Lenasaurus
Turtle, but Literate
Name: Edgar “Eddie” Scoleri
Age: 29
Gender: Male
Concept: Redeemed Charlatan
Backstory: Eddie grew up in Baltimore, Maryland. The patchworkiest of cities, you could be three blocks from a private college, a crackhouse, a family pizzeria, and the most expensive residential area in the city, all at the same time. He liked to describe his childhood as ‘just rough enough to be interesting’, filled with all sorts of characters, from jaded academics and burnt out politicos to shell-shocked social workers and high-risk hucksters. Those last ones always caught Eddie’s attention: the three card monte player at the Inner Harbor, the relentless patter of TV telemarketers when his uncle’s shouting was too much to sleep through, and best of all, the hot glow of a sign hanging in the psychic’s storefront window. Eddie was never quite a nerd in his childhood, lacking fancy things like fantasy games, or books, but he was still fascinated by the magical trappings of the daily horoscopes and even spent some of his pocket money on tarot readings and palmistry. Far worse than being taken in by it, the boy wasn't even out of middle-school before he could see completely through it. It was easy enough to turn those big brown eyes on the Madam Sheilas and Lady Zeldas, and not too long after that they'd stopped taking his milk money, they started talking shop, and even let him in on the act. He spent his summers practicing his patter and digging through thrift shops for convincingly-patterned scarves and vests. When he graduated high school, he tossed college applications in the trash and joined the local festival circuit, visiting street fairs and mall openings, eventually moving up to corporate soirees and summers subletting Old Lady Zelda's loft, complete with that neon pink palm in the window.
The thrill ride ended not long after the rooftop summer blowout for the Lawfirm of Pegg, Wednesday, & Harlequin. A partner who'd had one too many vodka tonics and far too many miserable nights with an empty bed and a cheating husband sat down at his table and started hearing answers she liked for the first time in a long time. The woman became that most precious of commodities to Eddie: a whale. The big one. The individual with deep enough pockets and frayed enough nerves that he could tell her anything, and be rewarded for it. Her children hated her? A crystal cleansing could do wonders for familial strife. Her last deal went sour? If a rival had sent vicious spirits her way -- actually, Eddie had been talking to a mystic/supplier friend last week, who'd been asked for an order of black jasper (a truly vile material) which could be used for just such a rite... he could fix something like that, but it would be expensive. She'd fallen asleep at her desk during an all-nighter? There were revitalizing oils he could provide. She was having trouble paying the rent this month? It was around there that Eddie got confused. This was one of those rich ladies whose stilettos had stilletos and whose purse had a purse. How was she having money troubles? Or a nervous breakdown?
The tassled, turbaned nineteen-year-old was in over his head, and didn't realize he'd dug too deeply into the woman until it was too late. When the woman broke, he came clean.
The last act of pure, unadulterated bullshit which Eddie ever committed was a brilliant volley of bold-faced lies which got every last penny he'd taken returned to its rightful owner, keeping him out of a criminal sentence and in a community service program, and soon after, on a college scholarship. Sure he kept his teachers charmed and his options open, but his urge to go straight was genuine. He'd always be good at talking to people. People noticed. A job fair and an easy mark with a fancy badge eventually led him out of Baltimore and into Quantico. Now that silver tongue charms snakes, instead of whales.
Virtue: Sympathetic
Eddie’s heart goes out to everyone. After the shit he used to pull, maybe it’s the only healthy response to a genuine sob story.
Vice: Greedy
Sometimes quantity has a quality all its own. Eddie’s always wanted more. Not the ambitious, palatial, highest-quality sort of more, just the ‘why should that asshole get the last piece of pie instead of me?’ sort of more. It’s an impulsiveness, a competitiveness, which makes him stuff his pockets and leave others wanting. A bowl of complimentary mints is a victimless crime: he’ll only regret it later if he’s around to notice the consequences.
Attributes
Intelligence; ••
Wits; •••
Resolve; ••
--
Strength; ••
Dexterity; ••
Stamina; ••
--
Presence; ••
Manipulation; •••
Composure; •••
Skills
--
Physical
Athletics ••
Brawl •
Drive ••
Firearms ••
--
Mental
Investigation ••
Occult (mysticism) •
Politics •
--
Social
Empathy (shoulder to cry on) ••••
Persuasion (fast talking) ••
Socialize •
Streetwise •
Subterfuge •••
--
Merits
Professional Training (FBI Agent) •• (Investigation, Empathy)
Networking: At the first level of Professional Training, your character builds connections within her chosen field. Take two dots of Contacts relating to that field.
- Alan Zimmerman, Human Resources Manager (whom he played to get his job in the first place, and still stays in touch with)
- Judge Barbara Kaperski, Baltimore City Circuit Court (who showed mercy to him for his first offense, and of whom he has become her favorite 'redemption' story)
Continuing Education: With the repeated efforts in her field of choice, your character tends toward greater successes. When making a roll with her Asset Skills, she benefits from the 9-again quality.
Trained Observer •
Fast Talking (Style) •••
Always Be Closing (•): With the right leading phrases, your character can direct a mark to say what he wants, when he wants. This trips the mark into vulnerable positions. When a mark contests or resists your character’s Social interactions, apply a -1 to their Resolve or Composure.
Jargon (••): Your character confuses his mark using complex terminology. You may apply one relevant Specialty to any Social roll you make, even if the Specialty isn’t tied to the Skill in use.
Devil’s Advocacy (•••): Your character often poses arguments he doesn’t agree with, in order to challenge a mark’s position and keep him from advancing the discussion. You can reroll one failed Subterfuge roll per scene.
Spin Doctor •
Derived Stats
Willpower 5
Integrity 7
Size 5
Health 7
Speed 9
Initiative 5
Defense 4
Age: 29
Gender: Male
Concept: Redeemed Charlatan
Backstory: Eddie grew up in Baltimore, Maryland. The patchworkiest of cities, you could be three blocks from a private college, a crackhouse, a family pizzeria, and the most expensive residential area in the city, all at the same time. He liked to describe his childhood as ‘just rough enough to be interesting’, filled with all sorts of characters, from jaded academics and burnt out politicos to shell-shocked social workers and high-risk hucksters. Those last ones always caught Eddie’s attention: the three card monte player at the Inner Harbor, the relentless patter of TV telemarketers when his uncle’s shouting was too much to sleep through, and best of all, the hot glow of a sign hanging in the psychic’s storefront window. Eddie was never quite a nerd in his childhood, lacking fancy things like fantasy games, or books, but he was still fascinated by the magical trappings of the daily horoscopes and even spent some of his pocket money on tarot readings and palmistry. Far worse than being taken in by it, the boy wasn't even out of middle-school before he could see completely through it. It was easy enough to turn those big brown eyes on the Madam Sheilas and Lady Zeldas, and not too long after that they'd stopped taking his milk money, they started talking shop, and even let him in on the act. He spent his summers practicing his patter and digging through thrift shops for convincingly-patterned scarves and vests. When he graduated high school, he tossed college applications in the trash and joined the local festival circuit, visiting street fairs and mall openings, eventually moving up to corporate soirees and summers subletting Old Lady Zelda's loft, complete with that neon pink palm in the window.
The thrill ride ended not long after the rooftop summer blowout for the Lawfirm of Pegg, Wednesday, & Harlequin. A partner who'd had one too many vodka tonics and far too many miserable nights with an empty bed and a cheating husband sat down at his table and started hearing answers she liked for the first time in a long time. The woman became that most precious of commodities to Eddie: a whale. The big one. The individual with deep enough pockets and frayed enough nerves that he could tell her anything, and be rewarded for it. Her children hated her? A crystal cleansing could do wonders for familial strife. Her last deal went sour? If a rival had sent vicious spirits her way -- actually, Eddie had been talking to a mystic/supplier friend last week, who'd been asked for an order of black jasper (a truly vile material) which could be used for just such a rite... he could fix something like that, but it would be expensive. She'd fallen asleep at her desk during an all-nighter? There were revitalizing oils he could provide. She was having trouble paying the rent this month? It was around there that Eddie got confused. This was one of those rich ladies whose stilettos had stilletos and whose purse had a purse. How was she having money troubles? Or a nervous breakdown?
The tassled, turbaned nineteen-year-old was in over his head, and didn't realize he'd dug too deeply into the woman until it was too late. When the woman broke, he came clean.
The last act of pure, unadulterated bullshit which Eddie ever committed was a brilliant volley of bold-faced lies which got every last penny he'd taken returned to its rightful owner, keeping him out of a criminal sentence and in a community service program, and soon after, on a college scholarship. Sure he kept his teachers charmed and his options open, but his urge to go straight was genuine. He'd always be good at talking to people. People noticed. A job fair and an easy mark with a fancy badge eventually led him out of Baltimore and into Quantico. Now that silver tongue charms snakes, instead of whales.
Virtue: Sympathetic
Eddie’s heart goes out to everyone. After the shit he used to pull, maybe it’s the only healthy response to a genuine sob story.
Vice: Greedy
Sometimes quantity has a quality all its own. Eddie’s always wanted more. Not the ambitious, palatial, highest-quality sort of more, just the ‘why should that asshole get the last piece of pie instead of me?’ sort of more. It’s an impulsiveness, a competitiveness, which makes him stuff his pockets and leave others wanting. A bowl of complimentary mints is a victimless crime: he’ll only regret it later if he’s around to notice the consequences.
Attributes
Intelligence; ••
Wits; •••
Resolve; ••
--
Strength; ••
Dexterity; ••
Stamina; ••
--
Presence; ••
Manipulation; •••
Composure; •••
Skills
--
Physical
Athletics ••
Brawl •
Drive ••
Firearms ••
--
Mental
Investigation ••
Occult (mysticism) •
Politics •
--
Social
Empathy (shoulder to cry on) ••••
Persuasion (fast talking) ••
Socialize •
Streetwise •
Subterfuge •••
--
Merits
Professional Training (FBI Agent) •• (Investigation, Empathy)
Networking: At the first level of Professional Training, your character builds connections within her chosen field. Take two dots of Contacts relating to that field.
- Alan Zimmerman, Human Resources Manager (whom he played to get his job in the first place, and still stays in touch with)
- Judge Barbara Kaperski, Baltimore City Circuit Court (who showed mercy to him for his first offense, and of whom he has become her favorite 'redemption' story)
Continuing Education: With the repeated efforts in her field of choice, your character tends toward greater successes. When making a roll with her Asset Skills, she benefits from the 9-again quality.
Trained Observer •
Fast Talking (Style) •••
Always Be Closing (•): With the right leading phrases, your character can direct a mark to say what he wants, when he wants. This trips the mark into vulnerable positions. When a mark contests or resists your character’s Social interactions, apply a -1 to their Resolve or Composure.
Jargon (••): Your character confuses his mark using complex terminology. You may apply one relevant Specialty to any Social roll you make, even if the Specialty isn’t tied to the Skill in use.
Devil’s Advocacy (•••): Your character often poses arguments he doesn’t agree with, in order to challenge a mark’s position and keep him from advancing the discussion. You can reroll one failed Subterfuge roll per scene.
Spin Doctor •
Derived Stats
Willpower 5
Integrity 7
Size 5
Health 7
Speed 9
Initiative 5
Defense 4