Gentlesophonts:
The following NPC sketch first appeared in *Melbourne Times* #2. Adelaide
Olowua ought to be adaptable to any campaign with minimal effort.
Personafile: Adelaide Olowua
Adelaide Olowua is a Human female of medium height. Her features reflect a
strong African-branch influence and are considered attractive by most Humans.
She keeps her black hair close-cropped. Her athletic build is somewhat unusual
for one approaching late middle-age but not surprisingly so.
Adelaide usually dresses in close-fitting clothes - she claims they are merely
functional but is acutely aware of their ability to highlight her figure.
Of average strength and endurance, Adelaide is surprisingly agile. She is
bright and has a great deal of experience from which to draw. Her position as
a retired merchant captain has offset the negative social affect of being a
free trader.
Adelaide's interests tend to be simple: good food, good drink, good company.
She enjoys a good story and appreciates good piloting. She has little
tolerance for authority. She enjoys playing grav-ball and the rhythm lute.
She is quiet, but sociable.
Adelaide's allegiance lies with a small group of people: her ship mates, her
family and a few close friends. She is generally devoted to these people and
will make major efforts to support them. She withstands trauma well and is
very cool under fire. She is a respected leader and can lead large groups with
success although she has not yet taken advantage of this ability. Her own
respect for authority is minimal - a reaction to the restrictive conditions on
her native Nyanza. Likewise, Adelaide is very tolerant of other viewpoints and
lifestyles.
Born June 21st, 2948, at New Lagos on Nyanza, Adelaide's travel documents still
show Nyanza as her home. She has not had a permanent home for many years but
uses her mother's address.
Adelaide's father died shortly after she was born. Her mother, Lily Olowua,
remarried when Adelaide was in her teens. She has a younger half-brother. She
herself has been involved with several men but has never been married and has
no children.
Adelaide's friends tend to be ship mates. Her ship's navigator, the Dolphin
Bolivar Sprayswallower, is a veteran of the Nyanzan Navy, and has served with
her for five years. Duncan Ishige, her ship's steward, is the son of a friend
from her days at the Academy. The robot Archimedia, the ship's engineer, was
purchased by Adelaide over four years ago but has since been emancipated.
Adelaide first met her closest friend, Refuin iks-Louan, over twenty years ago.
She has always had the utmost respect for the Aeroi's mercantile skills and
asked him to join her crew when she became a free trader.
Adelaide has made more than a few enemies, especially among customs officials
in the Ouroran Community. She has always somehow managed to stay above the
letter of the law, if not the spirit, and thus has avoided any serious trouble
so far.
Service History: Adelaide attended the Victoria Lines Merchant Academy on
Nyanza, receiving her Merchant's Certificate with Honors in 2970. In addition
to extensive flight training she studied Victoria Lines' administrative
procedures. Upon graduation she chose service in the Deck Department and was
commissioned as a Fourth Officer.
During her first term Adelaide spent much time dirtside, including a stint at
Victoria Lines Deck Department School. In addition to the computer and gunnery
skills she learned at the School she did a lot of brawling and carousing in
startown establishments.
Adelaide successfully completed the promotion exam to Third Officer in her
second term. Many of her assignments were route service in frontier regions
where she spent much of her time performing EVA during orbital operations.
Adelaide's third term was spent at a variety of dirtside posts. She spent some
time as a vehicle driver and was involved in more than a few fire fights with
smugglers. She also managed to complete the promotion exam to Second Officer.
Adelaide completed the promotion exam to First Officer early in her fourth term
and was subsequently assigned to Command School. She was taught standard
merchant legal practices and had an opportunity to learn Victoria Lines ship
tactics. In her off-hours, she continued to spend her time in the less
reputable areas of startown. After Command School she was assigned as a pilot.
Command School had been a good move - Adelaide made Captain in her fifth term.
Now the one responsible for the trade mission, she proved to be a capable
leader. She also learned some of the more 'underhanded' aspects of merchant
operations.
Adelaide continued to prosper in her sixth term and grew comfortable with the
unpredictable nature of merchant operations. She also became familiar with the
economic aspects of the business.
Ultimately, Adelaide began to chafe under the strictures of the Lines and
decided to muster out in 2994. In addition to financial and material benefits
she received possession of her Far Trader Rampart Parabola. She began the life
of a free trader.
Recent Activities: Adelaide has been plying the space lanes as a free trader
for over six years. She has managed to maintain a fair profit margin but not
without resorting to more than a few illegal activities. While she does not
consider herself to be smuggler - she calls it profiteering - many customs
officials would disagree.
As Nyanzan free traders go, Adelaide is something of a shining star. She has
never resorted to outright piracy and would not do so given the opportunity.
She considers avoiding duties and regulations to be a matter of course. Taking
from others is another matter entirely.
The Rampart Parabola has encountered more than a few pirates itself over the
last few years. Adelaide has been ruthless in these encounters and has so far
avoided any major losses. In fact, she and her crew have developed something
of a reputation among the pirates of Nyanzan space.
Adelaide is well known for her honest dealings (with brokers and traders) and
is often highly sought after by those who have a cargo that they want shipped
while avoiding any 'official' entanglements.
*****
Happy Travelling,
David Johnson
Houston, Texas, USA