The Initiative:Nathan Hazard

Nathan as played by Ron Livingston

Nathan Hazard is a PC in the Spycraft 2.0 PbP The_Initiative.

Nathaniel Hale Hazard is the only son of Senator Alexander Hazard, a popular Democratic politician from Connecticut. Nathan's father wanted him to follow in his footsteps, and for most of his formative years it appeared that his son was intending to do just that. Things changed when Nathan was at Yale, studying political science. He met and fell in love with a fellow student who appeared to share his patriotism and belief in the value of international diplomacy. His girlfriend encouraged Nathan to consider a more proactive role in life than his fathers, one that would put him on the front lines of efforts to make the world a better place to live. She was in fact a recruiter for the Central Intelligence Agency, and playing on Nathan's idealism and desire to follow his own path, she successfully convinced him to join the Company.

While Nathan was a bit flummoxed by the later realization of his ex's ulterior motives, he proved to be a capable and enthusiastic field operative, displaying a talent for tradecraft. He made a name for himself during a Middle Eastern operation where his team's cover was blown and they were pursued by local counter-espionage agents as well as the police. Through a combination of luck and resourcefulness, Nathan managed to arrange the escape of his comrades, allowing them to deliver some critical information to the agency. He was himself captured and imprisoned for a brief time, holding out against interrogation while the CIA arranged for an exchange for prisoners which led to his release.

Nathan grew somewhat disillusioned during the post-9/11 shakeup of the CIA, feeling increasingly alienated from his new superiors and their political agendas. A vocal proponent of international cooperation, Nathan was troubled by America's diplomatic failures and increasing isolationism. While he was weighing alternative career options, he was approached by representatives of the Initiative. Emphasizing the global scope of their operations and the very high stakes for which they were playing, the agency recruiters successfully convinced Nathan to join their team.

Nathan is a capable and well-rounded team player, someone who is generally skilled in the spy game rather than specialized in a particular field. He shares his father's knack for making friends and quick thinking, as well as his father's fervent belief in freedom and democracy. More than that, he's just plain lucky, able to pull off improbable escapes and feats of daring with aplomb. Nathan's chief weaknesses come from the same places that his idealism springs from. He is more trusting than most career field agents, his passion for his work can make him reckless, and he is always holding himself to an impossible standard. He has never entirely escaped from under the shadow of his father.

Vital Statistics

Name: Nathan Hazard

Code Name: CHALLENGER

Player: mathey

Class: Pointman 4

Origin: Adaptable Operative

Reputation: 2

Experience: 1000

Action Dice: 3 (d4+2)

Attributes

STRENGTH: 13 (+1)

DEXTERITY: 14 (+2)

CONSTITUTION: 14 (+2)

INTELLIGENCE: 13 (+1)

WISDOM: 13 (+1)

CHARISMA: 14 (+2)

Vitality: 33 Wounds: 14 Subdual Threshold: 14 Stress Threshold: 13

Unarmed: +4 Melee: +4 Ranged: +5 Defense: 14 Initiative: +4

Knowledge Check: +5 Request Check: +6 Gear Check: +5

Fortitude: +4 Reflex: +4 Will: +3

Skills

Acrobatics +7/+8 (6 ranks)

Athletics +7/+8 (6 ranks)

Bluff +8 (6 ranks)

Cultures +5 (4 ranks) [Eastern Europe, Northern America, Western Asia, Western Europe]

Drive +6 (4 ranks) [Personal Ground Vehicles, Standard Ground Vehicles, Personal Aircraft]

Impress +8 (6 ranks)

Notice +6 (5 ranks)

Profession +6 (4 ranks) [Diplomat, Spy]

Resolve +4/+3 (2 ranks)*

Science +1 (0 ranks) [Chemistry]

Tactics +5/+6 (4 ranks)

• cross-class skill

Abilities

Proficiencies: unarmed, blunt, handgun, hurled, submachine gun

Class Abilities: Generous, Versatility (Acrobatics, Athletics, Bluff, Impress), Assistance (1/2), Lead 1/session, Orders I

Feats: Candidate, Equilibrium Basics, Fortunate

Interests: baseball, fine cuisine, history, politics, rock and roll, spelunking

Wealth

Lifestyle 3: 1-bedroom house

Possessions 3: H&K M23 III (concealed holster, custom grip, JHP ammunition loadout), Cover Identity II, First Aid Kit I, Headset Radio I, Consumer-Grade Camera I, journal, courier pouch, compass, flashlight, PDA, binoculars, magnifying glass, Leatherman multitool, watch, Ipod, fire extinguisher, attache case, guitar

Spending Cash 3: $900

Gear Picks: 2R, 1S, 1W, 2 CHA bonus picks, 4 common items, 1 reserve pick maximum

Contacts

Janice Fallon, White House aide

Acquaintance: Halls of Power (politico)

Subplot

Long-Term Mission

The Central Intelligence Agency has tasked Nathan with recovering an alien communications device that is said to have the power to translate a number of intergalactic languages. It is hoped that he'll find clues to the location of one such "Babel Matrix" during his missions with the Initiative. Capturing one could be a major coup for American intelligence.

Objectives: Observe, Acquire, Test