Important NPCs of
Justice, Not Law
Important NPCs of Justice, Not Law
There are several NPCs who are important to the Justice, Not Law campaign. These characters have a unique relationship with the PCs; some are allies, some are antagonists. Each NPC has a clear motivation which impacts motivations in the campaign. While all NPCs allow for the flavor of any campaign, only the NPCs listed below have had a clear impact upon the characters as reoccurring opportunities to move the plot along or distinct personalities which left an impression upon the players. Alignments are posted as follows: Principled PRI, Scrupulous SCR, Unprincipled UNP, Anarchist ANA, Aberrant ABE, Miscreant MIS, Diabolic DIA.
Jose Araniva
Human male miscreant latent psionic 5
Jose Araniva is a member of the Espinoza Cartel possessing psionic ability; suspected powers include Bio-Manipulation and Invisibility Haze. Araniva was captured by the PCs in an attempt to undermine Espinoza operations in the greater Houston area. He is currently in custody with G.A.I.A.
Besto do Lagarto
Beyond the Supernatural monster diabolic
Known in Brazil as the "demon horned lizard", this entity hides as a statue in the Museum of Natural History. adflsadfkjh asdlkjh
Director Derek Curtis
Human male scrupulous mystic bestowed 4
Head of G.A.I.A.'s southwest bureau and boss to Chris Cage, he can also change into a Maori horomatangi. Derek Curtis is the North American Director of G.A.I.A. (Global Assessment of Idiosyncratic Anomalies). Curtis is the direct superior to Chris Cage. His office resides in the Metis Tower on Kirby Drive in Houston. Unknown to the PCs, when visiting New Zealand on vacation, he was attacked by a supernatural creature in the form of a large tuatara. Since then, he has been able to shapeshift into a humanoid version of the reptile.
Endymion
Human male anarchist mutant 10
He contacts the vigilantes and is transparent about his working with Halloween, but cryptic about Halloween's importance. Endymion has been connected as the mysterious benefactor that initially connected the party together. Endymion is the technological resource Halloween used to create his mind-controlling nanobots. Endymion uses Whisper as his messenger to the party.
Cassie Fandango
Human female miscreant experiment 4
Cassie Fandango (real name Cassandra Farnsworth) is a suspected criminal possessing the ability of Control Others. This vocal power acts as the spell Love Charm on men, but puts women who are affected into a hyper-aggressive state towards her. Last seen fleeing Sugar Land Airport in the presence of an enthralled Onyx, the PCs caught up to her and conflict ensued with the heroes trying to break her control over a non-controlled Onyx, while minions of the Nightlands spewed into their world, bringing forth the Dark Day throughout their reality.
Antonio Gusinarto
Human male aberrant secret operative 5
Direct Espinaza counsel to Andrew Villacorta, the PCs take him down with the rest of the Cartel.
Halloween
Human male miscreant analytical genius 7
AKA Albert Ramsey, unhinged by the nano-tech repairing his body, he used his gifts to control Houston citizens. Halloween has made his presence to few in the Houston area, but his existence has not yet been confirmed. Evidence suggests he has a wide variety of technology at hand, being able to control suggestion-enabling nanobots. So far, his efforts have been thwarted by Chris Cage and Brock Samson. Halloween is currently at large, supposedly in the greater Houston area.
Anthony Knoblock
Human male miscreant weapons expert 5
Anthony Knoblock is well-known assassin in law enforcement circles, and is wanted for capital murder in 17 states. Knoblock was forced to submit to Cyric after the latter pinned him to a garage wall with a delivery van. Knoblock is currently is Galveston police custody, waiting for transfer to a federal facility.
Derek Lange
Human male miscreant experiment with alter physical structure: lava
Derek Lange is a former custodian at several downtown high-rises, possessing the ability of Alter Physical Structure: Lava. Lange used his ability to destroy the 17-story Gerard Tower, a residential building, killing 358 victims. He later tried the same at the 20-story Concord Building, a business complex, in an attempt to establish himself as “Brimstone”, but was captured by the PCs. He is currently in custody with G.A.I.A.
Senator Aaron Nelson
Human male unprincipled commoner 3
A senator from North Carolina, he helped fund G.A.I.A. and used Anderson and Gish to direct Derek Curtis and Chris Cage.
Nightlord Hounds
Nightlords minion diabolic shock troops
Believed to be magical constructs, similar to the golems, but do feel emotions, and have lusts and desires.
Onifer's Primates
Male and female miscreant mutant animals 3
AKA "punk-ass killer monkeys", AKA "those fat, slow, ugly monkeys", creations of Dr. Richard Onifer at Houston Bio-Labs turn on their master, but are later destroyed.
Onyx
Human male unprincipled symbiotic superhuman 7
AKA Jonathan Quayle, he is a suspected vigilante possessing the ability of Bio-Armor. He is currently wanted for questioning by the local law-enforcement in regards to the assault on several suspected criminal figures in the Houston area. He was last seen in the enthrall of Cassie Fandango, as both left Sugar Land Airport.
Ernesto Perforente
Human male miscreant empowered 7
Ernesto Perforente (as known as "The Anvil") is a street thug working for the Espinoza crime cartel, possessing the ability of Alter Physical Structure: Metal. Perforente was wheelchair bound for most of his young life, until realized his new found ability. Viewing this as a sign from a dark entity, Andrew Villacorta quickly promoted the young man and used his power to quickly push the Espinoza cartel to the forefront in narcotics trafficking in Houston. Perforente was defeated by the combined resources of the PCs, Allen Righter, and Phalanx. He is currently in custody with G.A.I.A.
Phalanx
Human male unprincipled robotics (exoskeleton) 3
Phalanx (real name unknown) is an alleged power armor pilot wanted by police in connection to several crimes, involving the destruction of property and evading arrest. Phalanx's identity was confused with the exo-skeleton worn by Brian Gearman during his encounter with Stewart Carter. He was last seen assisting the PCs to defeat Ernesto Perforente in his metallic form. His current whereabouts are unknown.
Allen Righter
Human male scrupulous super-sleuth 4
Allen Righter is a freelance private investigator with psionic ability. In the past, Righter has worked for an unknown benefactor interested in several meta-human PCs, and was found spying on them during a brief meeting at Escalante's. His assistance was invaluable for helping the PCs arrest several meta-human members of the Espinoza Cartel, and supposedly overpowered a would-be assailant targeting Brock Samson.
Dr. John Silence
Human male unprincipled arcane detective 3
Dr. John Silence is a paranormal investigator with spell casting abilities. Dr. Silence has been used as a party resource while investigating the Espinoza cartel's dealings in the occult. His information into the investigation of the local area murder by the Besto do Lagarto allowed the PCs to track the creature down to the Museum of Natural History.
Jack Tower
Human male anarchist weapons expert 3
Unhinged when he cannot solve a crime in 24 hours, he is teamed with Chris Cage who quells his random shootings. Jack Tower is an agent of the FBI assigned to the Violent Crimes task force in Houston. Tower was once a promising agent working in Washington D.C., but his unorthodox methods led to conflicts with supervisors. Agency directors felt he needed guidance, and he was assigned as partner to Chris Cage. Tower now works alone, occasionally assisting the PCs involving cases involving Derek Lange and Halloween.
Marcus Vaughn
Human male unprincipled master psionic 4
Marcus Vaughn is the owner of Club Psilence possessing psionic ability. Through Club Psilence, Vaughn has assembled a vast number of psionics in the Houston area. His club has also attracted other supernatural creatures, whether by intention or not.
Andrew Villacorta
Human male diabolic mystic study 7
Andrew Villacorta (also known as “The Rooster”) is the Houston leader of the Espinoza Cartel (a Brazilian crime family), with the capability to cast spells and summon extra-dimensional entities. Villacorta is allegedly responsible for the various dimensional beings appearing in and around the greater Houston area, because of his flawed summoning abilities. Using his knowledge of the arcane, Villacorta quickly swept aside all competition in narcotics trafficking in Houston, becoming the sole distributor of heroin in southeast Texas. Villacorta’s inner circle consisted mostly of individuals with meta-human abilities: Jose Araniva (latent Psionic), Ernesto Perforente (Alter Physical Structure: Metal), and Antonio Gusinarto (Special Training). After a pitched battle at the Espinoza estate in Clear Lake, the PCs were able to capture Villacorta while trying to escape during the combat. He is currently in custody with G.A.I.A.
Supporting NPCs of Cursed Earth
David Anderson
Agent David Anderson is a government agent possessing psionic ability; suspected powers include Telepathy. Anderson formerly partnered with John Gish on a specialized government taskforce called the IADC (Inter-Agency Defense Council), and was assigned to investigate meta-human activity. Anderson and Gish currently work for G.A.I.A.
Timothy Bailess
Timothy Bailess is a Robbery detective for the Houston Police Department. Bailess was found posing as a waiter at the opening gala of the Houston Museum of Natural History. He was taken into custody by Chris Cage, when he was suspected of working for Halloween.
Tammy Beernett
Tammy Beernett is a senior at Rice University, belonging to the Pi Sigma Mu sorority. She was singled out by Zoe Cicone to help propigate the undercover alias Cicone used during her investigation of Clarissa Ortega's death. Beernett and Cicone both were propositioned by Jeremy Safarick for prostitution with member of the Espinoza cartel.
Alan Blank
Alan Blank is an ex-con with ties to the person known as Halloween. Blank was part of the six man crew plotting to rob the Bank of America in Meyerland Plaza. He and his cohorts were captured by local law-enforcement from a tip provided by Chris Cage. Blank currently awaits trial at the Harris County Detention Center.
Leroy Brown
Leroy Brown (aka Leroy Brownwood) is a small-time drug dealer who has connection with local Houston narcotics distributors. He has assisted Chris Cage and Floyd Foster in their investigations of the arson attacks on local MS-13 crack houses.
Art Carson
Art Carson is an ex-con with ties to the person known as Halloween. Carson was part of the six man crew plotting to rob the Bank of America in Meyerland Plaza. He and his cohorts were captured by local law-enforcement from a tip provided by Chris Cage. Carson currently awaits trial at the Harris County Detention Center.
Stewart Carter
Stewart Carter is an aging Gulf War veteran possessing the ability of Alter Physical Structure: Crystal. Carter was involved in the first public meta-human combat when the PCs subdued him during a rampage in the Montrose area. He is currently in custody with Project Prometheus.
April Child
April Child worked as receptionist to Fluor Daniels. Friends with Rachel Merchant, she was last seen with Mitchell Foster before she was declared missing. Her body was found in Hermann Park, the apparent third victim of the Besto do Lagarto.
Benjamin Cointreau
Benjamin Cointreau was a homeless transient living in downtown Houston. According to Dr. Robert Lowman, Cointreau wandered in the Museum of Natural History through an unsecured door, where he was accidentally shot and killed by Andrew Madison, suspecting him to be a thief.
Delta 9
The Delta 9 is a former military black ops team which is currently wanted for crimes against the United States government. The groups consists of nine former members of Project Prometheus, who have gone AWOL.
Catherine Drakeson
Catherine Drakeson worked as an insurance adjuster for GEICO. Co-workers reported her to be a gym rat, who spent most of her time at 24-Hour Fitness. Her body was found in Hermann Park, the apparent fourth victim of the Besto do Lagarto.
John Felton
John Felton is a Robbery detective for the Houston Police Department. Felton was found posing as a waiter at the opening gala of the Houston Museum of Natural History. He was taken into custody by Chris Cage, when he was suspected of working for Halloween.
John Follmer
John Follmer is military liaison to the Project Prometheus and is the current contact for Brock Samson. Follmer is considered Samson's handler and is responsible for his continued development as a field operative.
Mitchell Foster
Mitchell Foster is the primary architect for the new Museum of Natural History. His connection with April Child led investigators to believe there was a link between himself and the local murders, which turned out to be from the Besto do Lagarto.
Alfred Giacanna
Alfred Giacanna is a lieutenant of the Robbery division for the Houston Police Department. Giacanna was upset that most of his squad were detained by Chris Cage, during the gala for the Museum of Natural History. He has vouched for his men's character, and restored their jobs, upon a favorable review from the Harris County Disciplinary Board.
John Gish
Agent John Gish is a government agent with psionic ability. Gish formerly partnered with David Anderson on a specialized government taskforce called the IADC (Inter-Agency Defense Council), and was assigned to investigate meta-human activity. Gish and Anderson currently work for G.A.I.A.
Dustin Gomez
Dustin Gomez is a custodian at the Concord Building in downtown. Gomez was a close friend to Derek Lange, and was able to gain employment at the Concord Building after (unbeknown to Gomez) caused the destruction of the Gerard Building. The PCs were able to convince Gomez to provide evidence that linked Lange to the scene of the crime in regards to the Gerard Building, and most likely saved his life when Lange attempted to locate him.
Nathan Hale
Nathan Hale is a supposed psionic often seen in the company of Mathias West at Club Psilence. All indicators point that he is a meta-human, but his abilities are unknown.
Karl Howard
Karl Howard is a Robbery detective for the Houston Police Department. Howard was found posing as a waiter at the opening gala of the Houston Museum of Natural History. He was taken into custody by Chris Cage, when he was suspected of working for Halloween.
Daniel Jackson
Daniel Jackson is an ex-con with ties to the person known as Halloween. Jackson was part of the six man crew plotting to rob the Bank of America in Meyerland Plaza. He and his cohorts were captured by local law-enforcement from a tip provided by Chris Cage. Jackson currently awaits trial at the Harris County Detention Center.
Ralph Karle
Ralph Karle is an ex-con with ties to the person known as Halloween. Karle was part of the six man crew plotting to rob the Bank of America in Meyerland Plaza. He and his cohorts were captured by local law-enforcement from a tip provided by Chris Cage. Karle currently awaits trial at the Harris County Detention Center.
Michael Kellerman
Michael Kellerman is a Robbery detective for the Houston Police Department. Kellerman was found posing as a waiter at the opening gala of the Houston Museum of Natural History. He was taken into custody by Chris Cage, when he was suspected of working for Halloween.
Blast Ketchup
Blast Ketchup is the owner of Ketchup Private Investigations. Ketchup's firm specializes in premium information gathering, employing the likes of Sarah Marshall to get the job completed; Marshall was since been killed.
Melvin Lewis
Melvin Lewis is a Robbery detective for the Houston Police Department. Lewis was found posing as a waiter at the opening gala of the Houston Museum of Natural History. He was taken into custody by Chris Cage, when he was suspected of working for Halloween.
Francisco Lopez
Francisco Lopez was a homeless transient living in downtown Houston. His body was found in the downtown sewer system, the apparent second victim of the Besto do Lagarto.
Dr. Robert Lowman
Dr. Robb Lowman is the former director and curator of the new opened Houston Museum of Natural History. Hielmann handpicked John Smith to be the assistant director so focus could be maintained on the opening gala of the Museum. Lowman was since been arrest under suspicion of obstructing justice involving the coverup of the murders of Benjamin Cointreau and Andrew Madison.
Andrew Madison
Andrew Madison was a security guard at the Museum of Natural History during its construction phase. One evening, Madison shoots and kills Benjamin Cointreau, believing him to be a thief. This event helped to trigger the awakening of the Besto do Lagarto one week later, which then subsequently killed Madison.
Taylor Madison
Taylor Madison is sister to Andrew Madison, who hired Blast Ketchup to look into his mysterious disappearance from the Museum of Natural History. Ketchup assigns Sarah Marshall to the case, which leads to the Besto do Lagarto.
Steven McCoy
Steven McCoy is a security guard at the Museum of Natural History during its construction phase.. At the outset of the missing persons case of Andrew Madison, he noted to the PCs that Madison was not seen on the end of his night shift when McCoy arrived in the morning.
Rachelle Merchant
Rachelle Merchant is a co-worker with Mary Jane Peterson at Google in Houston. Her needing to take personal time to deal with the death of her friend April Child introduced Peterson to the case, and eventually to Brock Samson.
Whitney Morris
Whitney Morris was a Rice University student who was killed by mutated chacma baboons of Dr. Richard Onifer. She was initially contacted by Jeremy Safarick, to work as a prostitute for wealthy clientele. After witnessing the death of her friend, Clarissa Ortega, she fled the Espinoza Cartel estate by car, while being pursued by Antonio Gusinarto. With her engine block destroyed, she attempted to hid in an abandoned used car lot, where she was subsequently killed.
Dr. Richard Onifer
Dr. Richard Onifer was a geneticist and former employee of Houston Bio-Labs. He is responsible for the mutation of the chacma baboons that were responsible for the death of Whitney Morris. He was murdered by his creations, when the baboons escaped from the holding areas at the Crius building.
Clarissa Ortega
Clarissa Ortega was a Rice University student who was accidentally crushed to death by Ernesto Perforente at the Espinoza Cartel estate. She was initially contacted by Jeremy Safarick, to work as a prostitute for wealthy clientele. After her death, members of the Espinoza Cartel disposed of her body in the Deer Park area, leading investigators to believe she died in a hit-and-run accident. Her parents later contacted Zoe Cicone to help solve how their daughter actually died.
Frank Pambelton
Frank Pambelton is a Robbery detective for the Houston Police Department. Pambelton was found posing as a waiter at the opening gala of the Houston Museum of Natural History. He was taken into custody by Chris Cage, when he was suspected of working for Halloween.
Nicholas Pfaster
According to records, Nicholas Pfaster is an American spy who voluntarily was subjected to government cryogenic freezing, because of an infection he received while under deep cover in Russia. More recently, evidence indicates he was awoken from his stasis during a fire at the Mercury Storage warehouse inside the loop. His whereabouts are unknown.
Jeremy Safarick
Jeremy Safarick is a street hustler who works for the Espinoza cartel. Safarick works for Jose Araniva to obtain prostitutes for Ernesto Perforente. Safarick solicited Zoe Cicone, while she was working undercover investigating Clarissa Ortega's death.
Edward Schumacher
Edward Schumacher is an ex-con with ties to the person known as Halloween. Schumacher was part of the six man crew plotting to rob the Bank of America in Meyerland Plaza. He and his cohorts were captured by local law-enforcement from a tip provided by Chris Cage. Schumacher currently awaits trial at the Harris County Detention Center.
Shaker Brothers
Jeff, Steve, Jack, Tracy, Chris, and Robert Shaker were born in Sydney, Australia and soon became involved in a life of crime. The group moved to the United States and quickly gained the reputation of being outlandish hitmen who would take any target. Looking to capitalize on several potential targets in a short amount of time, the group robbed the ESWAT convention at the George R. Brown convention center. They were eventually subdued after a high speed chase involving Chris Cage, Zoe Cicone, Brian Gearman, Brock Samson, and Onyx. All six brothers are currently in the Harris County detention center awaiting extradition back to Australia.
Pauline Thompson
Pauline Thompson is the secretary for the paranormal investigative firm for Dr. John Silence. According to Dr. Silence, Thompson made the arrangements to get rid of the coffee table that Sarah Marshall teleported into.
Joseph Toi
Joseph Toi is an ex-con with ties to the person known as Halloween. Toi was part of the six man crew plotting to rob the Bank of America in Meyerland Plaza. He and his cohorts were captured by local law-enforcement from a tip provided by Chris Cage. Toi currently awaits trial at the Harris County Detention Center.
Alberto Trevino
Albert Trevino is a security guard at the Museum of Natural History during its construction phase.. At the outset of the missing persons case of Andrew Madison, he noted to the PCs he was relieved Madison in the afternoon of his disappearance, when Madison began his night shift.
Mathias West
Mathias West is a patron of Club Psilence whom Floyd Foster believes is a vampire. West has become quite friendly with Foster, and has a good relationship with Marcus Vaughn and most of his staff. No evidence of vampirism has been displayed with the exception of the brief surface thoughts scanned by Foster.
Whisper
Whisper (real name unknown) is an agent for an unknown benefactor to the PCs; she possesses the ability of Invisibility. Whisper has appeared only as messenger to the PCs to look closer at certain news media, lending information from unknown sources; she is contacted via e-mail.
Jose Araniva by Trisha Marie, Besto do Lagarto by Jello Serve, Director Derek Curtis by Stjep Lukac, Endymion by Sebastian Ariza, Cassie Fandango by Sasha Leafz, Antonio Gusinarto by Midjourney, Halloween by Alex Peterac, Anthony Knoblock by Yvan Quinet, Derek Lange by Robert Crescenzio, Senator Aaron Nelson by DALL-E, Nightlord Hounds by ©Palladium Books, Onifer's Primates by Chris Lambertz, Onyx by Stable Diffusion, Ernesto Perforente by Midjourney, Phalanx by Alastair Duncan, Allen Righter by Damai Mikaz, Dr. John Silence by Helena Nikulina, Jack Tower by DALL-E, Marcus Vaughn by Sharon Anderson, Andrew Villacorta by Jovana Tenić
Artwork for Sebastian Ariza, Robert Crescenzio, Alastair Duncan, Sasha Leafz, Stjep Lukac, Trisha Marie, Alex Peterac, Yvan Quinet, Jello Serve, & Jovana Tenić falls under Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.
Artwork for Chris Lambertz falls under the Paizo Inc. Community Use Policy.
Artwork for Nightbane© is used with permission from Palladium Books.