African NPCs

Antonieta Mandinga

Current president of Guinea-Bissau. A former military officer, he became convinced that he and his followers were destined to rule the nation when he erupted. In a bloody and spectacular coup they wiped out the weak democratic government (“for treason, aiding terrorism and crimes against humanity”) and instituted himself as ruler. The renewed civil war threatens to spill over into Guinea, especially after Mandinga announced his support for several rebel groups of Sierra Leone and Liberia.

Mandinga is a powerful telekinetic, and has apparently some hypersocial abilities.

Mfanasibili Hhohho

The source of the Mbane disaster. A ten year old boy who can convert matter to quantum energy, which he can use – but quantum beyond his capacity will become uncontrollable nuclear power. He is extremely invulnerable to most sources of damage. Whenever he becomes scared the air around him glitters with sparks – dust and air transforming into radiation. When he becomes truly frightened he goes nuclear and everything in the vicinity is destroyed.

Ramatulai Barro-Diene (“The Slasher of Dakar”)

Ramatulai erupted when her boyfriend tried to take their relation ”to the next level”. During the act she realized he was a demon, and black blades ripped out of her body to impale him. Horrified by the experience she fled to her family, but when the police arrived they were unwilling to protect her despite her desperate warnings about the demon. She was brought to the local police station where she realised other demons and satanic forces were waiting for her. She broke free and fled into the slums of Dakar.

Over time she has come to realise that God has given her a heavy duty: to see the demons amid people and be able to slay them. But the duty is far more than she can bear; seeing the evil around her is bad enough, but the horrific pain of her powers drives her mad. She wishes she was strong and did not shirk from her duty, but again and again Allah is forcing her to do his will against the evil that walks among men.

Ramatulai is wanted by the authorities for several murders. They officially claim there is no serial killer loose, but the rumours are already spreading about a female slasher killing anybody anytime. Fear is spreading, and soon the witchhunts will start. Meanwhile most people ignore the half-raving woman in ripped clothing begging on the street and praying for mercy.

Black Steel Blades: when threatened or close to a demon, long blades of metal erupt from Ramatulai’s flesh to impale and cut anybody near her (Immolate). Other powers include claws, mega-strength, mega-dexterity and mega-charisma: Mrs Nobody.

Aberrations: the blades cause terrible psychological pain, but does not actually rend her flesh (although that is only noticeable with a close examination). While her conscious mind is affected by the pain she can still fight perfectly. Delusions: some people are seen as demons that trigger her shift from dormancy.

Somalia

The Somali Patriotic Movement (Darod clan) has become central to much local politics and warfare after one member erupted as a nova. He controls water, a power of notable power in infrastructure-poor Somalia.

“Jawbone of Kinti”

Uganda’s only nova. An important national symbol; fortunately for the government the young man who erupted was both of a military mindset, serious and nationalistic. That he may not have any particularly useful powers is another matter. His main power is the formation of complex lattices of energy in the air on and around him, able to manipulate objects from afar, pick them apart and rejoin them. He is also able to perform extremely complex graph algorithms in his head, finding Hamilton cycles and shortest paths instantly.

Mchawi

Nova from Tanzania with manipulative and body control forces. Forced to escape from angry mobs accusing him of witchcraft, relocated to the US where he works for an unnamed company or organisation.

Mutitu Nyahururu, “Miliki”

Kenya’s only nova. Erupted when touched an ice cube, and froze his entire environment. He is flamboyant and quite happy to have been blessed with his powers – he displays them stylishly at every opportunity, gladly playing national hero. His egocentrism is actually quite charming. He is planning to start The Pan African Nova Congress on ENA lines. With himself on the top of course.

Many western novas underestimate him, which suits him fine. He may be playing the bumpkin african playboy, but he also knows how to leverage fame and media attention into serious projects.

Powers: cold control. Mutitu can freeze objects and people; summon drifts of snow and fog. Miliki can absorb entropy; he is best at heat, but can also erase information by sorting it in a computer or remove noise in signals.