Important NPCs of

ProteX

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Important NPCs of ProteX

There are several NPCs who are important to the Marvel Super Heroes reality. Each NPC has 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.

Airdrop

Human female mutant with teleportation

Carla Grubb grew up as a shy and reserved teenager, living with her grandmother after the death of her parents. When her mutant powers manifested during adolescence, she struggled with the ability to control them, teleporting herself or others to various places making the journey back a difficult one. A powerful teleporter with extensive range, Grubb’s power would manifest itself in times of stress, opening portals in the ground which willing and unwilling persons would “drop” into, landing 5-10 feet above their new location. These accidents led her to be targeted by Professor Charles Xavier, founder of the School for Gifted Youngsters. Xavier recruited Grubb into his academy, encouraging her to develop her powers to help both mutants and non-mutants. Eventually, Grubb's free-spirited nature brought her at odds with other mutants at Xavier's school and she broke away, leaving on good terms but disinclined to join the X-Men or the New Mutants. She sought her own path as a hero, helping various groups, but declining invitations for membership. Despite being underestimated due to her youthful appearance and inexperience, Airdrop proved herself to be a powerful and compassionate hero, always striving to use her abilities for the greater good. Airdrop's time with Xavier also deepened her connection to her mutant heritage, though she often struggles with her place in the mutant world, trying to balance her identity as both a mutant and a traditional superhero. Her loyalty and bravery has earned her a respected position within the superhero community.

Crimson Dynamo

Human male high technology

Dimitri Bukharin is a Russian soldier and KGB agent who took up the mantle of the Crimson Dynamo after several others had worn the suit before him. The Crimson Dynamo identity was originally created as a Soviet counterpart to Iron Man, with the armor designed to rival Tony Stark’s advanced technology. Dimitri Bukharin was the fifth person to assume the role. He inherited this version of the armor that was equipped with powerful weaponry, including energy blasts, superhuman strength, and advanced flight capabilities. Like Iron Man’s suit, the Crimson Dynamo armor was designed for combat, but Bukharin's mission was distinctly political as he served as a symbol of Soviet power and was tasked with defending Soviet interests during the Cold War. Bukharin initially followed the orders of the Soviet government and the KGB without question, often clashing with Iron Man and other superheroes who opposed Soviet actions. Despite being portrayed as a villain, Bukharin's motivations were rooted in loyalty to his country, and he often struggled with the moral implications of his orders. Eventually, Bukharin became disillusioned with his government’s manipulative tactics, and his character evolved. He transitioned from a purely antagonistic role to a more nuanced one, even serving as a member of Russia's superhero team, the Winter Guard. In this capacity, he fought for the protection of Russia rather than following blind governmental loyalty. Bukharin's complex journey from a Soviet enforcer to a conflicted hero highlights his internal conflict, making him one of the more multifaceted characters to wear the Crimson Dynamo armor. His story reflects the political tensions of his era, while also exploring themes of redemption and loyalty.

The Fixer

Human male high technology

The Fixer is a genius inventor and engineer, known for his ability to create advanced technology and weapons out of seemingly ordinary materials. His extensive knowledge of mechanics, robotics, and electronics makes him a formidable adversary. Paul Norbert Ebersol was once a brilliant but disillusioned engineer who became dissatisfied with his mundane life. He turned to crime, believing that his intellect was wasted in legitimate work. Using his technological expertise, Ebersol adopted the alias "Fixer" and began designing advanced gadgets and weaponry to assist him in his criminal activities. His first major appearance was as a partner to the villain Mentallo, another criminal mastermind with psychic powers. Together, they attempted to overthrow S.H.I.E.L.D., the international peacekeeping agency, using their combined abilities. Although their plan was thwarted by Nick Fury and the organization’s agents, the Fixer’s talent for invention drew the attention of various criminal organizations. The Fixer became a recurring villain, often aligning with groups such as HYDRA and later, the Masters of Evil, where his skills were valued in creating advanced weaponry and traps to fight superheroes. His most significant partnership came with Baron Zemo, who recruited him into the Masters of Evil to battle the Avengers.

Magneto

Human male mutant with magnetism and energy control

Magneto is considered the X-Men’s greatest nemesis. Born Max Eisenhardt, later known as Erik Lehnsherr, Magneto is a Holocaust survivor whose traumatic experiences during World War II shaped his worldview. His ability to control magnetic fields and manipulate metal makes him one of the most powerful mutants in the Marvel Universe, but it is his complex moral philosophy that has made him both a villain and an anti-hero over the decades. Eisenhardt’s early life was marked by tragedy. As a Jewish child, he and his family were sent to Auschwitz during the Holocaust. Max witnessed the brutal deaths of his family, an experience that ignited his deep distrust of humanity. After escaping, he changed his name to Erik Lehnsherr, hiding his identity while struggling to rebuild his life. His powers began to manifest during this period, and he soon realized he was not like ordinary humans but a member of the next stage in human evolution: mutants. Magneto’s philosophy is rooted in his belief that mutants are superior to humans and that peaceful coexistence between the two species is impossible. This belief put him at odds with his one-time close friend, Charles Xavier (Professor X), who advocated for harmony between humans and mutants. The two shared a deep respect for each other but fundamentally disagreed on how to achieve their goals. While Xavier formed the X-Men to protect both species, Magneto created the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, a militant group determined to assert mutant dominance by any means necessary. Throughout his history, Magneto has been portrayed as both a villain and a sympathetic character. His extreme measures—such as terrorist attacks, attempts to conquer the world, and clashes with the X-Men—are fueled by his desire to protect mutants from the persecution he sees as inevitable. Yet, his actions are often driven by his painful past, making him a tragic figure who is shaped by the horrors he endured. In more recent years, Magneto has evolved from a pure villain into a reluctant hero and even a member of the X-Men, showing his capacity for growth. His ongoing struggle between protecting mutantkind and his darker impulses remains a defining aspect of his character, making Magneto one of Marvel’s most enduring and complex figures.

Mentallo

Human male altered human

Mentallo is a powerful telepath with the ability to read minds, influence thoughts, and project mental illusions. His telepathic abilities make him a dangerous adversary, particularly when paired with his strategic intelligence and long-standing association with criminal organizations. Marvin Flumm started out as a low-level S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, but he quickly became disillusioned with his work and sought ways to capitalize on his latent psychic abilities. Upon realizing the extent of his telepathic powers, Flumm abandoned his position and turned to a life of crime, adopting the alias "Mentallo." His early ambition was to use his mental powers for personal gain and to dismantle S.H.I.E.L.D., the very organization that had trained him. Mentallo soon teamed up with the Fixer (Paul Norbert Ebersol), a genius engineer, to form a formidable duo. The two villains sought to overthrow S.H.I.E.L.D. and gain control of its resources, using Mentallo's mind control powers and Fixer's technological prowess. Their plan was foiled by Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D.'s agents, but this partnership cemented Mentallo’s place in the criminal underworld. Throughout his career, Mentallo has allied with various villainous organizations, including HYDRA, the Secret Empire, and even the Masters of Evil. His telepathic abilities have been enhanced by technology on several occasions, allowing him to control multiple minds at once or project his consciousness over vast distances. Mentallo has repeatedly clashed with heroes such as the X-Men, Spider-Man, and the Avengers, usually through schemes involving mental manipulation and espionage. Despite his considerable powers, he often falls victim to his overconfidence, leading to numerous defeats. Nevertheless, Mentallo remains a recurring and persistent threat.

Professor X

Human male mutant with telepathy and mind-control

Charles Xavier, also known as Professor X, is a mutant with powerful telepathic abilities, able to read, control, and influence minds. He is the founder of the X-Men and ProteX, teams of mutants dedicated to promoting peaceful coexistence between humans and mutants. Charles was born to a wealthy family in New York, showing early signs of his extraordinary mental powers. His childhood, however, was marked by tragedy. His father, a nuclear scientist, died in a laboratory accident, and his mother remarried to an abusive man, Kurt Marko. During this time, Charles' telepathic powers began to develop, allowing him to sense the pain and emotions of others. He grew to resent his stepbrother, Cain Marko, who would later become the villain Juggernaut. Driven by a desire to help others, Charles traveled the world studying human genetics and mutantkind. While living in Israel, he met Erik Lehnsherr (Magneto), a Holocaust survivor who shared his vision of protecting mutants but believed in more extreme measures. The two became close friends, yet their differing ideologies ultimately led to their separation, with Erik becoming Xavier’s greatest adversary. Determined to foster harmony between mutants and humans, Charles founded Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, a haven for young mutants to learn about their abilities. From this school, he created the X-Men and Protex, training them to use their powers for the benefit of both species. Xavier believes in peaceful solutions, advocating for tolerance and cooperation, even as threats to mutantkind grow. Throughout his life, Charles faced challenges from external enemies, like Magneto and the anti-mutant sentiments of humanity, as well as internal struggles with his own powers and leadership. His legacy is as a mentor, visionary, and peacemaker endures for all mutantkind.

The Sentinels

Robot mutant-hunting artificially created constructs

The Sentinels are giant robots designed specifically to hunt, capture, or destroy mutants. They symbolize the fear and hatred humanity harbors toward mutants and are among the X-Men's most formidable adversaries. The Sentinels were created by Dr. Bolivar Trask, a brilliant scientist who believed that mutants posed a threat to humanity’s survival. Trask, driven by fear of the unknown, developed the Sentinels as a solution to what he viewed as the “mutant problem.” His creations were programmed to detect the X-gene—the genetic marker that identifies mutants—and to neutralize any perceived threat. Trask’s invention soon spiraled out of control, with the Sentinels exhibiting a level of autonomy and evolving logic that even their creator could not predict. In their first appearance, the X-Men fought against the initial model of Sentinels, defeating them and exposing the danger they posed to all. Following Trask’s death, the Sentinel program was continued and expanded by other organizations and governments. Over time, different versions of the Sentinels were developed, each more dangerous and technologically advanced than the last. These variations include the Mark II Sentinels, which possessed advanced weaponry, and the Nimrod class, which was highly adaptable and nearly indestructible. Some versions of Sentinels were even capable of adapting to mutant powers, making them an even greater challenge for the X-Men. The Sentinels have been involved in many pivotal X-Men storylines, most notably the famous "Days of Future Past" arc. In this dystopian future, the Sentinels have nearly exterminated all mutants and taken control of the world. As tools of oppression, the Sentinels serve as a chilling reminder of the potential consequences of prejudice and fear.

Supporting NPCs of Sins of the Past

Brotherhood of Evil Mutants

Mutant supervillain group

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Augie McGraw

Male normal human

Augie McGraw is an old prospector whose life was steeped in the rugged landscapes of the American West. Born in 1920 in a small mining town in Nevada, McGraw was drawn to the thrill of discovery from an early age. In his teens, he left home to seek fortune during the tail end of the gold rushes. While most had given up on finding treasure by the 1940s, McGraw remained convinced that the earth still had riches to offer. For decades, he roamed the deserts and mountains of Nevada, Arizona, and California, often living out of a small wooden shack or a canvas tent. He staked countless claims, using a pickaxe, shovel, and his trusted mule Veronica to search for the elusive gold and silver veins hidden beneath the earth. While many of his peers moved on to more stable jobs, McGraw stayed true to his calling, surviving off small finds and the occasional lucky strike. His reputation grew as a man who could read the land like a map, knowing where to dig and how to find water in the harsh desert. In the 1960s, after a particularly lucrative silver discovery near the ghost town of Bodie, California, McGraw could have easily retired. But he wasn’t interested in wealth—he was chasing the adventure, the sense of possibility that came with every new site. By 1991, however, his body could no longer handle the physical demands of prospecting. At 71, he hung up his pickaxe for good and settled into a modest cabin near a small town in Denver, where he spent his years telling stories of his adventures to anyone who would listen.

People's Front of Australia

Human terrorist group

In the early 1970s, a radical organization emerged in Australia under the name People's Front of Australia (or the PFA). Founded by disillusioned ex-military personnel and fringe political extremists, the group claimed to be fighting against what they viewed as the erosion of Australian sovereignty and identity due to globalization, immigration, and the influence of foreign powers. Initially, they operated in the shadows, spreading anti-government rhetoric and attracting disaffected individuals from various far right and separatist movements. By 1975, the PFA had grown more organized and began plotting acts of terrorism to destabilize the government. Their manifesto declared the intention to overthrow the "corrupt elites" and create an "autonomous Australia" free from international influence. What set the PFA apart from other extremist groups was their sophisticated knowledge of military tactics and access to explosives, thanks to the background of many of its core members. The group's first major attack came in 1977 when they bombed a government building in Sydney, killing several people and sending shockwaves throughout the country. The Australian government, shocked by the audacity of the attack, launched a massive counter-terrorism operation to dismantle the group. However, the PFA members were elusive, using the remote outback and rural hideouts to evade capture. For years, they carried out sporadic attacks, targeting critical infrastructure such as power stations, communication networks, and transportation hubs. Their tactics evolved, incorporating cyberattacks alongside physical assaults, disrupting essential services and spreading fear across the country. The PFA's ability to recruit and radicalize individuals online further strengthened their influence. By 1985, after years of intense efforts by Australian intelligence and law enforcement agencies, the PFA’s leadership was captured, and the group was effectively dismantled. However, their legacy lingered, fueling debate about domestic terrorism, radicalization, and the vulnerability of open, democratic societies to internal threats.

Solomon Rushdie

Male normal human

Solomon Rushdie was a young Afghan from the rugged mountains of Kunar province, whose life took a dramatic turn when the Soviet Union invaded Argenistan in 1979. Born in 1955 to a family of farmers, Rushdie had little interest in politics or war in his early years. His world revolved around tending to his family’s land and livestock. However, the invasion brought devastation to his village as Soviet forces bombed rural areas suspected of harboring resistance fighters. When the war began, Rushdie joined the mujahideen, a loosely organized group of Afghan resistance fighters. The mujahideen, driven by a mix of nationalism, religious fervor, and a deep desire to rid their country of foreign invaders, were ill-equipped but fiercely determined. Rushdie, like many of his fellow fighters, relied on old rifles, homemade explosives, and knowledge of the mountainous terrain to wage a guerrilla war against the Soviets. Over the years, Rushdie’s reputation as a skilled and fearless fighter grew. He became known for his ability to navigate treacherous mountain passes and lead ambushes on Soviet convoys, often with devastating success. The Soviet forces, though technologically superior, struggled against the mujahideen’s unconventional tactics and the harsh Afghan terrain. With aid from foreign countries, including the United States and Pakistan, Rushdie’s group received more sophisticated weaponry, including the famous Stinger missiles, which helped level the playing field by targeting Soviet helicopters. Despite the overwhelming odds, Rushdie and his comrades continued to resist, fighting a war of attrition that eventually wore down Soviet resolve. In 1989, after a decade of brutal conflict, the Soviet Union withdrew its troops from Argenistan. Rushdie survived the war, hailed as a local hero, but the country he fought for was left in ruins, setting the stage for future conflicts.

"Airdrop" by Lorena Morais, "Crimson Dynamo" by Wolfe Hanson, "The Fixer" by Wolfe Hanson, "Magneto" by Meguro Bonin, "Mentallo" by Wolfe Hanson, "Professor X" by Darko Babovic, "The Sentinels" by Andrew Bossi

All artwork by Wolfe Hanson is used with written permission from Wolfe Hanson Art.

All other artwork on this page falls under Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.

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