Dimitri 'The Nighthawk' Bersolino (Player Character)

A Maniac, Out of Time

 Faction: Wanderer

Few have as colourful a history as the one and only Dimitri Bersolino. His earliest memories are of a natural world, in a time now long forgotten. He was born during the time of re-armament, where the world was in turmoil over the threat of Hive.

Dimitri's early life was hard, as the son of a notorious criminal, his family would constantly be moving from place to place. As he grew, the lifestyle also became more and more intense. He began to get involved in his fathers craft, learning many new, socially unacceptable ''skills''. These ''lessons'' as his father would say; would go on to twist Dimitri, he became masochistic, anti-social and some would say downright evil. By the time Dimitri was a young man he was already a seasoned combatant and had splintered from his fathers mob into the black market weapons trade.

For years he made a killing (quite literally) and became a force to reckoned with. There was no order Dimitri couldn't fill, no job too dirty, no evil that could be left uncommitted...

Of course, in the eyes of his fellow Bosses; a budding weed must be cut and so Dimitri became the number one enemy, not only of the state, but also the underworld. His property and assets were seized, but Dimitri would always slip away at the last second. Eventually he found out about how his own father had betrayed him, exposing his safe-houses and key accomplices.

He would take it upon himself to get revenge, even if was the last thing he would do. He went on to fake his own death, eliminating himself as a threat as well as creating a one way ticket back to his dear father. He knew the man would need clarification, he knew that he would need to see the body, have that closure and so... it was arranged. In a coffin black as the night he was escorted to the family property. He was taken to his father and the casket was removed. Without a second thought, or a flinch, he sprang into action, bare fisted and hungry for blood.

The boy beat his father into unconsciousness, but knew that it would not be enough. Dimitri had always been sadistic, but he utterly relished the horror of his actions. He would toy with his broken father and mentor for hours, the true extent of his damaged mind being shown for the first time. Taking up the family heirloom, the ''Nighthawk'' (an exquisitely fashioned tomahawk) He would swiftly bury it inside the old man's brain.

To this day that kill still haunts him, it was unfulfilled, it has not satisfied his vengeance like the voices in his head had promised. In his confusion he stumbled outside, collapsing on the lawn, the last thing he remembers is the gentle drops of rain on his face...

The next time Dimitri awoke it was in a different world, with no idea of how he came to be where he was. From what he could gather from the, what seemed to be doctors, he had been asleep for many, many years. The world had changed, it had become, less complex, more inhospitable. Life was now a free for all, it was a world Dimitri liked the sound of, it was a world were he could get a second chance.

In the time since he has become a Merc and has earned himself a ruthless reputation throughout the Central London Wastes. Only time will tell if he will be able to change, or if his past life will continue to haunt him...

Notes: Dimitri is not really a good guy as you can tell, this one is very heavily story focused as my player had a very particular idea. Ive changed it a little bit, but Ive also got some fun secrets that may be made evident as the story goes on! Im going to give him delusion as a hindrance, its fitting and may see him lose control in stressful combat situations, this will be a ton of fun to see how the other players will react to him and how he will react to them.

Roving ''Rusty'' Rick (Player Character)

 The Merchant and The Gentleman

 

Faction: Wanderer 

Rick is eccentric and much unlike almost everyone else in the world, has a sense of humour. He used to be a trader, but soon came to realise how unprofitable the raiders make that profession. He is now a wanderer as well as a scholar and an all round gentleman. His humour gives him a natural charm and along with the name, rusty is fairly easy – going. Above all else Rick is obsessed with history, with the time before the storms and the technology that was readily available to them.

While average scavengers search for parts, scraps or ammo, Rick is there to pick up the textbooks and half full batteries. He is an inventor, tinkerer and is well known in the Central London District for his, shall we say ''upgraded'' wares.

His passion was founded long ago, when Rusty was still a young man. He had grown up in the relative safety of an old underground subway station, in a small community of farmers. As long back as he could remember, besides the work he only had a few battered science fiction comics to pass the time. By the age he could fire a gun, he frequent lookout duty and during the the long days, Rick would dream up elaborate stories, fantastical tales of Rick and Hexa, (Hexa being Ricks then imaginary robot friend, don't ask)

As Rick grew he began to take an interest in mechanics and after awhile came to excel at it. One day a trader came into town. He had little in the way of supplies but instead sported a broken and basic robot chassis. Forfeiting his rations for three days, as well as giving the merchant his life savings a deal was stuck and so began the career of the Rusty we know today.

What started as a pet project, quickly became an obsession, he worked day and night to make the robot work. He even went as far to begin scavenging on his own, the patrols were hopeless whenever hed asked for specific parts. After much work and toil the first Mk 1 Hexa, friend and battle-bot was created, tested and given a Rusty seal of approval.

To this day he still has this companion and at every opportunity the hardware is updated. Currently Rusty is running with the fifth generation, codenamed ''Theobald''.

More recently Rusty has turned to mercenary work and takes jobs based on the chances of him finding or receiving old world tech. Some of it will be sold, some tinkered with and forgotten and more so would become improvements for Theobald.

Notes: Rusty will be fun because he will be the sole surface human whom can negate the negatives to technology. Most Surfaces only tend to shy away from it anyway because they feel that survival is more important. Rusty will also be a fairly potent combat element, guns blazing with his trusty sidekick. Im also massively looking forward to their banter and general interaction together. Oh and also Theo cant keep anythign secret so be careful! 

''Handsome'' Banan Monroe (Player Character)

A Leader and a Lover

Faction: Wanderer

The words smooth, charming and right bastard have all been used to describe the quick witted and skilled gunslinger, Banan Monroe. Banan has always been a man of many words, words that on occasion have come back to bite him.

Banan's story starts just as any other hapless wastelander. He grew up fast and quickly mastered the art of sharpshooting. His skills would end up earning him a place in a mercenary crew and a fairly successful one at that. Known at the time as the ''Deadeyes'', Banan earned a considerable small fortune for his service. His time in the gang also developed his keen, silver tongue.

This skill came to be a blessing and a curse as it happened, on the one hand, Banan was good with traders, he knew how to get the most value out of any deal, as well as being an inspiring solider. (Plus his good looks god him his nickname, of course to his comrades he was always, ''that puffed up pretty boy'') However it also inflated his ego and Banan would usually become a law onto himself on and between missions. Even though his invaluable skills as a diplomat, the Deadeyes could not have one rogue asset, soon others would follow and it would only be a matter of time before he would incite a revolt against them.

So Banan was, scheduled to be ''let go''. Sufice to say it backfired, horribly. With the decision came a civil war amongst the Deadeyes that nearly destroied them all. The stalemate ended when the two parties decided to part ways and one day they would meet again, settling their score.

Over the next decade Banan led his own small company, whom eventually settled somewhere outside of the Central London Wastes. They became a stable and effective and even wealthy community. A class system was devised, with Banan proclaiming himself a ''Nobleman''. They enjoyied several years of peace and even developed a gentlemanly culture (hence the tux's)

Reguardless, eventually the day came when the Deadeyes showed up at his door, amusingly enough by accident and looking for work. The work they found was yet again a war, but this time Banans forces were decimated and everything he built was destroyed or plundered.

Cheating death himself in the last moments of the siege, Banan now swears vengeance, claiming to one day build another empire greater than the first...

Notes: Banan is funnily enough one of the characters that will fit well into the story and development of the settlement system in Aftershock. He will get bonuses to manage the settlement and will have more knowledge than the other characters. My player wanted him to specifically work only with pistols so we shall see where his fighting ability goes...

''The Shadow'' (Player Character)

Jack ''The Shadow'' Jones

 

Faction: Wanderer
 

The story of the ''The Shadow'' has become an urban legend told in all settlement over the Central London Wastes. It tells of a ghost whom single handedly dispatches whole raider parties. It can only be glimpsed on the darkest of nights and announces its presence only though a chilling silence. Almost none know the truth of the myth, that the shadow is really but a man, a merc in fact and a damn good one at that...

Jacks fame is something that simply amuses him, a distraction for those who will inaction. No job is or ever has been too big for him, not since the ''old man''....

Jacks story began with tragedy. Born a slave to raiders, his birth name was actually Runt. On the eve of his ninth birthday, the camp was attacked. It was chaos, the noise was deafening, to this day he still rememberer the screams of terror from his dying ''masters''. When total silence had fallen, Runt set out to find the attackers.

The Trail led to a single Man. Runt had seen his type before, a Drifter. For the hungry and tired boy it seemed like a golden opportunity. After waiting for the man settle into a deep sleep, he struck. Swiftly and silently he charged for the man's open pack, he was quick, but not quick enough.

The next thing Runt remembered was being propped up opposite the man. He proceeded to explain that he had been aware of the boy the entire time and was impressed. From this point on the two became inseparable, mentor and student. Runt shed his only name and simply became Jack.

The two spent many years together and soon the student came to outshine the ageing master. The ''Old Man'', as he was affectionately known, had lived his whole life fighting and Jack was coming to the realisation that he may not be around for much longer. Every day his old wounds were causing him more and more intense pains and in the end they both came to a grave decision.

The Old Man was dying, and he wanted a quick and clean death and most importantly he wanted Jack to carry on his legacy of wasteland justice in his stead. With his final breath he instructed Jack to head to the Capitol, there he would find his purpose.

And then a single, clean shot... The hardest contract he was ever given.

Jack has struggled to come to terms with this loss and it makes trusting others to be difficult. Since the passing of his mentor he has remained alone and has now become a target for many of the raider gangs situated in the Central London Wastes. Jack may soon come to realise that he will need more than just his gun if he is to fulfil his oath.
 

Notes: Jack will be definitely a combaty focused hero. He will also be one of the Players whom will have to look out for NPCs with a certain ''Grudge''.

''The Devil Dog'' (Player Character)

Max Jenson ''The Devil Dog''

Faction: Wanderer

Max Jenson is no stranger to the brutal ways of the wastes. He spent many years searching for a place to fit in, to find somewhere he could excel. One day he happened across a Roach raid in progress and would go on to finally prove himself. The Roaches welcomed him with open arms and for almost a year he would ran with them.

It was destined not to last and on one fateful operation deep into UER territory his mission went bad. His crew would abandon him, leaving him to be tortured and tormented by UER militia for many days. By the third day the man had given up, he just wanted it to be over, no longer could he take the injustice that the wasteland offered.

At his lowest and darkest point, the young ex-raider was unaware of fate had in store for him. As the contingent were travelling to an unknown strong point, they were ambushed by a pack of feral dogs. Mercilessly they were systematically put down by the soldiers.

Max related to the animals, just following orders, destined to live and die by the order of someone higher. Just like him. He decided he could tolerate it no more.

Like a man possessed he broke free of his bonds, his captors still reeling in shock as he tore them apart. When the dust had settled Max stood alone, teeth gritted and motionless. It was the whimpering of an animal that bought his mind back to reality. One of the dogs was still barely alive. Max spent several days tending to the dogs wounds, giving it the pet name Dex, the name of an old friend...

When Dex had finally recovered, he clung to the ex-raider like glue. To this day Max still smiles at thought of them, the dogs whom lost their pack. Nowadays you can find the two of the wandering Central London Wastes in as Mercs, guns for hire unsure as to where they will find their next adventure. One thing is for sure though, They will always have each others back....

Notes: Max will start with an animal companion and will be very good in the survival skill. He will probably get good ability to stealth and track prey but I imagine maybe is not the cleanliest individual....