PLAYER CHARACTERS

Alan

Sonja is a member of Ritchies gym. She’s also a fitness buff and thinks fighting is a fun way to keep in shape. She has no plans of competing as an MMA fighter, but she does like the idea of American Ninja Warrior (I assume there is training stuff related to that around the gym). She trains in the same sessions with Jeff’s character (and maybe Evans), and both are lucky enough to have Ritchie as their trainer.

Sonja is also an avid gamer. She is in a clan with Ben, Peter, and Mickey (and maybe Evan’s character) and some other random people I will invent. They have been gaming together on and off for four or five years now, and consider each other family. They call themselves Whatever Our Group Name As Superheros Will Be.

Paul

Ben Vistan

40 year-old Caucasian-American Male, 5’11”, clean shaven, with short fully silver-gray hair, blue eyes

Background:

Ben grew up Napa Valley as part of a well off family who run a successful vineyard. He is the oldest of four siblings.  Ben is more interested in the workings of the vineyard than he is in dealing with his narcissistic family members.  Growing up he spent his time in the fields and understanding the flow and efficiencies of making wine and growing grapes.  Ben got so into how to improve the yield of the vineyard he analyzed every area of the process and developed a software program to monitor and track the use of fertilizer and it's chemical makeup as it relates to grape subtypes, track and calculate the effects of weather and sun angle, planting day to harvest day, the use of pesticides, maximizing the five steps of plant pollination, etc.

Ben Vistan did well in school academically, even if he wasn’t part of the largest social circle. He went on to college and got a degree in Computer Science, leading him into a job as a programmer in the high-tech industry developing applications for the farming industry. He enjoyed solving problems creatively and digging deep into how each crop could be maximized. Work was never a drudgery, although people sometimes are.

Ben’s hobby is bee-keeping, something he’s been interested in since he was a child. Ben has a bee farm in Napa. Ben not only found working with his bees a relaxing distraction from work, but he felt that he really learned things from them: their organization, their seamless communication and synergy. There were times when Ben felt like he understood the bees in a deep — he would almost say spiritual — manner. It wasn’t something he shared with people, only partially because of concern he would sound crazy. It was a personal experience, something that was his and his alone.

Ben has his bees as pets and cares about them more than any of his "friends".  His friends are people from work who he tolerates.  He never goes out to dinner with them or hangs out after work for drinks.  He only rarely goes out to lunch with them.

He works for his money even though he is first in line to inherit the family business.  He doesn't really like his family but keeps in good standing with his parents so he can get what's coming to him.

Ben doesn’t follow an organized an organized one he’s more of a druid, believing in mother earth and all her wonderful gifts.  The drive is to create the perfect system of reproduction with no inefficiencies keeps him motivated each day. He dreams of the perfect cycle of life, no waste.  Life is one big cycle where the sacrifice of one form of life will ultimately feed the next.

Ben got into Warcraft when it first came out and has been a gamer forever.  He gets into dressing up as one of his favorite characters and going to conventions.  He can cover up his issues dealing with people by being in disguise.

Jeff

Chef Melancon Maxim Rush

40-year old, African-American male, 6’1”, 225 lbs, intimidating mustache, dark complexion, brown eyes, black hair (though usually shaves off for bald head), wide smile and friendly attitude when in his element, highly intimidating when angered (takes a lot to make him mad).  To konprann?

Background:

Born in the tiny village of Pointe a la Hache, Louisiana (southeast coast) in 1990.  Grew up poor, two parents, two younger sisters.  Worked as an Oysterman from age 10 to 15.  Moved with his family to Chalmette at age 16, finished high school there, got a job at a local cajun hole-in-the-wall as a cook.  Mastered his cooking skills and at age 20, after years of saving up, purchased an old truck and, with the help of some buddies, turned it into a make-shift food truck.  From there he served several local specialties for the next 5 years.  Apparently did very well because he was noticed by a noteworthy Louisiana chef and given an opportunity to enhance his skills at a professional chef college for two years.  At age 27 he worked briefly at a restaurant but always wanted to do his own thing.  At age 30 he grew restless, heard of unique opportunities in California, so he moved there with his small savings.  Once in CA (northern LA county to be exact), he bought his own food truck and set up shop doing his cooking – cajun style, his way.  Over the next 10 years he moved his business a bit further northward, eventually ending up in the San Luis area, which is where he is today – now with three food trucks and an excellent local reputation.

Now he isn’t as famous and noteworthy as a few of the other up-and-comers in the cooking world, but that suits him just fine.  He may be flashy when it comes to the pan and the pot, but in his everyday interactions with folks he tends to be of few words and tends to become impatient with chatty bodies and idle chit chat.  When you crack a good joke or say something inspiring he is quick with a wide smile.  When he becomes annoyed, his frown is enough to intimidate most.  He respects persons of all social standings – from the super rich down to the super poor.  He does not judge based on income or position or looks.  If anything, he judges based on the ethics and morals of the man (or woman) and how they conduct themselves.  Think of him as a “law” abiding and generally “good” guy, despite his intimidating presence.  He has a deep voice with a slight cajun accent.

He practices MMA, and a few of you know him as an absolute powerhouse.  He was always a big guy and very possessive of his things and his friends, not to mention his cooking skills, so he enhanced his ability to protect what is important to him thru boxing and MMA training.  He can sometimes be found in one of Ritchie Peterson’s (Joe’s character) MMA training facilities.  He fights hard but he fights fair, and is always up for helping others with their developing skills.  He is eager to help you if he can, generous with his time, generally good natured.  His friends see him as having a protective side to him.  He is generally busy running his business, but his passion is cooking so he keeps a business manager to handle the day-to-day.  He is a social drinker and enjoys good comraderie, but rarely attends fancy dinner parties, and you will probably never see him in a business suit (with tie).  In fact, due to his size he requires custom suits and he just doesn’t like spending money on such things.  Usually, when not in chef attire, see him in jeans and T-shirt, sometimes with a jacket.  He wears no jewelry, has no tattoos, just keeps himself kept and clean.

He has high standards when it comes to food, nutrition, and cooking.  He prefers the best in quality, he eats healthy, and he cooks with gusto.  He specializes in cajun recipies, including sauces.  Some might call him a Saucier, and if you do, never get out of the boat.  He is fine as any other man may be with polite feedback (when requested) about his cooking, but he becomes impatient and even a little annoyed with untrained criticisms of his cooking skills.  If you are going to take a disliking to his dishes, you better word your comments carefully and skillfully, otherwise simply finish what’s on your plate, thank him for the food, and order something different next time.  No one has seen him lose his temper, but you suspect if he does an earthquake is coming right behind it.  He has been in any number of scrapes doing his MMA thing, but has never gotten really angry.  You suspect, however, that if he were to ever become angry about something, it would have to do with food.

Jim

Peter Mitchell.  He is a 33 year old that is single.  Did the playboy thing and is now a city counsel member for San Louis Obispo.  His parents died a few years ago and Peter sold their business so he is “wealthy”.  He is a pilot as a hobby.  In general, he is a normal guy.  Went to school at Arizona State, got a law degree but didn’t like practicing law.  He like to party and is a social guy.

Joe

My character is Ritchie Peterson.  For those of you who know him well, he had a tough life growing up.  His father was imprisoned for killing Ritchie's mother is fit of drunken rage so Ritchie and his younger sister were put in foster care when he was 4.  They immediately got split up.  He was in and out of various foster homes until middle school when his father was paroled and took him back (although not his sister who was adopted by another family).  Ritchie fled his abusive father his senior year of high school and spent a year on the streets until he was able to graduate, get a job and get back on his feet. 

He loved Japanese historical culture and old karate movies. He was also a parkour and MMA enthusiast and spent most of his spare time practicing when he didn't have his odd jobs (like picking up dog poop for rich people).  He also was a role player in high school and still is (actually paid the skill points because Mark made me) although I can easily add video games to this if that is our hook. 

He spent a year at the police academy but dropped out because he didn't like the other recruits.  He's now not a huge fan of cops overall knowing that some are good people but thinks that most are just bullies with a badge. 

Darren

BACKGROUND:  If you asked anyone he knew, Mickey was already a genetic freak. He was always hungry and could eat anything (and did) but stayed unhealthfully thin.  He didn’t have that outward hyperactivity that accompanies some with high metabolism.  No, he could just eat and eat and eat and never get fat.  And on 6’ 2” frame people would wonder if he had an eating disorder.  Even when he worked out he could not gain any real muscle tone.

DESCRIPTION:  Tall, unhealthfully thin looking, with dark shaggy hair and dark brown eyes and a big smile.  He often wears loose fitting clothes because most clothes he would buy to cover him also end up being too big for his frame.  Often in a video game t-shirt and shorts.

FAMILY:  Mother (Sandra, Secretary), Father (Edward, City Planner), Younger Sister (“Newt”, Student), Grandfather (Saul, former Attorney, retired.

EDUCATION:  Palo Alto HS, Palo Alto, CA.  Graduate.

LIVING ENVIRONMENT:  Family all live on the same property, with Saul living in guest house out back

CAREER JOB/INCOME:  Tech support over phone (and remote connection) for a technology firm in Silicon Valley.  Given his low overhead most of his income goes to food and improving his computer setup.

HOBBIES:  He desperately wants to be one of these million-dollar-a-year video game contestants, but doesn’t have the skills.  He enters a lot of tournaments and plays regularly whenever he can.

FAITH/RELGION:  None.

PETS:  A salamander named Saulamander, named after his grandfather.

RELATIONSHIPS:  No current girlfriend since HS ended as all the girls he knows went off to college.

PERSONALITY:  Did I mention he’s always hungry?  He’s an amiable enough guy, friendly.  Phone tech support turns out to be a good fit because of his tendency to let his face express what he’s really thinking. 

MOTIVATION:  He wants to be rich and self-sufficient, with a hot wife and hot-and-cold-running video games, like all twenty-something males who don’t have a crushing amount of responsibility.

MORALITY:  Mostly good.  At times he can be selfish, but he corrects that when reminded.

Evan

Ken smith grew up in southern California.  He had a fairly difficult time in school, and while he struggled he did not get good enough grades to get into a 4 year college.  Following a good deal of conflict at home, he joined the army and completed ranger school feeling that he needed to prove himself.  He then went on to sniper school, but did not graduate.  He was then deployed to Afghanistan where he served for a single tour.  During that tour he was involved in a firefight where his squad came under heavy attack, and over a period of 24 hrs, half of his squad was killed.  After returning to the US, he found that he was haunted by his experience as a survivor and under certain circumstances feels the effects of PTSD.   When he got back he retired from the army and became an electrician.  The pay is pretty good, and it allowed him to work by himself in relatively quiet environments. 

His recent hobbies include MMA and rock climbing.   Ben finds MMA an activity where he can blow off steam, and vent some of the rage and frustration he feels.  While the rock climbing provides a combination of physical focus and adrenaline as well as a quiet serene environment.