About Koko the Quick
Role: Stalker
Name: Koko the Quick
Appearance: Koko’s pale skin is tinged green, the clear sign of someone who’s spent too much of their life out there in the zone. She wears her brown hair loose and has piercing blue eyes. (Not that many people know her eye color, since she almost never takes off her goggles.) Her upper body is thin, wiry, and completely out of proportion to her long, overly-muscular legs. She’s fond of camouflage gear and wears it whenever she can get it, but the one article of clothing she’s obsessive about, (other than the goggles), are a well-fitting pair of waterproof boots. It’s hard to run away from Zone-Ghouls with blistered feet.
Attribute Scores: Strength 3, Agility 5, Wits 4, Empathy 2
Skill Points:
Endure (Strength): 1
Force (Strength): 0
Fight (Strength): 0
Sneak (Agility): 1
Move (Agility): 1
Shoot (Agility): 1
Scout (Wits): 1
Comprehend (Wits): 0
Know the Zone (Wits): 3
Sense Emotion (Empathy): 0
Manipulate (Empathy): 0
Heal (Empathy): 0
Find the Path (Agility): 2
Talents:
Zone Cook: You have mastered the art of cooking contaminated food from the Zone well enough to purge it from the Rot. You can also purify contaminated water. Roll to Know the Zone – every 6 rolled purifies D6 rations of grub or water.
Mutations:
Sprinter.
You can double your movement speed during one turn. Every maneuver you spend on movement counts as two (page 80). Costs 1 MP. (E)
You can escape from a conflict without rolling to Move. Costs 1 MP.
Relationships to Other PCs:
Ford walked with her in the Zone and lived.
TBD
TBD
Relationships to NPCs:
Koko hates the Enforcer Jonats, who killed her only friend.
Koko needs to protect the Slave Eriel. No one deserves a life in chains. Especially not her.
Big Dream:
To someday stop wandering and find peace.
Gear:
5 bullets, 6 rations of grub, 4 rations of water, bow, 5 arrows
Hate - Jonats
Koko and Allira grew up together. While neither of them were certain who their parents were, they viewed each other as sisters. Koko was the quick one, the stealthy one, the one who could find grub and water and, in a pinch, fight to protect it. Allira was the smart one, the one chosen by the Elder to join the Chroniclers and learn the history of the People. While her mind was powerful her body was weak, her bones fragile as glass. Still she prospered under the Elder's tutelage.
As they grew Koko began taking short trips into the Zone. Mostly for grub at first, she had to eat somehow, but whenever she found artifacts she'd bring them back for Allira to study. Allira was excited for each and every one. She thought Koko might find an artifact that would lead the People to Eden. Koko herself wasn't sure she believed in Eden, but she believed in Allira. If Allira wanted more artifacts, Koko would get them for her.
Koko's trips became longer, and unbeknownst to her Allira's position in the Ark became less secure. The Elder was growing too old to lead anymore. The bosses that cropped up had less respect for Allira's talents. Without the Elder's protection an Enforcer named Jonats began harrassing Allira, going so far as to steal her grub and water rations. Not wanting to worry her sister Allira said nothing to Koko about any of it.
Koko only learned about it when she came back one day and Allira was dead. At first no one would tell her what had happened but she eventually found a Chronicler willing to talk. Jonats had come for his usual 'tribute' of grub and water, but he'd taken a fancy to the artifact Allira was studying and demanded that too. She'd refused. He'd shoved her up against a wall. And while he probably didn't intend to kill her, the back of her fragile skull shattered on impact.
Jonats is far stronger and more well-connected than Koko, but she has no intention of letting him get away with murdering her sister. Like a true Stalker, she's just waiting for her time to strike.
Need to Protect - Eriel
Koko had never been good with people, but after Allira's death she practically became a hermit. (As much as one could while still living on the Ark.) She wasn't suicidal but she figured she would die soon enough. If not out in the Zone, then in an ill-fated attempt at getting revenge on Jonats. Best not to drag anyone else down with her.
She was sitting in her den one day, idly toying with a trinket she'd picked up in the Zone, when an angel darted inside. Koko blinked and rubbed her eyes. She must be hallucinating. Angels weren't real, they only existed in those old stories Allira had told her.
"Please help me," the angel begged, and Koko blinked again. It wasn't an angel. It was a mutant with dark skin, green eyes, butterfly wings...and a slave's collar around her neck. "I just need to hide-"
"Where are you," slurred a voice nearby. "Come out come out Eriel, you're only making it worse for yourself." Green eyes fixed pleadingly on Koko's.
Without really thinking Koko stepped out of her den. "What's with all the racket? Whoever you're lookin' for ain't here, so shut up already!"
The person in the hallway, a Boss from his clothing, stumbled against the wall. "Ya sure? Thought she went this way."
"Sure as sure." Koko gestured behind her. "You're welcome to check for yourself. The Rot shouldn't stick to ya if you're fast."
The words slowly penetrated the drunken mutant's brain and he took a step back. Like everyone else he was terrified of Rot and leery of Stalkers by extension. "Not necce..necce...neccessary." He turned and staggered down another hallway.
Koko waited a moment before ducking back inside. "He had a point you know. It'll only be worse later."
Eriel shook her head. "He's too drunk. He'll pass out soon and forget all about it." She grabbed Koko's hands and her brain short-circuited. No one touched a Stalker. No one. "Thank you."
Koko stared at her hands. Then up at Eriel's face. Then back down at her hands. "You're, uh, welcome?"
That was the start of an unlikely friendship. Koko would never admit it, but Eriel probably saved her life just by existing. For the first time since Allira died Koko had someone else to care about. Someone else to live for.
Her trips into the Zone now had a purpose beyond mere survival. If Eden really existed like Allira had thought, Koko would find it. One day she'd bring Eriel to a place where they both could live free.
