REILLY INSTITUTE OF PARANORMAL SCIENCE

Alexander the Great (Smart 3/Mage 10/Archmage 1) is a professional prestidigitator, though his true talent is for real magic. He has been known to combine the two when he truly wishes to impress an audience. As would be expected, he is typically dressed to the nine in tuxedo and tails, replete with hidden pockets full of various tricks and surprises. He did a short stint as an elite agent, but after being injured in the field he decided early retirement would be to his benefit. Currently, most of his activities for the Reilly Institute include discreetly debunking or certifying would-be masters of arcane power. He also makes himself available for consultation concerning arcane matters. While he will not share his library of the arcane, he has recently expressed an interest in taking on an apprentice, should he find someone with "both the necessary humility and talent."

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Maria Anderson (Fast 4/Martial Artist 1/Gunslinger 1/Shadow Hunter 2) is an intense woman, easy to anger quick to demand action. She attributes this to her Latino blood. Tall and strong, she channels her aggression into her kung fu training. She grew up in Mexico, where her father conducted special hunting tours for wealthy businessmen. These tours occasionally extended into the deep jungles of Africa and the Australian outback. She moved to American in 1992, when she married one of her father’s frequent clients. Divorced in 1996, she still has not gotten over what turned into a very bad relationship and an extremely bitter divorce. She remains in America because of Tim Reilly’s influence, and is working on attaining citizenship. Attempts at office romance are usually shot down with extreme prejudice. She is an avid gun collector, and has spent time with Desert Eagle. She fits in quite well with most of their members, but is not officially affiliated with them. She is Catholic, however, and does not condone their religious practices. She is often involved in her own investigations, but can usually make herself available to the elite team if her skills are needed.

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“Bud” Bradley (Dedicated 3/Telepath 10) is fairly well detailed in the Security section of Information for Agents. He is the aging psychic sensitive that acts as Head of Security at the home base. He is stationed at the elevators on the first floor. Proper ID, relinquishment of weapons, and a lack of "bad vibes" are necessary for Bud to authorize (via key lock and keypad code) anyone to pass his station. He enjoys bawdy humor and the occasional practical joke. His deeply wrinkled face is equally adept at a disturbing frown and a friendly smile, and he has mastered the use of both to emphasize his feelings on whatever matter is being discussed. His light brown eyes seem to twinkle when he laughs, an event that happens often. He seems unaware of the extent of his hair loss, desperately clinging to a comb-over that draws more attention than it diverts. Despite his apparent easygoing demeanor, Bud is capable combat-veteran authorized to use force in defense of the organization.

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Howard Clarke (Smart 3/Field Scientist 2) is a very well educated man. Large, thick glasses and a salt-and-pepper beard emphasize his bookish appearance. His one claim to rebellion is a pierced ear. Though he is in his late 30s, he has spent most of his life in school. He holds more than one Ph.D. and has attended several Ivy League schools. He typically appears distracted, much like the stereotypical "absent-minded professor." Despite this, there can be no doubt that he is quite aware of his environment. His attention to detail and memory retention is incredible. His numerous fields of expertise have made him invaluable in paranormal investigations, and he has quickly climbed the ladder at the institute. Howard heads up many of the more common paranormal investigations. It is often by his authority that a case is turned over to the elite agents. He has a proven track record for competent investigations and good gut instinct for when to hold, when to fold, and when to run.

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Mei Lin (Dedicated 3/Telepath 6) is a psychic with various sensitive abilities. She primarily works with Howard in conducting routine paranormal investigations, but has worked with the elite field team in the past. She claims to come from a long line of psychics, and that all the women in her family have had extraordinary intuitive abilities. She speaks very highly of her grandmother, and indicates that her own abilities pale in comparison to her revered ancestor. A soft-spoken, well-mannered Chinese woman, Mei is often mistaken as being very passive. Despite her diminutive stature and polite cultural mannerisms, she can be very forceful and outspoken when the situation demands it.

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Scotty Jernigan (Dedicated 1/Tough 1) is not yet old enough to legally drink, but has already had the kind of life that would drive a man to it. He is very quiet, speaks so softly he can barely be heard, and rarely meets anyone’s eyes. He was once a promising psychic. However, his family believed his unique abilities to be manifestations of the devil. When a particularly brutal exorcism failed to “cure” him, the family had him committed to a sanitarium. They authorized strange and inhumane treatments that eventually shattered his mind, effectively curing him of his abilities. Tim Reilly became aware of the boy’s case, and worked to have him released. The RIPS foundation is attempting to rehabilitate the young man. If possible, they will also seek to reawaken his psychic potential, though they are more concerned with allowing him to be a productive member of society. He is employed by the organization as janitor. He is good at his duties, taking pride in his work.

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Timothy Reilly (Dedicated 3/Charismatic 10/Field Scientist 2) is the C.E.O./founder of R.I.P.S., and the Director of Operations of New Moon Investigations. This means he is the man to whom the PCs answer directly. He has had a long career in the field of parapsychology, and is as greatly respected as anyone in the field can be. In his mid-50s, he has hand picked the PCs to continue what he has started…a semi-secret campaign to protect the public from paranormal events escalating in frequency and danger. He seems to be an expert concerning UFOlogy and conspiracy theory, and has ties to prominent figures in both fields. He is a bit of a health nut, sticking obsessively to a strict diet and exercise program. He is very conscientious of fat and cholesterol intake, and jogs daily. He can be found at the Memorial Park jogging ring at 7 AM sharp, almost every morning. An avid non-smoker, he will not tolerate smoking in his presence.

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Gabbi Ybarra (Smart 2/Charismatic 2)
Gabi Roma Ybarra is a Professor of Basque. She is highly intelligent and well learned. She has recently moved to Houston to avail herself of large city life. At 5'7", 135#, with long red hair, super pale skin, and green eyes she is a person that seems as harmless as a songbird. This is exactly the way she wants it. Gabi is charismatic and with extensive knowledge in behavioral science likes nothing better than to get into someone's head and "convince" them to see things her way. She is a linguist with several languages under her belt that span no less than six language families. A child of her generation, she is more than adept at computer use and mechanically inclined. Gabi tends to dress conservatively as fits her professor image; however, she has a reputation as a tease and has been known to occasionally slip into some very revealing outfits.

Biography
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