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Background
When he was eighteen, Harry Alabama signed up with the U.S. Marine Corps and was sent to Vietnam. Combat brought out the mean side in
Harry; he thoroughly enjoyed killing "gooks" (participating in many of the atrocities that helped give the Vietnam War its bad name).
Harry was disappointed and displeased when America finally pulled out of the war, but was shocked at the total lack of a hero's
welcome when he returned home. He was arrested for assaulting a bunch of anti-war hippies who saw him on the street and spat at him when
they figured out he was a vet; most of them were hospitalised for broken bones and the one the police had to pull Harry off was in a
coma for months.
After his three-year stint (plea bargained from six on psychological grounds) in prison, Harry marinated in boredom, anger,
frustration and rage in his dingy flat in the Bronx for nearly a decade. When his veteran's pension was cancelled in 1988, Harry finally
snapped. He called some old, like-minded veteran friends, and together they robbed a bank and fought their way out of the U.S.
In the eight years since, Harry and his group have been working as mercenaries across the globe; they called themselves "The Crimson
Tide" after the nickname given to the state of Alabama (and, of course, the high body counts they typically rack up on their missions;
subtlety is not in the Crimson Tide operations manual). Many of Harry's old friends have used the money gained from their assorted jobs
to retire in style to non-extradition countries; they've been replaced by younger troops recruited from various U.S. Special Forces
units (typically, they found special forces duty too boring). All are loyal to Harry, and are unlikely to turn against him.
Currently, the Crimson Tide is on retainer with the Order of the Wheel, who uses the unit to cover their own, more covert, activities
up. Although the Jade Wheel Society could put the Crimson Tide to use, they have been hesitant to send the unit into Asia because of
Harry's prejudices. Harry is very good at his job, however, and special circumstances (such as the disruptive activities of the PCs)
may cause the Lodge to decide to send the Crimson Tide to Hong Kong.
Using the Crimson Tide
As stated above, the Crimson Tide is currently affiliated with the Ascended, through the Order of the Wheel. This may change (they're
mercenaries, after all) if the GM finds it convenient, especially if the player characters become aware of the connection. It's likely
the Ascended will send them after a group of PCs once they've proven them-selves a nuisance, especially if the Ascended don't want the
attack traced back to them (the Ascended are usually much more subtle).
If the players wind up working for the Order of the Wheel at some point, it's possible the Order may send the Crimson Tide to assist
the PCs and/or bail them out of a jam. If there are any Asian PCs in the group (considering this is Feng Shui, it's almost certain at
least one of the PCs will be playing a character inspired by Jackie Chan, Jet Li or Chow Yun-Fat), they will immediately become targets
for Harry Alabama's rampant racism, although he will stand by orders to assist the PCs. Use Harry to make the PCs' lives miserable while
they have to work with him; this should illustrate what few scruples the Lodge has.
If the PCs need information on the Crimson Tide, it's possible they can contact one of its older members, who are in seclusion under
false identities. One or two may actually regret their actions with the unit, having finally realised the consequences of their acts.
One may even be a PC's mentor; if the kidnapping or murder of the mentor is the PC's hook, Harry Alabama and/or the Crimson Tide may be
the perpetrators. The Crimson Tide is a contemporary unit; none of the unit knows of the secret war.
Harry Alabama, Ex-Special Forces
"Wilson, Tarrant: keep moving up. Don't engage that gook on your tail; he's mine..."
Harry Alabama is a grizzled American combat veteran in his mid-forties. His dark hair and beard are showing flecks of grey. Although
he's tough, Harry's body isn't what it used to be; he often laments his age. Harry's mind, however, is as razor-sharp as ever: he's a
charismatic leader and the Crimson Tide would die for him. His eyes light up when-ever Vietnam is mentioned, and he still nurses a
violent hatred of "gooks" (he makes no distinction between Vietnamese, Korean, Chinese, Japanese or any other Asian race; they're all
gooks to him). He still accompanies the team into combat, but usually takes the role of co-ordinator and sniper; observing the action
from a vantage point and picking off targets with his sniper rifle.
Harry typically wears the Crimson Tide uniform: black combat fatigues with a red wave insignia on the shoulder. If met in a
non-combat situation, he may be wearing civilian clothes; when in combat, he's typically clad in appropriate camouflage for the Crimson
Tide's current theatre of operations.
Attributes: Body 5 (Tgh 7), Chi 0 (Fu 5), Mnd 7 (Per 8), Ref 6
Skills: Driving 13, Guns 15, Info/Anti-Terrorism 12, Intrusion 11, Leadership 13, Martial Arts 12, Sabotage 13
Schticks: Lightning Reload x3, Eagle Eye x2, Bite of the Dragon, The Fox's Retreat.
Weapons: Machete (Str +2), Colt Delta Elite (11/2/8+1), AI PM Counter Terrorist Sniper Rifle (13**/6/10), Steyr AUG Rifle (13*/4/30)
or SMG (10/4/32)
Nameless Crimson Tide Grunts
"Eat lead, punk!"
The majority of the Crimson Tide is a group of young Special Forces types: clean, sharp men (think The Rock or Clear and
Present Danger) with military-short haircuts. They are typically clad in Crimson Tide uniform or combat camouflage.
Attributes: Body 7, Chi 0, Mnd 5, Ref 8
Skills: Guns 9, Intrusion 9, Martial Arts 9
Weapons: Dagger (Str +1), Browning Hi-Power (10/2/13+1), M16 (13*/5/30) or H&K MP5 (10/3/30)
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