammed Anwar – overenthusiastic post graduate student

Race: Asian, Education: BSc Computer Science – Warwick University, MSc Information Management – New World University, London

Occupation: I.T. technical support for Team Bravo

Age: 25 Height: 5’4”, Weight: 125 lbs,

Hair: Black, Eyes: Brown

BODY 2d COORDINATION 3d SENSE 3d

MIND 4d COMMAND 3d EMPATHY 3d

MADNESS METER:

Violence: 2h

Unnatural: 3h

Self: 3h

Helplessness: 2h

TRAITS: Backup (2d), The Law (2d), Expert (4d), Resources (2d), Mythos

SKILLS:

Administration 1d, Bluff 1d, Computer Hardware 3d, Computer Programming 3d, Cryptology 2d, Education 1d, Electronics 2d, Equilibrium 1d, Forgery 1d, Hearing 1d, Language (Arabic) 1d, Language (English) 4d, Lie 1d, Lockpick 2d, Mathematics 2d, Mythos 3d, Occult 1d, Pick Pocket 1d, Resist 1d, Running 1d, Search 1d, Sight 1d, Spot 1d, Stealth 1d

Notes: Mosin comes from a large Pakistani Moslem family in one of the more impoverished parts of Birmingham.  He was considered a sickly child, plagued by ill health during much of his childhood.  Mosin showed an aptitude for the use of computers in school and at home, which attracted the interest of a local criminal group who funded him to attend a nearby University (but not too nearby).  The freedom permitted by university life away from his family came as a revelation and he reveled in this new environment, becoming somewhat disinterested in religion and supplementing his income with some illicit hacking on the side.  Graduating with a first class honours degree, Mosin then went to the newly re-opened New World University in northwest London to do an MSc and quietly investigate the rumours of super computer viruses surrounding the original closing of the new university.  (See CASE TRANSVERSE YETI.)  His digging attracted the attention of the Laundry and he was subsequently co-opted into the government organization.  Mosin is short and thin and wears attire that screams “geek”!  His dark skin is somewhat paler than normal from staying indoors for far too long.  He seems to subsist entirely on coffee and fast food.  Much to everyone’s annoyance he never seems to put on weight…

Private “Tiny” Tim Croaker – SAS trooper on detached service

Race: Caucasian, Education: Coal Hill Comprehensive Secondary School, Enfield, London

Occupation: Transportation facilitator and physical security consultant for Team Bravo

Age: 31, Height: 6’6”, Weight: 210 lbs,

Hair: Brown, Eyes: Blue

BODY 4d COORDINATION 4d SENSE 4d

MIND 3d COMMAND 3d EMPATHY 2d

MADNESS METER:

Violence: 5h

Unnatural: 1f 1h

Self: 1h

Helplessness: 1h

TRAITS: Backup (2d), The Law (2d), Expert (4d), Resources (2d), Mythos

SKILLS:

Brawling 2d, Driving (Car) 2d, (Motorbike) 1d, (Truck) 2d, Firearms (Machinegun) 2d, (Pistol) 2d, (Rifle) 2d, First Aid 1d, Language (Arabic) 1d, Language (English) 3d, Language (Serbian) 1d, Melee Weapon – Knife 1d, Mythos 3d, Occult 1d, Stealth 1d, Survival 2d, Tactics 1d, Throw 1d, Wrestle 2d

Notes: Tim joined the Army at sixteen to escape from his working class background and uninspired educational achievements.  He found he was rather enjoyed the military life, despite serving in the first Iraq conflict and volunteered to join the prestigious Special Air Service Regiment (22 SAS).  He has served in Bosnia with quiet distinction during the nineties.  His final mission in Bosnia ended in disaster when his team encountered a supernatural entity called a “vârcolac” – a relic left over from the Eastern Bloc Cold War research.  (See PROJECT PAPRIKA CHICKEN.)  Tim was the only survivor and was traumatised by the experience.  During his recovery in the UK he noticed signs of a “vârcolac” at work in the UK preying upon cockle pickers (the victims were thought to be victims of a serial killer).  His “solution” to the problem brought him into contact with D.S. Lewis and later, the Laundry.  (See CASE VISCIOUS ECHO.)  Unwilling to join the “Artists Rifles” (“Saturday and Sunday soldiers” as he refers to them behind their backs), he has been placed on detached service as a “bodyguard” to Team Bravo.  He speaks with a pronounced London accent.
 

Dr Devon Garkovitch – Psychiatrist and departmental stooge

Race: Caucasian, Education: M.D., BSc. Psychology – Brichester University

Occupation: Mental health and safety consultant & ISO 9000 compliance officer

Age: 35, Height: 5’11”, Weight: 175 lbs,

Hair: Black, Eyes: Green

BODY 2d COORDINATION 2d SENSE 2d

MIND 4d COMMAND 3d EMPATHY 3d

MADNESS METER:

Violence: 2h

Unnatural: 2h

Self: 1f

Helplessness: 2h

TRAITS: Backup (2d), The Law (2d), Expert (4d), Mythos, Resources (2d)

SKILLS:

Administration 1d, Anthropology 1d, Archaeology 1d, Counseling 2d, Criminology 1d, Drive (Automobile) 1d, Education 2d, Equilibrium 1d, Firearm (Pistol) 1d, First Aid 1d, Inspiration 1d, Language (English) 4d, Language (German) 1d, Lie 1d, Medicine 1d, Mythos 1d, Occult 1d, Persuasion 1d, Psychiatry 3d, Psychology 3d, Resist 1d, Wrestle 1d

Notes: In his role as a psychiatrist, Devon’s task is to ensure and maintain the mental health of Team Bravo during their foreign assignment.  As the team’s ISO 9000 compliance officer, Devon will also write reports on all the other PCs and regularly send them off to the senior management in London, partly to assess the mental health of the group and to ensure they conduct themselves properly.  An in built geas in the warrant card of each active service member of the Laundry however should ensure that there are no transgressions of Section 23c of the Official Secrets Act.  No matter what the circumstances, he is always immaculately turned out in a sharp business suit and fashionable glasses.

D.S. Robin Lewis – co-opted policeman who’s seen too much

Race: Caucasian, Education: BSc. Criminology – Lowlands University

Occupation: Investigator and legal consultant for Team Bravo

Age: 29 Height: 5’9” Weight: 175 lbs,

Hair: Ginger Eyes: Blue

BODY 3d COORDINATION 2d SENSE 4d

MIND 4d COMMAND 3d EMPATHY 4d

MADNESS METER:

Violence: 3h

Unnatural: 2h 1f

Self: 2h

Helplessness: 1h

TRAITS: Backup (2d), The Law (2d), Expert (4d), Mythos, Resources (2d)

SKILLS:

Administration 1d, Bluff 1d, Brawling 1d, Criminology 2d, Dodge 1d, Driving (Car) 2d, Education 1d, Equilibrium 1d, Firearms (Pistol) 1d, First Aid 1d, Intimidate 1d, Language (English) 4d, Law 1d, Lie 1d, Mythos 3d, Navigation (Land) 1d, Martial Arts (Judo) 1d, Melee Weapon (Club) 1d, Persuade 1d, Psychology 1d, Search 2d, Sight 2d

Wrestling 1d

Notes: Robin worked as a detective for the Lancashire Police force investigating the unusual murder of a number of Chinese migrant workers.  During the investigation he encountered Private Croaker and his rather “outrageous” theory that the murders were being perpetrated by a supernatural entity!  He was even more surprised when circumstances forced him into working with Croaker, vindicating the existence of this “vârcolac”.  Together they were able to dispatch the creature and it’s summoner (a disgruntled rival foreign gang master).  He was even more surprised when they were both co-opted into the Laundry and made to sign Section 23c of the Official Secrets Act – in their own blood!  (See CASE VISCIOUS ECHO.)  He considers that he and Tim make a good team together.

Dr Eva Novavona – Forensic pathologist.

Race: Caucasian, Education: M.D., BSc. Pathology – Gdansk Medical Academy & Lowlands University

Occupation: Forensic Pathologist

Age: 29 Height: 5’6” Weight: 175 lbs,

Hair: Brown Eyes: Brown

BODY 2d COORDINATION 3d SENSE 4d

MIND 4d COMMAND 2d EMPATHY 2d

MADNESS METER:

Violence: 2h

Unnatural: 3h

Self: 2h

Helplessness: 2h

TRAITS: Backup (2d), The Law (2d), Expert (4d), A Scientific Explanation (2d)

SKILLS:

Administration 1d, Anthropology 2d, Athletics 1d, Criminology 2d, Drive (Motorcycle) 1d, Education 3d, Equilibrium 1d, Firearm (Pistol) 1d, First Aid 2d, Forensic Science 3d+1ed, Language (English) 1d, Language (Latin) 1d, Language (Polish) 4d, Martial Arts (Jeet Kun Do) 2d, Medicine 3d, Mythos 2d, Occult 1d, Search 2d, Smell 1d, Spot 2d

Notes: Originally from Gdansk, Poland, she speaks with a soft eastern European accent.  She first met D.S. Robin Lewis at Lowlands University before getting a job with the Home Office as a forensic pathologist in Manchester.  It was her expertise Robin turned to when he was assigned to investigate the murder of a number of Chinese migrant workers.  Her autopsy of the bodies revealed some strange anomalies which seem to confirm the rantings of one of his suspects – an off duty soldier called Croaker.  When Lewis cracked the case, with her help, she was visited shortly afterwards by representatives from the Laundry and co-opted into Team Bravo, where she serves as the team’s medical doctor and forensic examiner.  She cannot stand watching TV shows like “Quincy”, “The X-Files” and “CSI” incidentally, due to their lack of realism...  She possesses a cheerfully dark and fatalistic sense of humour too.

Finally I’d like to thank the players, John Allen, Tim Barker, Jason Brown, Louise Hayes and Matthew Pook, (The Friday Night Crusaders) for allowing me to mess with their brains…