Harsh Realm Virtual Season -- Characters


Thomas F. Hobbes (Scott Bairstow) Rank : Lieutenant Personal Connections : Katherine Hobbes (mother), Sophie Anne Green (fiancee), Michael Pinocchio (associate), Florence (associate), Mel Waters (former fellow soldier), Inga Fossa (associate), Gretchen Molry (associate), Ruby (associate), Theresa Hobbes (sister) History : In 1995, Hobbes was sent as part of a UN peacekeeping force during the uprisings in Bosnia and Herzogovinia. At that time, his fellow soldier and comrade Mel Waters was wounded just as a bombing mission was underway. Ignoring his CO, he located Waters and helped him to survive. For this he was given a medal for extreme bravery and resourcefulness. In 1999, just before he was to be given an honorable discharge and marry his love Sophie, he was asked to perform one last mission - take out Sergeant Major Omar Santiago in a Defense Department virtual reality game called Harsh Realm. Upon entering Harsh Realm, Tom Hobbes found himself revered as a savior to the people oppressed by Santiago's totalitarian regime. Joined by a hunted renegade named Michael Pinocchio and a mute healer named Florence, he has led a crusade to end the empire that has swept across the digital world. And yet - all he wishes is to return to his fiancee in the Real World.	Michael "Mike" Pinocchio (D.B. Sweeney) Rank : Corporal Personal Connections : Tom Hobbes (associate), Florence (associate), Inga Fossa (ex-wife), Omar Santiago (former commanding officer), John Cabot (associate and former fellow soldier) History : Mike Pinocchio first experienced the brutalities of war when he was involved in Desert Storm in the late 80s. Seven men were killed when a cowardly soldier named Scott Sommers abandoned post. Years later, he stepped on a mine and suffered serious burns on a mission in Yugoslavia, and also lost a leg. Disillusioned by this, he readily accepted the offer to enter Harsh Realm. Like most of the soldiers sent in, he turned on his orders and joined Santiago. But after being sickened with the cruelness of Santiago's tactics, he faked his own death and deserted the Republican Army. He wandered for years until meeting up with Tom Hobbes. He and his associate Florence joined Hobbes, and he is now once again one of the most wanted men in Harsh Realm.

Florence (Rachel Hayward) Rank: None (civilian) Personal Connections : The Sisterhood (ex-member of), Mike Pinocchio (associate), Tom Hobbes (associate), Dorothy (associate) Ruby (creator) History : One of the many virtual characters programmed into Harsh Realm, she, along with many other women, was given the gift of a healing touch by a programmer named Ruby. After many years in the Sisterhood of healers, she realizes that pacifism would not last long without someone to defend it. Laying her faith down and taking up a gun, she joined Mike Pinocchio and later Tom Hobbes to overthrow the dictatorship of Omar Santiago and bring peace to a world that never knew it.	Omar Santiago (Terry O'Quinn) Rank : Sergeant Major (Real World), Lord of the Realm (Harsh Realm) Personal Connections : Mel Waters (commanding officer of), Inga Fossa (associate and sometimes lover) History : Leading multiple expeditions in the Vietnam War, Santiago was known for his ruthlessness and resourcefulness. For this he was given numerous medals. His reputation finally got him in the position of being one of the first players to be sent into Harsh Realm. Upon entering, he quickly defeated the program's VC opponent, Alexander. Instead of coming back to the Real World to claim his title, he instead stayed in the game, seizing control of both the program and the digital world and assuming the title of Lord of the Realm. He established the Republic of Santiago, capital located in Santiago City, as well as a huge army called the Republican Guard. He is unwilling to be defeated, and believes himself to be recreating the ideal country, a better version of the United States of America in which he reigns supreme. And yet he too is under threat by a small band of freedom fighters led by Tom Hobbes.

Melvin Waters (Max Martini) Rank : Major (Harsh Realm) Personal Connections : Tom Hobbes (fellow soldier), Mike Pinocchio (former superior), Inga Fossa (lover), Omar Santiago (superior) History : He and Tom Hobbes fought as part of the UN task force in Yugoslavia where he was wounded by a young boy and then rescued by Hobbes. He remained good friends with Hobbes for a while after that, and at one time dated Sophie before Hobbes showed interest in her. Then he disappeared. In actuality, he too had been chosen to join the fight in Harsh Realm against Santiago, but like so many soldiers he instead joined the rogue soldier's regime in the digital world. His superior was Mike Pinocchio, until Pinocchio turned on Santiago and left, upon which Waters assumed Pinocchio's title as one of Santiago's most trusted advisors. He was often seen with Inga Fossa; the two had a love affair and also some secret plans of their own for both sides of the conflict.	Inga Fossa (Sarah Jane-Redmond) Rank : None (civilian) Personal Connections : Santiago (lover), Waters (lover), Mike Pinocchio (ex-husband in Harsh Realm), Tom Hobbes (associate) History : A mysterious figure once operating on numerous levels of power, she appeared to be playing both sides in Harsh Realm against each other for her own personal gain. What exactly her plans were is subject to speculation. Not only has she urged Sophie Green to seek the truth about her missing fiancee Hobbes, she has also covered up this truth, boosted Hobbes' motivation to kill Santiago, and also appears to still have feelings for ex-husband Mike Pinocchio. But her emotions often took a backseat to her own ambition and shadowy plots. She died during a sweeping plague that wiped out thousands when Santiago used it to seize territory in Harsh Realm.

Sophie Anne Green (Samantha Mathis) Rank: None (civilian) Personal Connections : Tom Hobbes (fiancee), Inga Fossa (associate), John Donovan (associate), Faith Hobbes (mother), Sarah Green (sister), Sam Green (brother), Elizabeth (sister), Faith Hobbes (daughter) History : Sophie's fiancee Tom Hobbes mysteriously disappeared only weeks before the couple was supposed to have been married. Tearfully, Sophie believed the Army's official answer that Tom was dead until a mysterious woman named Inga Fossa appeared before her to tell her she was being lied to. Fueled by the knowledge that countless soldiers had disappeared under the same circumstances, she is seeking the truth surrounding the official lies given to her. Threatened by a shadowy organization, she nonetheless perseveres in seeing once again the father of her child.	Dexter (Vinnie) Rank: None Personal Connections: Tom Hobbes (owner, Harsh Realm), Mike Pinocchio (associate), Florence (associate), Sophie Green (owner, real world) History: A Jack Russell terrier, Dexter lives happily with Sophie in the real world. In Harsh Realm, Dexter hid under the bed, waiting for Hobbes to come for him. While Pinocchio occasionally thinks Dexter might make a tasty treat, the dog is a valuable member of the team.