This is a character sheet containing relevant tropes to most of the Poolboys. Anyone is free to add or remove tropes or add in their own characters as they wish. Please place tropes relevant to the RP as a whole in the Far Recon page.
Special Task Force Alpha-354 "Poolboys"
The Star Squad and protagonists of the show. Consisting of personnel from across the globe shipped off to Northern Canada, the Poolboys don't fuck around when it comes to dealing with the Red Pool, and while they may not always get along, once they're on the job, they're all business.
- Anti-Hero: Type IV, with some Type III mixed in. The Poolboys are very willing to do extreme actions in order to achieve a goal or destroy the connection between the alternative dimension and their home universe…
- Anti-Villain: …But often times this can cross into What The Hell Hero?, Kick The Dog, and Moral Event Horizon territory. But in the end, it's not personal. The Poolboys themselves are mix between Type II and Type III.
- Badass Crew: It comes with the territory of being an elite Keter task force.
- Badass Normal: A trait resulting from the prohibition of any anomalous Player Characters.
- Band of Brothers
- Combat Pragmatist
- Dangerously Genre Savvy: It's generally a trait that increases a Poolboy's survivability by at least 27.8%
- Destructive Saviors: Oh boy. It's very difficult to count the amount of property damage (both in and out of the Pool), destroyed submarines, and destroyed equipment the Poolboys keep on causing. One could quite possibly buy a small country with the cost to replace/rebuilt such things.
- Determinator: A trait necessary in order to plow through the trials and the crap the Pool throws at them so they can do their jobs.
- Fire-Forged Friends: Through constant trials both during Pool dives and in incidents that happen around Area-354, it's hard not to form bonds thicker than blood.
- Good is Not Nice
- Mildly Military: Although the Foundation isn't exactly a military organization, most of this trope's existence in the RP is due to the fact that most of the players are not part of the military. To be fair, the extremely varied situations the Pool throws at them and the inability for the Foundation to know what the Poolboys are getting themselves into means that there are some situations where traditional military behavior can be detrimental.
- Must Have Caffeine: Most personnel of Area-354 are reliant, if not dependant, on the drug to get through their day. It's implied that the entire Foundation runs on coffee.
- New Meat: But eventually, newbies become accepted as another Poolboy. Or possibly die, face a fate worse than death, go crazy…The Pool is not kind to the inexperienced.
- Punch Clock Hero/[http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/PunchClockVillain Punch Clock Villain: Being a Poolboy isn't exactly something you'd take to be a hero and save humanity. Poolboys are given great financial benefits, assuming you live long enough to enjoy them.
- Ragtag Bunch of Misfits: Sometimes coined as this, and the Poolboys oftentimes style themselves as this, although technically they are not, being an elite Keter task force.
- Sociopathic Hero: True for some of the Poolboys, and was Discussed and somewhat Deconstructed between Taggart and Chloe, especially on how the Pool forces them to be like this and how easy it is to become one.
Espionage
The spooks and sneaks of the show. In charge of all things intelligence-related, these people take the mantra, "Knowledge is Power" seriously.
Alicia 'Stoat' Thorne
Stoat's an iconic loner and can't cope at all with social situations, but when she decides she does know how to deal with something, she deals with it extremely well. She's mentally scarred from going through all hell from being at the Pool for years, and she's nearly impossible to get to know.
- Action Girl
- Badass
- Broken Bird
- Dark and Troubled Past
- Defrosting Ice Queen:
- Heroic BSOD: When Loren told Stoat about meeting Halim, Nolan and Murphy.
- Not-So Stoic
- Only Known by Their Nickname: Nobody calls Stoat 'Alicia'.
- The Woobie: Let's see: Her first Love Interest tries to murder Nolan and ends up D-Classed. Then her next Love Interest Halim Sinada ends up Heroically Sacrificing himself during Red Pool Prison Blues, in which she was not there to witness. Her other Love Interest Charon, who was buried alive when Area-354 was destroyed during The Big One and eventually died in a coma. As the second most senior Poolboy, she also had to watch as her teammates and friends were one by one were killed during Pool dives, and witnessed the entire site and most of its personnel die while she lived on. Her pain finally culminates with discovering from an injured Loren that she and the others had met and talked with a dead Halim, Nolan and Murphy, who told Loren and the other Poolboys to relay the message that they both missed her. It was the straw that broke the camel's back.
Jiyeon 'Chloë' Song
An aloof Korean woman and Mobile Task Force Operative who works in Espionage. She is cold and professional, but to those who she is more familiar with, she's a lot warmer and shows her kinder side. Outside the wire, she is quick to resort to violence, often at the cost of obtaining valuable intelligence, or questionably moral choices. Although
- Aloof Dark-Haired Girl: Although of average height, Chloe IS quite aloof and (obviously) has long, dark hair.
- Asian And Nerdy: Loves to play video games.
- Character Development: Chloe starts out blunt and antisocial, with elements of Death Seeker. However, being friends with Loren, surviving through several Pool dives and a reprimand from Command has made her more level-headed, and kinder to her peers.
- Comically Serious
- Dark Action Girl:
- Deadpan Snarker: More on the 'deadpan' than the snarker. Either way, Chloe's humor tends to be very dry.
- Defrosting Ice Queen: Over time she has defrosted a bit, though only time will tell how much.
- I Did What I Had To Do: Her most-used reason that she uses to justify her excessively violent actions.
- Jerk With A Heart Of Gold:
- Lady Of War:
- Machete Mayhem: Her main melee weapon, though for the last few months it's been downplayed.
- Not-So Stoic:
- Only Known By Their Nickname: Is never referred to as "Jiyeon".
- Ship Tease: With Taggart. Platonic Life Partners, Just Friends, or two people who tend to talk about their pain? The only thing confirmed is that there's nothing romantic between them.
- Sugar and Ice Personality: On the outside, she is cold, aloof and professional in demeanor, but around people she feels comfortable with, she opens up and is is both sincere, kind and reveals her dry sense of humor.
- Undying Loyalty:
- What Could Have Been: Chloe and Loren could have become an Official Couple, but it was overruled due to OOC reasons.
- Well Intentioned Extremist
- Would Hurt A Child: Executed a boy who had just lost his mother and sister after he begged to die.
Rick Caiaphas
- Meaningful Name: Rick is name is a reference to commissar Caiaphas Cain, a character who wears a great coat all the time and considers acting like a hero to be really important. However, he is also named after Caiaphas, the high priest who lead the plot that lead to Jesus's death. While the former references
Medical
The guys that fix everyone up so that they can get their asses back into the Pool in no time. Armed with the best equipment and doctors the Foundation can scrounge up, they can practically patch up any injury the Poolboys end up with.
Ralph Bushnell
Ralph is a dedicated medic who tries to have a quirky sense of humor. Although he's lived most of his life in solitude until he came to 354, he now happily shares his life with Eriko Ishikawa. He has no other relatives save for his annoying older brother, Perry. His favorite food is apples.
- Happily Married: With Eriko Ishikawa
- Noodle Person
- Sickening Sweethearts: Again, with Eriko Ishikawa
- Sloth
- Trademark Favorite Food: Apples
- The Medic
June Saro
A caring, if slightly unstable, doctor who had little social experience growing up. She lived a life of relative ease back in South Africa, what with the enormous amounts of money her family had accumulated in England. Was reassigned from the site.
- Bad Liar
- Berserk Button: Hurt friends.
- The Berserker: Formerly, before a talk about such behavior.
- Braids of Action
- Can't Hold Her Liquor: If she ever gets a drink on-site.
- Chronic Hero Syndrome: Quote on the page sums it up. "Some doctors have the Messiah Complex - they need to save the world."
- Conditioned to Accept Horror: Inverted.
- Daddy's Girl
- Good is not Soft
- Guilt Complex
- Hates Being Alone
- Hard Drinking Party Girl: What she becomes after the first drink.
- In Love with Love: June wants to be in a serious relationship with someone before the pool manages to kill her.
- Leeroy Jenkins: Again, formerly.
- Loners are Freaks: Assumed of her back in her childhood.
- Mad Doctor: Being on the other end of a serious fight with June can end poorly, especially if you hurt a friend during that fight. The Hippocratic Oath means nothing to her.
- Pay Evil Unto Evil: Point June at the bad guys, and you can be sure they'll feel more pain than is probably necessary, and end up missing important bits. She's not a fan of the whole "mercy" thing, typically.
- Put On a Bus: Transferred to parts unknown after "failing to adapt"
- Sacrificed Basic Skill for Awesome Training: Social skills for medicine.
- Sanity Slippage: Prone to such in stressful situations.
- Why Did It Have to Be Snakes?: Squirrels and kids.
Security
The guys with the big guns, their job is to keep everyone safe with Superior Firepower and More Dakka.
Jack Taggart
The archetypal experienced infantry man. A serious, but not uptight former soldier and longest-lasting Poolboy of the task force. When he's around, he's usually seen as The Leader, if only due to his experience with dealing with whatever the Red Pool throws at them. Has seen a lot of shit but determined not to let it get to him. Can always be counted on to come out alive, and has had more Crowning Moments of Awesome than literally anyone else. (Although Halim makes it kind of a toss up) Hard on the outside but cares at least a little on the inside.
- Action Hero
- Awesome Aussie: Australian? Check. Has points in survival? Check. Is Badass? Definately.
- Badass
- Badass Abnormal: Briefly in the Mutaint run, where he had a sniper rifle in replace for his left arm, and an exaggerated cowboy outfit.
- Beserk Button: Do not touch Devlin's locket.
- Born Lucky: Like Rincewind, Taggart has experienced an inordinate amount of luck, especially considering the situations he's been through. On the long run, the fact that he is still unmaimed, with limbs still attached, is proof that the dice have clearly been in his favor.
- Broken Bird: See Iron Woobie
- Crippling Overspecialization: Is a crack shot and known for being a crack shot, and can throw decently, but put him in a hand-to-hand fight and he won't be able to defend himself.
- Dark and Troubled Past: His experiences in East Timor had spooked him, which was implied in a conversation with Chloe and outright stated in his character sheet.
Chloe: "Taggart, we're so fucked in the head. It's practically comical."
Taggart: ""Yeah, but I was probably fucked before I got here."
- Determinator: He doesn't let little things like odds get in his way.
- Dead Alternative Counterpart: In the Third Anomalous Transmission.
- Fatal Flaw: Loyalty, which results in emotion over taking common sense, thus resulting in nonsensical actions that obstruct other people. Pride can also lead Taggart to make unwise decisions resulting in injury, or more tragically, the injury and death of others.
- The Gunslinger
- Hurting Hero
- Informed Flaw: Pride, somewhat. Character Development has reduced to flaw somewhat.
- I Need A Freaking Drink: Usually takes the form of drinking coffee, due to the current restrictions on alcohol in Area-354.
- I Just Blew Up Murphy In The Face: During the Killxcavator incident.
- Iron Woobie: Despite the pain of losing friends through-out dozens of Pool dive missions, losing Devlin and Katrin, the loss of the original Area-354, being forced to Mercy Kill Nolan, and accidentally killing Murphy, Taggart still manages to keep it together. However, a recent conversation with Chloe has revealed that Taggart cannot deal with his grief in a healthy manner, so only time will tell if he retains his stoic, cool exterior, or if he completely loses it
- It's All My Fault: Usually happening when a course of action he suggested ends up Gone Horribly Wrong.
- Jerk With A Heart of Gold: Generally is stoic and unemotive, and looks down on New Meat, but is dependable, loyal and kindhearted.
- Like Brother and Sister: With Lily
- Nice Job Breaking It Hero: Although many of the Poolboys look up to him for leadership due to his extensive experience, Taggart isn't always right and sometimes makes mistakes that complicate the situation or injure his teammates.
- Noodle Person: Described as tall and lean.
- Not-So Stoic: Although usually laconic and level headed, his loyalty can break the facade and result in emotional and violent reactions from him.
- Power Trio: THE JUSTICE BROS, consisting of Taggart, Duncan and Greg.
- Ship Tease: With Chloe. Platonic Life Partners, Just Friends, or two people who tend to talk about their pain? The only thing confirmed is that there's nothing romantic between them.
- Tragic Keepsafe: Devlin's Locket. Carries a photo of Devlin and a sketch of Taggart and herself.
- Undying Loyalty: Discussed for Laughs during a conversation with a sleep-deprived Chloe.
- Vague Age: Word of God states he's somewhere between 26 and 30, leaning more towards 30 than 26.
- Weapon of Choice: His M14 rifle. Once upon a time, a Jungle Carbine.
Lily MacDonald
- Action Girl
- Beneath The Mask: Underneath the happy, silly exterior is a battle hardened veteran who will not hesitate on the trigger. Ever.
- Beware The Silly Ones: Helped take down the cyber t-rex by hopping eagerly onto the back of a mechanical rocket horse. Quoted Star Wars the whole time.
- Canadian Accents
- Cool Big Sis
- Fiery Redhead
- Gratuitous French: Swears in French so the others won't know what she's saying.
- Like Brother and Sister: With Taggart.
- Put On A Bus
- Squee: Her usual reaction to the more Ugly Cute pool creatures they encounter.
Research & Development
The place where all the science happens. These researchers are responsible for everything that the Poolboys might end up dragging back with them, along with whatever the Pool spits out
Eriko Ishikawa
Eriko's been making a slow transition from naive scientist to being more capable, and she is the official site pyromaniac. Still holds on to Japanese customs at least a little bit, and determined not to lose face in front of her colleagues.
- Break the Cutie
- Happily Married: With Ralph Bushnell.
- Japanese Politeness
- Kill It With Fire
- Moe
- Moral Event Horizon: Commiting genocide on an entire race of tree-people. To be fair, she was compelled by the voices of the ghosts of the children the tree-people killed to act.
- Naive Everyday Girl: But not for long…
- Not So Stoic: Has lost her cool several times
- Took A Level In Badass
- Pyro Maniac: Likes to use thermite a lot. Like, a lot.
- What You Are In The Dark:
- Yamato Nadeshiko
Maintenance
Elif Hülya
Elif tends to take a bit to warm up, but once she does, a whole other side comes out. To the people that know her best she's sparky, competitive, cocky, tough, and a tad immature at times. Though this facade is sometimes more useful as a wall than an icebreaker.
- Closet Case - Though not apt to admit it, she prefers to keep quiet about her sexuality to help her fit in better. She tends to have a skewed perspective based on past experiences that people tend to treat homosexuals negatively.
- Competition Freak - Always ready for a challenger so that she can gloat over a victory, but tends to be a sore loser when defeated.
- The Engineer - She knows her role as a "wrench swinger" and fills it.
- Gross Cuisine - Elif loves the obscure/rural cuisine from her motherland. As unappetizing as it is, she's always willing to go in for seconds.
- I Am Not Pretty - Elif doesn't accept that she is good looking and prefers to make up for it in individuality.
- The Lad-ette - Just one of the boys.
- Passionate Sports Girl - Likes all things sports.
- The Prankster - It's rare that she'll turn down an easy target for a cheap laugh.
- Sand in My Eyes - Prefers to cry alone once her toughness has been sufficiently broken down.
- Tomboy - She doesn't like the girly girl stuff.
- Wrench Wench - She feels most comfortable with a heavy wrench in hand turning nuts and bolts.