I use Crazy Charlie as one of parties’ regular contacts. Being mad and a street bum, I am able to give the players a go between with which I can give as little or as much information as I wish. I also find Crazy Charlie is useful as a way of getting the party back on track, if they have missed a vital clue, or they have misunderstood something.

Crazy Charlie or Crazy as he gets referred to, is a man of indistinguishable age, but suggestions between 50 and 70 would be a reasonable guess. He is a local bum in the district in which the party sets up its home base, and is always seen in the same clothes; a ruined gray overcoat, old Army fatigue pants, and muddy finger-less gloves. Depending on the weather he also appears in a grease covered woolen hat. All of this makes him look pretty unwholesome although he usually smells worse than he looks. Friendly enough to the locals he has attached himself to the party as he has seen them as a group of people he can trust. He can usually be found scavenging in dumpsters and after-hours at fast food restaurants, and never looks underfed. Crazy never complains about his lot in life, and seems almost happy in his current situation, refusing shelter, or any other major acts of sympathy. He also never talks about his past, even if pressed and also refuses to say where he gets all his information. "’Cause then they wouldn’t tell me no more" *wink*. He is quick with a toothy grin, and is always willing to help with small tasks he sees as necessary, but makes sure that he remains inconspicuous, as though be is being followed.

Most importantly though is the fact that he is mad. This manifests itself in many different forms, which usually includes him continuously talking to himself about fantastical things, such as aliens, and monsters from the sewer. He also has the tendency to talk as if he was present in places and at times he couldn’t possibly have been. "We told Mr. Kennedy that he should duck", or "The Earth sure looked pretty from that Crater." He isn’t however dangerous in any way, well not to his friends anyway.

But that is Super Duper Grade Information

That is what Crazy is good at, information. He often gives the party clues and suggestions that aid them in their investigations, but just as often mislead them and has more than once lead them into deep trouble. Although in general Crazy is the one who has access to facts which a normal man, let alone a street bum, wouldn’t know. His typical babble is usually disjointed and muddled, especially when passing on any important information, for example if he was to tell the group a code the conversation may go like this:

"You know anything about the New Research Lab on the corner of 65 and Main, Charlie."

"Oh, that old Carrington Research Lab… I remember once when…"

"We need to get inside Crazy."

"Ah …sorry I mean 668, or was that 669, no definately 668, that’s the back door."

Motivations

Crazy is motivated by the need to make sure that everything is okay, and in the back of his mind doesn’t want others make the same mistakes that he did in his youth. Neither does he ask for any sort of reward for his information, but doesn’t turn down any payment for his advice.

Jack of Hearts: Although he is not quite ‘with it’, Crazy is very wise, and knows a lot more than he is willing to let on.

Eight of Spades: Crazy is quite ambitions, although not for himself but for others, be would never let a friend down.

Crazy is the equivalent of a Veteran NPC but has a few minor changes. Initiative and Agility are at one point lower than Veteran, and in general all his skills are a one point higher. He also has other skills – Streetwise 7, Observation 6, Stealth 6, Act/Bluff 6, Persuasion 6 and Luck 5. One optional skill I was thinking about adding is Instruction 5, but it depends on how Crazy is used in the campaign.