As part of our Gear series, we are unveiling an NPCs who will be fully introduced in an upcoming adventure. The Red Fool is a Classic antihero that complements martial talents with Exceptional throwing knives, and basic protective Gear. Because they possess both Support Boons and a Fighting Style, the quality of their Gear is less important, as character investment is moved elsewhere. Even without a major investment, the blades and clothing add flavor, and versatility, to the character/
Enjoy!
The Red Fool
Campaign: Just Business
Power Level: Classic
- Attributes: Balanced
- Talents: Diverse
Background
Romanian by birth, Umit Vasile was caught in Suceava, during the Global Environmental Outreach invasion. Small, and of delicate build, Umit survived on the streets, for a time, before being caught. Placed into a work camp, Umit learned to fight like a cornered animal, taking down bullies and even adult men. This tenacity sparked the interest of Lord August, head of the Grey Court, GEO’s in-house clandestine operations team.
Moved to a training program, Umit excelled in every chore, task, and request. With an eagerness to serve Umit spent the next four years being conditioned to exploit his natural talents. It was only a matter of time before he was brought into the Court under the title Jester, joining Queen, Princess, Knight and of course Lord August. The identities of the Grey Court, secret to everyone but Lord August himself. Each had been given their persona, with designation and matching garb.
By age seventeen, Umit, now Jester, is the Court’s infiltrator and assassin. Serving without question in over a dozen operations with a reputation for research and efficacy. Repeatedly proving his loyalty and skill repeatedly. This changed with his final operation. A simple extraction in Arlington, Virginia. The parameters, direct and straightforward; Princess lures the target into a private area and Jester sedates and transfers them to the drop point. The Jester never shows.
Years ago in the siege of Suceava, before Umit lost his mother, she told him: The world was changing. To survive, he had to keep every advantage, every secret as tightly as possible, until there was no other choice. Without secrets, he would be powerless.
As a child, Umit saw the cruelty GEO coveted. He watched, studied, and understood, those that demonstrated a brutal ability to harm others are rewarded. Crippling the bullies who once found him easy prey, Umit began his “secret audition.” Staging fights with older men, he baited them into relentless attacks, only to dismantle them after they believed Umit defeated. Once in the training program Umit ingested and dissected every lesson, showing only his appreciation, never outwardly questioning, except to improve his abilities.
As a member of the Grey Court he followed orders, improvising only enough to continually prove his usefulness. The court never suspected the loathing Umit harbored for GEO, its cadre of killers, or that his diligence in research was to prepare himself for the outside world. The final piece of his plan, a MCPD asset. The exchange was simple, a rogue MCPD agent for a new identity. To avoid unnecessary enemies Umit kept the nature of the Court a secret. With the skills given to him by GEO, Umit Vasile became Michael Ray Kingsley and disappeared.
Issue 0: Birth of the Fool
Working as a stage magician, Umit, now Mike Ray Kingsley, performed banal ricks for children’s parties and small events. These tricks paid for a place to stay, food to eat, and left enough money each month to feel like he hadn’t given up his chance at comfort. Mike had begun to think this was something he could do all the way into a nice peaceful retirement.
Of course, it wasn’t the best apartment, the occasional pop of a gun or sirens in the night reminding him exactly where he lived. Apathy became a call to action when the sounds of bullets were replaced with an RA-419 Lumariant Rifle pulse blast. It was a sound Umit was far too familiar with; apathy steeled into resolve.
Using the fire escape Mike quickly found what he thought was going to be GEO foot soldiers. What was there was far worse. Gang members with high end GEO weaponry destroying a police car. Quickly disabling the pair of assailants Mike fled, scaling the wall of a nearby alleyway before the pinned officers could ask any questions.
Realizing just how far GEO’s reach truly was, Mike unearthed a costume he never expected to wear again, but was unwilling to part with. Memories of action without thought, but with purpose flooded back. As the black and red mask snapped back into place, Jester died a second time, and the Red Fool was born.
Woe to those that stood in his path.
Appearance
As the Fool, Umit wears a black and red pleated court jester’s garb with leather belt and knee height boots. While the Red Fool’s garb cannot conceal his slender build, the boots add six centimeters to his height. Over this, is a black waistcoat. Every fold, and pleat concealing another blade that can be in the Red Fool’s hands in an instant. Umit’s face is obscured by a matte black ceramic and titanium mask with five embellished tails crowning the face. Below the eyes of the mask are streaks of glossy red as if crying thick rivers of blood, despite the permanent grin. The mask appears to be banded to protect the neck, leaving the top of the head exposed. From behind the mask a mane of brown hair and piercing blue eyes can be seen. However, even the hair is part of the mask as these disguise Umit’s short black hair and contacts obscure hazel eyes.
Attributes
History 11 Strength 5 Dexterity 12 Constitution 7 Sense 10 (1 AP)
Fortune 7 Wisdom 7 Intelligence 10 (1 AP) Mental 10 (1 AP) Expression 10 (1 AP)
Backgrounds
Origin: Dedication 11
Catalyst: Escape Oppression 8
Drive: Secrets Are Mine To Share 5
Drive: Prevent GEO from Spreading 1
Contact: MCPD Agent Troy 3
Talents
Acrobatics 10 Climbing 5 Disguise 4 (1 AP) Distraction 4 (1 AP) Escape Artist 5 Etiquette 1 Fitness 7 (2 AP) Intuition 3 Lock Picking 3 Movement: Running 5 Perception 8 Research 3 Sleight of Hand 3 Stealth 12 Subterfuge 10 Wit, Rapier 8
Boons
False Identity (Mike Ray Kingsley) MA
Gear MA6
Languages: English, Mandarin, Romani, Romanian TY
Always Moving (Acrobatics Support: Defense) MA
Unpredictable (Subterfuge Support: Offense) MA
Tools (Actual Tools, Escape Clause, Hidden Weapon, Smart Device) MA
Cost: 2 + 12 + 1 + 2 + 2 + 2 = 21 AP
Power
Courtly Arts 12
- Parent Attribute: Dexterity
- Primary Role: Support: Initiative
Secondary Role: Offense (Full Role) MA2
Secondary Role: Defense (Full Role) MA2
Defends Against: Psyche TY
(S) Interrupting Actions 4
(S) Surprised Defense 4
Cost: 1 Power + 12 Selections + 1 AP
Gear
A Merry Many Knives 8
- Parent Attribute: Dexterity
- Primary Role: Offense
Range TY
Devastating (Boost Devastation) MA2
(S) Close Range 8
Limited: Boost Devastation Only At Close Range
Cost: 10 + 3 + 12 + 10 – 3 = 32 / Gear (8) = MA4
Fool’s Clothing 8
- Parent Attribute: Dexterity
- Primary Role: Defense
Passive Defense MA
Cost: 10 + 6 = 16 / Gear (8) = MA2
Stamina 19
Willpower Current: 6 Max: 11
Starting AP 30
Attributes 4 + Talents 4 + Boons 21 + Powers 1
