This week's NPC of the Week was once again designed for a Rifts New West style campaign. He can also be modified for a Nightspawn campaign fairly easily. The Rattlesnake was designed to present a significant challenge to those smart-ass gunslingers who think they can handle anything. Take note that this NPC and all of my NPCs are created without the 2 automatic attacks per melee rule. If you want to adapt them simply add 2 attacks.
Suggestions, requests or comments? Feel free to ask. E-mail: [email protected]
Bradley was adopted by a rancher and his wife
in 1985 when Bradley was only six years old. He spent the majority of his
childhood working on the family ranch in rural Alberta, tending to the
animals, helping around the house and learning to do the things that are
done on a ranch. He learned to ride horses, brand cattle, deliver animal
babies, fend off predators and a variety of other duties under the guidance
of his foster father. As he got older Bradley began to show an interest
in the rodeo and the competitions that took place there. He worked hard
at cattle roping and bull riding for several years on the ranch before
he got a chance to get into a real life competition.
In July of 1999 Bradley entered the rodeo
competition at the world famous Calgary Stampede in hopes of winning some
great prizes or at the very least get the chance to rub shoulders with
some of the world's greatest cowboys. Bradley did well and advanced to
the second round in bull riding along with some of the cowboy community's
greats. Suddenly Bradley was struck with an incredible wave of nervousness,
he realized just how serious and important the next round was and that
thousands of people were watching him! Not only that but the bull that
had been brought in for the second round was well known for being a very
rambunctious and powerful brute.
Only three seconds into his ride Bradley's
nerves gave out on him and he froze up. He was thrown from the bull's back
and landed on the ground hard. Still shaking and now quite scared Bradley
was slow getting up and couldn't move in time before the bull's horns ripped
into his flesh.
The damage of being crushed under the weight
of a thousand pound bull would severely injure or kill most people, but
not Bradley. As the bull tramped over Bradley's body like a rag doll he
suddenly felt a strange rush of strength and energy pouring through his
body. Moments later spectators screamed and began to flee in panic as a
seven foot snake man with ram's horns rose up from the ground and attacked
the bull with the bloody stumps of flesh it had for hands tipped with one
inch gun barrels. Within seconds the bull lie dead in a pool of mud and
its own blood.
Bradley looked down, terrified at what he
had done he suddenly noticed his hands, or rather his revolvers sticking
out of his scaled flesh where his hands should be. He joined the crowd
in panic and fled the arena screaming a shrill scream running into the
park adjacent to the Stampede grounds. For an hour he sat in the woods
by the river listening to the yells of joy and the sounds of barkers in
the fair grounds. He managed to will himself back into human form but remained
afraid to leave the stillness of the park. He watched the nightly fireworks
show from the side of the water and decided that he had to deal with what
had happened. He tried transforming back into his monstrous form and looked
into the clear glacier fed waters.
At first he was startled by his appearance.
After a few moments he regained his composure and was able to inspect himself.
His body was covered in yellow and brown scales and he had the head and
tail of a rattlesnake. If that weren't strange enough a pair of ram's horns
protruded from his forehead and oversized old-fashioned six-shooters looked
as though they had forced their way out of his arms. Bradley shuddered
and returned to his human form.
The next morning Bradley got himself up and
wandered into the downtown core. He was too afraid to return to the fair
grounds for fear that people might remember him. He didn't want to return
home for fear that he might be a danger to his adoptive family. He decided
to live on the streets of Calgary along with society's other less desirables.
It was here that Bradley met the person who would change the course of
his life forever.
Another person like himself who could change
shape into an inhuman monster named Ed lived on the street as well. He
introduced Bradley to yet another such man, this one not only able to change
his form but also to manipulate reality with nothing more than the spoken
word. He claimed to be a sorcerer and explained to Bradley that he was
what was called a Nightspawn. The sorcerer who called himself Caliban also
revealed to Bradley that there were thousands of Nightspawn throughout
the world and a dozen here in the city alone. Bradley eventually met most
of these other "Nightspawn" and learned more about himself and how to use
his
newfound abilities.
One night Caliban called all of the Nightspawn
in the city together to a meeting. Most of the cities' Nightspawn attended.
Caliban revealed that in a matter of days something terrible would happen.
Something that would change the world forever. A group of beings calling
themselves the Nightlords from another dimension planned to invade the
earth and eradicate all of humanity and the Nightspawn. Caliban insisted
that they join him in fleeing this world and follow him to another where
the Nightlords did not exist. Most didn't believe him and of those who
did only Bradley and two others agreed to follow Caliban. The next night
in a magical ritual Caliban transported the four of them to another world,
far from the grips of the evil Nightlords. Less than a week later the world
was terrified as dark day arrived and the sun did not shine. In the weeks
that followed almost all of the Nightspawn in the city who did not leave
with Caliban were killed.
Bradley and his companions found themselves
in a strange new world ravaged by some terrible disaster. Humanity was
in ruins with only a few pockets of civilization left. Monsters stalked
the land and the powers of magic and psychics were commonplace. Caliban
was ecstatic to find his magical powers increased ten-fold, the rest were
not so pleased. After a few weeks the Nightspawn decided to go their separate
ways, arguments and fights had raised tensions and forced the group apart.
Caliban went east to a place he had heard of called Tolkeen where magic
was commonplace. Bradley ventured into the american west in hopes of
finding some sanity in this insane world.
Eventually Bradley found a small community
of hard working humans with next to no protection from the bandits and
monsters that periodically plagued their community. Bradley became their
protector and used his powers to oust the corrupt government and scare
away the bandits that wreaked havoc in their streets. Over the next two
years under Bradley's protection the town has grown and prospered, Bradley
has been able to fight off all possible threats and keep the town in some
sense of order. The people have come to accept his dual nature and have
nothing but respect and admiration for the man who has become their hero.
Note: All attributes and stats in brackets are available to the character only in his Nightspawn morphus form.
Real Name: Bradley Morgan
Alignment: Aberrant
Hit Points: 24
S.D.C.: 58 M.D.C.: 186
P.P.E.: 143
I.S.P.: N/A
Attributes: I.Q.: 8, M.E.:
14, M.A.: 13, P.S.: 16(29), P.P.: 17(24), P.E.: 12(24), P.B.: 6, Spd.:
20(30).
Horror Factor: 17
Experience: 4th level Nightspawn Cowboy
Weight: 167lbs. Height: 6 feet, 1 inch
Sex: Male Age: 22
Disposition: An angry but rational youth Bradley believes in
dealing with problems directly and quickly. He won't give anyone any slack
and doesn't expect any in return. He has come to believe in his own harsh
justice having had to deal with so many unscrupulous brigands and criminals.
He's a traditional gruff westerner who believes in hard work and strength.
Natural Abilities:
Hook: Characters are in a small western town with no apparent law enforcement or protection from outside forces. Strangely enough the town seems peaceful and orderly with no signs of recent bandit or d-bee raids.
Line: Somehow the characters either get into trouble or get embroiled
in somebody else's trouble. That's when the town's "protector" makes himself
known.
He seems like little more than your typical
run of the mill saddle tramp. No big threat, but he talks tough and will
call out anyone who provokes him.
Sinker: This man is much more than any old saddle tramp. In reality
he's a creature known as a Nightbane who has two forms, one of a normal
human, the other a super powerful monster like creature.
As the showdown begins he will transform into
his monster form and taking advantage of a likely horror factor on his
opponent will shoot them down with his built-in revolvers.
Hook: The players are wandering in the wilderness of the New West when word begins to circulate that a Coalition recon squad type C (1 Spider-Skull Walker, 1D4 SAMAS and 2-4 light infantry) is headed their way.
Line: The communities in the area are all very small and have little to defend themselves with. Many have d-bees and psionics amongst their number and all are ripe targets to be pillaged. The few defenders/protectors in these towns are frightened and many are taking to the hills leaving their communities to fend for themselves.
Sinker: The one man who may be able to convince the rest to stay and fight is the infamous Rattlesnake. The players will need to find the Rattlesnake and then convince him to help them. He will be resistant to leave his town unprotected and the townsfolk will be frightened if he leaves them. Bandits are also taking advantage of the situation and are pillaging the countryside.
Hook #1: The players are traveling the wilds of the west and encounter an strange man in his late 30's. He wears only the lightest armor and carries no weapons. He insists on speaking to the characters about something of great importance. He asks if they know of anyone matching the description of the Rattlesnake in either form. If so he'd like them to lead him to them. If not he'd still appreciate their assistance on his search.
Hook #2: The players are staying in or close to the town that the Rattlesnake is protecting when a strange man in his late 30's with little in the way of equipment arrives asking for "Bradley".
Line: The strange man reveals himself to be Caliban, the Nightspawn Sorcerer who brought Bradley and the others to Rifts earth in the first place. He's come from Tolkeen where he has been for the past two years hoping to recruit Bradley and the other Nightspawn he brought with him to the besieged nation's cause against the Coalition.
Sinker: Caliban won't take no for an answer. He is a powerful
Nightspawn and Sorcerer in his own right (8th level Sorcerer) and will
be extremely persistent. The townsfolk won't want Bradley to leave, nor
will he desire to.
In addition Caliban also wants to find the other
two Nightspawn that were transported here as well. They could be anywhere
on the north american continent, perhaps farther. Searching for them and
convincing them to come could lead to even more adventures.
Lastly is their actual recieval and role at Tolkeen.
Are they respected? Are they treated like fodder in the upcoming conflict?
Do the Nightspawn agree with Tolkeen's policies? The possibilities are
endless.