Art Chapman - The Expert

Arthur “Art” Chapman, PhD

BIO
Playbook: The Expert
Looks: Lined face, clothes in need of ironing. Looks older than his stated age. Graying hair, often in need of a shave.

IMAGE (pending)

STATS
Charm: -1
Cool: +1
Sharp: +2
Tough: +0
Weird: +1

STATUS
LUCK
Okay [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Doomed

HARM
Okay [ ] [ ] [ ] / [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Dying
Unstable [ ]

MOVES
- Preparedness: When you need something unusual or rare, roll +sharp. On a 10+ you have it right now. On a 7-9 you have it but not here; it will take some time to get. On a miss you know where it is, but it’s somewhere real bad.
- The Man With The Plan: At the beginning of each mystery, roll +sharp. On a 10+ hold 2. On a 7-9 hold 1. Spend the hold to be where you need to be, prepared and ready. On a miss, the keeper holds 1 to put you in the worst place, unprepared and unready.

Haven
-Lore Library: When you hit the books, take +1 forward to investigate the mystery (as long as historical or reference works are appropriate)
-Protection Spells: Your haven is safe from monsters - they cannot enter. Monsters might be able to do something special to evade the wards, but not easily
-Armory: You have a stockpile of mystical and rare monster-killing weapons and items. If you need a special weapon, roll +weird. On a 10+ you have it (and plenty if that matters). On a 7-9 you have it but only the minimum. On a miss, you've got the wrong thing.

GEAR
- Blessed Knife (2 harm, hand, holy) - A crusader's dagger recovered from Malta
- Juju Bag (1 harm, far, Magic) - Art learned some simple hexes from a folk healer in Louisiana
- Flamethrower (3 harm, close, fire, heavy, volatile) - His own creation, a last resort when more subtle methods fail.

HISTORY
- Mangas: Pending
- Eshe

IMPROVEMENTS
XP: 0/5
[ ] choose another move from your playbook
[ ] choose another move from your playbook
[ ] choose a move from another playbook
[ ] choose a move from another playbook
[ ] +1 Charm (max +2)
[ ] +1 Cool (max +2)
[ ] +1 Sharp (max +2)
[ ] +1 Tough (max +2)
[ ] +1 Weird (max +2)
//after 5 advances, you can choose these too//
[ ] +1 to any rating (max +3)
[ ] Change this hunter to a new type.
[ ] Create a second hunter to play as well as this one.
[ ] Mark two of the basic moves as advanced.
[ ] Mark another two of the basic moves as advanced.
[ ] Retire this hunter to safety.

BACKGROUND
Professor Art Chapman always prided himself in his preparedness and organizational skills. However, nothing could have prepared him for the turn his life would take when he found a strange book in the university’s archives. A folio bound in black leather of inscrutable origin described ancient incantations and alchemical formulas. At first, Art thought it was nothing more than a curiosity, but as he attempted to decipher the ancient text, strange and unfortunate occurrences began to plague the university. The happenings became more and more surreal and deadly until the professor was forced to confront the fact that the book was truly supernatural. It was fortunate that a hunter of monsters had taken notice of the strange signs as well, or else Art would surely have been slain by the spirit he had inadvertently released. The thing was defeated, but not destroyed. Though he and the hunter parted ways, Art could not go back to his normal life.

That was years ago now. He abandoned his university position and became a hunter of monsters himself.  He threw himself into the study of the paranormal, traveling the globe in search of artifacts and lore. His prized possession is an unusual wall hanging he recovered from a second hand store in Cincinnati. Depicting the band Kiss, a mandala inscribed on the back allows it to be transformed into a pocket dimension with the right ritual. He has taken to storing his ever expanding collection of books and weapons. Tucked away on a shelf in the back is the black book that first opened his eyes to the supernatural.

Art Chapman is not an old man, but certainly past his prime and long years of sleepless nights spent pouring over texts have taken their toll. His hair is steadily receding and going gray, and he is perpetually in need of a shave. He is rarely without coffee, which does little to improve the tired bags under his eyes. He still dresses like a college professor, favoring tweed jackets and sweaters. Despite his shabby appearance, he is an accomplished hunter in his own right. He prefers not to confront creatures head on, instead ensnaring them in traps and finding their weaknesses.

After all these years, Art cannot help but shake the feeling that the spirit he accidentally summoned still remembers him. He never stops looking for something that will allow him to defend himself from it, should it return.

A few questions:

1. Where was Art teaching? What was he teaching? Did he leave on good terms? Do his colleagues think he went crazy?

2. What sort of strange and unfortunate events plagued the university? Are we talking poltergeist-type stuff or something more catastrophic?

3. What does the inside of the pocket dimension look like?

4. Does Art already work for the Custodes or would you rather be recruited for the next mystery?

1. Art was teaching history at a major university in the northeast United States. Probably something like Rutgers or Cornell, I could be more specific if you need me to. His resignation was sudden but not acrimonious. Most of his colleagues assumed he had some family or personal crisis. He ignored the few questions he got and most of his colleagues don’t think about him much anymore. He keeps in touch with one of the librarians at the school for practical purposes.

2. The events started out as minor objects breaking and acts of vandalism, but progressed over weeks to include electrical fires, injuries from falling objects, and dead animals. Just before the final confrontation the spirit started straight up killing people, including Art’s teaching assistant.

3. The haven is currently a single room appears to have walls of sandstone blocks with vaulted ceilings. It is lit by supernatural motes of light that float near the edges of the room. He has set up a number of modern bookshelves and cabinets which overflow with trinkets and curios. He also has a desk and armchair for comfortable studying. If additional functions of the haven are obtained, additional rooms will appear.

4. Historically Art has been a lone operator though he has partnered with other hunters previously. He’s definitely dealt with Custodes before, either as a source of information or an ally. Maybe this next mission is his first as a formal member of the organization?

1. No need to be more specific for now. You can choose when/if we do a mystery in that region.

4. What led him to join up?

I think he probably officially joined up after a close call on his own hunt. He probably recognizes that traveling with a few additional hunters is safer. He’s also curious about the organization and wants to gain access to some of their resources. I don’t think he’s particularly loyal; not to the point where he’d betray them but he views this arrangement as a stepping stone for him acquire greater resources.