• Species: ExoHuman
• Age: 53 years (born 2591 aboard the Last Frontier)
• Affiliation: Jane Mendoza Gang, former general store owner

Elke van Veldhoven was born aboard the Last Frontier to a German-Dutch family. Raised in relative comfort, Elke’s early years were marked by ambition and a growing sense of superiority. After landing on VOI 700 D, she opened a general store to supply settlers with essential goods. However, Elke’s greed led her to sell substandard and dangerous products. One such defective heater exploded, tragically killing several settlers. When her husband discovered her unethical practices and threatened to expose her, Elke murdered him during the Great War, blaming the Native Honga Tribe for his death.

Her disdain for the Natives intensified after the murder. Elke advocates for “human supremacy,” viewing the Natives as inherently inferior and believing they should serve as slaves to humanity. When the Federal Sheriff uncovered the truth about her husband’s death, Elke fled, abandoning her four children. Since then, she has been a prominent and ruthless figure within the Jane Mendoza Gang.

Job Title: Head of Smuggling and Black Market Operations

Responsibilities:

• Oversees all smuggling routes and black-market transactions for the gang, including trafficking of stolen goods
• Manages a vast network of contacts across the Habitual Belt and Dark Side, connecting with various outlaw tribes and intermediaries
• Strategically controls and monitors supply chains, ensuring high profits and secrecy
• Maintains dominance within her role despite losing the drug trade to Zhang Langley, waiting for an opportunity to regain influence

• Traits: Greedy, ruthless, power-hungry
• Behavior: Elke is highly calculating and driven by a desire for dominance and wealth. While composed in demeanor, she is capable of sudden violence when her power is threatened. Her strong belief in human supremacy influences her interactions, making her dismissive and manipulative toward those she deems inferior.
• Values: Elke’s disdain for the Federal Confederation and her deep-seated belief in humanity’s superiority over Natives drive her actions. Her loyalty to Jane Mendoza is secondary to her own ambition, but her operational expertise keeps her within the gang’s inner circle.

• Height: 1.72 meters
• Build: Slim yet muscular, with a refined, intimidating presence
• Appearance: Elke has sharp facial features, piercing blue eyes, and typically wears practical clothing for black-market dealings, though her attire retains an element of elegance. She bears the gang’s infrared tattoo on her right forearm, which is visible only under specific lighting.

Elke is adept at handling both close and ranged weapons, favoring practicality and efficiency in combat.

• Armor Class (AC): 14 (agility and light protective clothing)
• Hit Points (HP): 85

Actions:

• 1. Gun Crossbow: Elke uses the gun crossbow for medium-range precision, often targeting vital areas. | Damage: 1d8 + 4 piercing damage
• 2. Knife Slash: Elke keeps a concealed knife for close combat, ideal for swift and silent attacks.| Damage: 1d6 + 3 slashing damage
• 3. Stun Gun: Elke uses a compact stun gun for quick, disabling strikes when needing to capture or immobilize targets. | Effect: Target must succeed on a Constitution save or be stunned for 1 turn

Special Abilities:

• Master of Smuggling: Elke has perfected her craft, giving her advantage on all stealth and sleight-of-hand checks related to hiding or moving goods.
• Intimidating Demeanor: Elke’s cold reputation and sharp gaze can instill fear, causing opponents within 10 feet to make a Wisdom save or suffer disadvantage on their next action.

Elke is driven by a desire for control and wealth, her actions often reflecting a ruthless quest for power. Her belief in “human supremacy” justifies her manipulation and disregard for ethical boundaries. She resents Zhang Langley for overtaking her role in the gang’s drug trade, and she is determined to reclaim her former influence. Ultimately, Elke seeks to solidify her place as a powerful figure within the Jane Mendoza Gang, even if it means challenging others in the inner circle.

Elke van Veldhoven is a manipulative and calculating character, skilled in smuggling and black-market operations. In combat, she prefers to exploit her surroundings and maintain distance from direct confrontation, relying on her Gun Crossbow and Stun Gun for precision strikes. Her Intimidating Demeanor can disrupt player focus and weaken their resolve, while her Master of Smuggling ability makes her a formidable foe in environments where stealth and hidden caches are involved. Her complex personality, fueled by greed and superiority, provides rich narrative opportunities for power struggles within the gang.

The exohuman society and subcultures in the Gamma Age