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Character by Lee Williams©
William Vincent
William Vincent is known throughout the Republic of Britain as a shrewd businessman, but friendly and charismatic with it. Using what little money he could raise in the economic depression before the SPP rule, he founded a discount store in a disused warehouse in the heart of Birmingham city centre. Now, some fourteen years later, Vincent's is a well established chain throughout the British Isles. Vincent's main company is called Viscount Trading, Viscount being a contraction of Vincent's Discount Trading Warehouse, the name of that first store in Birmingham.

Vincent is also a founder member and fundraiser for an Empathic cell, who operate from within the infrastructure of his company. Indeed, most of the members are also employees of Viscount Trading.

William Neil Vincent is about 40 years of age. He is quite tall, with short fair hair greying a little. He has one of those Favourite Uncle type of faces, with a dry wit and a ready smile. He also has that indefinable "something" that lets you know he used to be a soldier as soon as you meet him. In fact, he was a young Private in Bosnia during the breakdown of the old Yugoslavia in the early 1990's.

His platoon was in charge of perimeter security at a UN forces supply depot in the hills near Banja-Luka. A nearby Serbian mobile artillery battery were issued incorrect target co-ordinates for a Bosnian supply dump, and their forward observers targeted the UN base by mistake due to early morning fog. Only five shells were fired before the mistake was realised, however one of them was on a time-delay fuse. This shell bounced to a stop a metre away from Vincent's dugout. After realising that the shelling had stopped and they were still breathing, he and his two companions decided to lift the dud shell and take it over to the Ordnance section for safe destruction.

They got about halfway across the vehicle compound when the shell started ticking. Vincent realised that he ought not to drop the shell, but also realised that he wanted to be elsewhere like his "friends" who had run away. The shell was very heavy for one person to hold, and Vincent knew that either he could hold onto it until hopefully the disposal team reached him in time, or he could drop it and try to run.

Just then, a Sergeant who he did not know came zooming into the compound in a Land Rover, read the situation at a glance and pulled up beside him yelling "stick it in here me old son". They hefted the shell into the passenger seat, and the Sergeant jumped out and jammed the truck into gear. The Land Rover rolled across the now empty compound, through the perimeter fence and fell down the side of the hill before the shell detonated about fifty metres away. That Sergeant's name was Dave Marshall, who later became a taxi driver (see Dave the Cabbie, DG3) The two have been firm friends ever since. It is possible that if player characters meet Dave and are having Darkling trouble, he will refer them to Vincent, swearing them to secrecy (although nobody would believe them anyway).

Experience : Veteran

Motivations 9 A
Nine of Hearts: Vincent has a strong sense of fellow feeling to other people. He feels he has a duty to protect the world from the Darkness.
Ace of Diamonds: He is willing to give whatever he can to stop the menace from claiming more victims.
Skills

His skills should include: Act/Bluff 3, Bargain 4, Business 4, Computer Ops 2, Foreboding 3, Human Empathy 3, Languages Japanese 2 German 2, Leadership 2, Luck 3, Armed Melee 2, Persuasion 2, Project Emotion 2, Psychology 2, Small Arms Rifle 4, Wheeled Vehicle 1.

Equipment
No matter when or how your player characters meet Vincent, he will be dressed and equipped for the situation. As a successful businessman, he always wears a kevlar vest for protection, as well as having a bodyguard with him in public life. Remember, he can afford almost anything within reason.