++ Turning point: Russian defector ++
Breaking with some of the methods I’ve been using so far, this time I’m choosing a lot more of this character’s creation, because I have already decided that they will be the Russian Defector mentioned in the previous writeup for Demarcus Underwood.
So say hello to Lavro Pavlovich Kurchin.
Lavro Pavlovich Kurchin is a 32 year old Infantryman, most recently enlisted PFC in a Spetznaz unit attached to the Infantry of the Soviet 4th Division. He was born and raised in Volgograd, Russia. Lavro first served in the Soviet infantry in 1989 during the counter-insurgency of Afghanistan, and after leaving the military he worked as a taxi driver in his native Volgograd before re-enlisting (this time in a Spetznaz unit equivalent to US Rangers) when war broke out.
Using UNE (Universal NPC Emulator) by Zach Best to roll up some of Lavro’s backstory and character, we generate the following descriptors: “An alluring wizard who shepherds knowledge, undermines propaganda, and seeks spirits.“
“Alluring wizard” is fascinating. Lavro has some kind of charismatic allure, that hints of secrets and some kind of hidden group or order. While there are an easy dozen reasons why the PCs should have just left Lavro behind, the crucial thing is that they didn’t, and why Demarcus was inclined to bring Lavro out of certain doom.
“Shepherds knowledge” Lavro has secrets; or at least, he appears to have secrets. Lavro probably plays up this angle, especially if he senses that the others thinking that he’s special / knows something important is keeping him alive. Lavro drips infrequent hints at what he knows, and nobody is quite sure where it leads apart from that it must be important. Operation Reset? The location of a secret cache of supplies? Only Lavro knows.
“Undermines propaganda” tells me that Lavro wants to be seen as THE source for info and propaganda, and seeks to undermine other sources so that his aura and mystique is only further enhanced.
“Seeks spirits” sounds like Lavro is actually looking for something, and something which is connected to the concept of ‘spirits’ – people from his past? Afghanistan? Volgograd? Or the shadowy figures behind the scenes here in Poland, who are connected in some way to secrets and whispers. Or is he just looking for answers at the bottom of a bottle? Perhaps all of the above.
So once again UNE gave me some pretty interesting character aspects for Lavro just like the others, and especially for him there is an intriguing background that the others are only getting sniffs of.
For this fifth character I knew that I wanted a Russian defector, and boy does it seem like Lavro came across with a shedload of secrets that are crying out for a good debrief by expert handlers. This should provide me with loads of good plot leads and twists during play.
Next up I’m going to use SOLO by Paul Elliott to generate some background for Lavro. Let’s see if his three Life Events will confirm some of the secrets and mystery of his past:
- Lavro was never told the truth about his origins. What surprises will this throw up? I like the idea that maybe the story that Lavro himself currently believes about himself is not the actual truth. So then, what is?
- In the past Lavro was forced to take part in a series of missions and experiments that he refuses to talk about to this day and which he doesn’t truly understand but his actions still haunt him. Every now and again Lavro will have a flashback from those missions, or freeze as he fancies that he sees someone from that particular strand of his past.
- Lavro once learned something that he was not supposed to know, and he had to flee in order to save his life. So Lavro is a Russian who was once a hated enemy after killing Demarcus’ buddies in an engagement, but who defected after Demarcus and others raided a Russian compound looking to spring some US POWs, only to interrupt this Lavro’s court martial by firing squad. Demarcus shot up the firing squad (‘because they had the guns’) and spared the victim (‘he was pretty harmless all tied up and blindfold’). Lavro begged them to take him too along with the POWs, and Demarcus did (figuring that ‘the enemy of my enemy is my friend’.) The key bit about this that is relevant for this event though, is why was Lavro about to be executed by his own side? What had he done / seen / learned that meant his life was forfeit?
Ok so some of those Life Events fit with the UNE descriptors to suggest that Lavro lives partly in the shadows. Lots of good game opportunities from this guy..
Stat development:
- Fitness 9
- Agility 15
- Constitution 12
- Stature 7
- Intelligence 10
- Education 6
- TOTAL: 59
- Strength 8
- HITS: Head 12 Chest 27 Others 19
- Weight 68kg (about 150lbs)
- Load 27kg
- Throw Range 18m
- Military Experience 8
- Time In Combat 18 months
- Coolness Under Fire 6
- RADS 29
- Age 32
- Rank PFC SPETZNAZ (unit equivalent to US ARMY RANGERS)
- Army SOVIET (current status: defector)
- Nationality Russian
- Native Language LNG(Russian)100
- Military Skill Points 320
- Education Skill Points 120
- Background Skill Points 300
Skills: