Non-player characters

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“
You're that wee lass, works with the angry lady who's always screamin' at us while we fight.
— The RED Demoman to Miss Pauling
 ”

Non-player characters are those characters in the Team Fortress 2 setting which are not one of the nine playable classes. While most are uninvolved in gameplay (with the exception of the Administrator and the Ghost of Zepheniah Mann), they still add extra background to the Team Fortress 2 setting.

TF Industries and Subsidiaries

The Administrator

See Administrator.


Blutarch and Redmond Mann

“
I have mounted an epic campaign of leisure against the ravages of time. Waiting for nature to do to my brother what my men could not. And yet here we are at the end. And he...won't...DIE.
— Blutarch Mann discussing his war against his brother.
 ”

Blutarch Mann and Redmond Mann are the sons of Zepheniah Mann. They are the owners of BLU and RED, respectively. The two sons have been engaged a lifelong feud with each other over the control of the vast lands left to them by their father. After Zepheniah Mann's death, both Blutarch and Redmond hired a team of 9 mercenaries to quickly defeat the other sibling, taking control of his lands. As their forces were evenly matched, the situation quickly devolved into a protracted stalemate, leading both Blutarch and Redmond to look to Radigan Conagher for a life-extending machine, each brother hoping to outlive the other, as neither could win the battle by using brute force. Looking how Blutarch hasn't aged well, it is a good guess that Redmond would look almost the very same way.

  • Blutarch Mann, circa 1960.

  • Blutarch Mann in 1850.

  • Redmond Mann in 1850.

Trivia

  • A silhouette of (what appears to be) Redmond is seen sitting in a chair faced toward machinery (presumably the life-extender machine Radigan built) in an inaccessible part of the Red spawn room of the latest Halloween map, Mann Manor.
  • The image of Blutarch, with the electricity seeping from his eyes may be a reference to the 'Manly Angry Avatars' fad. The TF2 Community partook in the fad a few months ago and created some impressive images. These images were inspired by a number of Valve member's avatars at the time.
  • Manlyangry blutarch.png

    Blutarch after a shock to bring him back to life

  • Manlyangry heavy.png

    A 'Manly Angry' Heavy


Elizabeth

Elizabeth
“
Who I am does not concern you.
— Elizabeth's unknown relation
 ”

Elizabeth, whose last name is currently unknown, was Zepheniah Mann's hand servant. Upon his death, he left her the majority of his estate, including all of his deeds, accounts and debts. She is the first known ancestor of Helen to be involved in Administrating the RED and BLU teams.

Emily?

In the Loose Canon comic, a woman that bears a striking resemblance to Elizabeth convinced Radigan to construct two additional Life Extender Machines, not only the single one for Blutarch as originally requested. She bribed Radigan with Australium. It is unknown how she obtained one hundred pounds of the element. It is assumed that Elizabeth is her mother, although her name and ancestry are never revealed.

  • Original "printings" of the comic show Elizabeth as being named 'Emily', leading one to assume that this was the intended name of Elizabeth's daughter, with the two characters perhaps being confused by the letterer.


Miss Pauling

Miss Pauling
“
Oh, and Mr. DeGroot? Your friend's employers made him the same offer.
— Miss Pauling instigates the war between Tavish DeGroot & Jane Doe
 ”

Miss Pauling is a loyal assistant to the Administrator. She performs a number of duties including reporting unusual background checks, ordering and delivery of goods and opening communication channels. It was during a routine background check that Miss Pauling discovered the RED Demoman and BLU Soldier's friendship, which she then brought to the Administrator's attention. Miss Pauling generally complies with her employer's views for fear of incurring her wrath, even if she does not necessarily agree with them. When pressed by the Administrator on what exactly friends do, her reply was "Um. Go skating...look at gun catalogs....sometimes we just talk..." She insists the Administrator is "not so bad when you get to know her."

Under the Administrator's orders, she personally delivered a number of highly volatile custom-order Mann Co. weapons to the Soldier and Demoman in exchange for separately agreeing to kill one another.


Mr. Bidwell

Mr. Bidwell
“
Tears were brought to the eyes, sir. Your breakfast steak.
— Mr. Bidwell proving his culinary skills.
 ”

Mr. Bidwell is one of Saxton Hale's assistants, along with Mr. Reddy. His duties appear to include preparing Hale's meals (including breakfast steak), and dealing with customer feedback. Mr. Bidwell is the creator of the new-look Mann Co. Weapons Catalogue, liasing between the manufacturers of various products, and Mann Co. During his first appearance, Bidwell sported a handlebar mustache, however this was later shaved off.


Mr. Reddy

Mr. Reddy
“
You're now the sixth richest man in America, Mr. Hale.
— Mr. Reddy putting his accounting degree to good use.
 ”

Mr. Reddy is one of Saxton Hale's assistants, along with Mr. Bidwell. His duties appear to include dealing with Mann Co.'s accounts and taking Hale's calls. Under Hale's orders, Mr. Reddy sent the five richest men in America congratulatory bouquets and "You're a dead man" letters. During his first appearance, Reddy sported a thick box car mustache, however this was later shaved off.


Mysterious Individual

Mysterious Individual
“
This is the place.
— Mysterious Individual upon locating the BLU Soldier's apartment.
 ”

The Mysterious Individual is as the name suggests, a mysterious individual. He was shown locating the BLU Soldier's Apartment and delivering a message to him via a tv screen broadcasting the Administrator during the WAR! Update. He was hired by the Administrator to find the BLU Soldier and get him to turn against his friend, the RED Demoman, leading to the belief that he is a Spy for TF Industries.


Saxton Hale

See Saxton Hale.


Silas Mann

Silas Mann
See also Horseless Headless Horsemann.
“
R.I.P. SILAS MANN
— Silas Mann's not entirely accurate gravestone.
 ”

The presumed brother of Zepheniah Mann, Silas' history within the family is shrouded in mystery. What is known is that he was the co-owner of Zepheniah Mann & Sons. Quaterly Concern, the company that would eventually become Mann Co.. His contributions to the company appear to include keys and name tags. Following his brother's death, he too perished sometime shortly after, however death was not the end for Silas, as he now roams the earth as the Horseless Headless Horsemann.


RED and BLU Family Members

BLU Scout's Mother

The BLU Scout's Mother
“
BLU Scout: "What're you? President of his fan-club?"
BLU Spy: "No... that would be your mother!"
— The "BLU Scout" and the BLU Spy discuss the RED Spy's sexual liasions
 ”

The Scout's Mother is briefly mentioned and shown in Meet the Spy. She raised the Scout and his seven "mad-dog" brothers in South Boston and somehow, still managed to keep her figure. She is in a romantic relationship with the RED Spy, who lovingly calls her 'ma petite chou-fleur' (French, lit. 'My little cauliflower', although a more accurate English translation would be 'My sweetheart'), although sounding like 'ma petit chaud fleur'. The BLU Scout was apparently shocked to learn of this relationship, though his actual feelings on the matter are unknown as he was in fact the RED Spy disguised as the BLU Scout at the time. The Scout's Mom wears a classic late 60's style dress and hairstyle. In her photo appearance, she wears only blue clothing, so it could be assumed that the RED Scout's mother probably wears red in theme with her son's team color as well. Seven compromising photos of her and the RED Spy are kept in a top secret file labeled 'Scout's Mom' in the BLU base. She is notably the only female character yet to be modeled, assuming the Pyro is male. The Spy had a likeness of her engraved on the barrel of the Ambassador.


Mrs. DeGroot

Mrs. DeGroot
“
Yer da walked fifteen miles in the rain to blow up the Queen of England for a Nickel!
— Mrs. DeGroot on the family trade
 ”

The Demoman's Mother, Mrs. DeGroot, is a blind, elderly woman who reminisces constantly about the Demoman's late father. Even with her son's multi-million dollar salary and mansion, she still thinks he does not work hard enough, claiming that the Demoman's Father would be spinning in his grave at his idleness and had 26 jobs. She insisted on bringing up the Demoman Scottish, and does not like to see him "squandering his gifts."

She, along with the Demoman's father, collected the young Tavish from the Crypt Grammar School for Orphans, revealing themselves as his true parents. They explained that he was abandoned at birth until his skills manifested themselves, a longstanding, cruel, and wholly unnecessary tradition among the Highland Demolition Men.


Radigan Conagher

Radigan Conagher
“
"...Alright"
— Radigan Conagher on monster-building-requests
 ”

Radigan Conagher is the Grandfather of the Engineer. He was hired by Blutarch Mann to build a machine to extend his life past his brother's. He agrees to build the machine for Blutarch. Later on he is approached by a woman, who bears a similar appearance to that of The Administrator. She offers him Australium to build Blutarch's Machine, under the stipulation that he covertly builds an identical machine for Redmond as well.

Later on in the present day, the machine Radigan had built for Blutarch has broken down, so Blutarch gives the Engineer the plans for the machine to repair it. Along with the plans for the Life Extender Machine are Plans for Guns and Australium Map caches, and he commands the Engineer to only repair the Life Extender Machine, not to build anything else he finds. The Engineer is then seen in the last panel with a mischievous expression. Also in the last panel, there is a list of dates listing when and for whom he built a Life Extender machine on the front of its blueprints bundle. The recipient of a third such apparatus is obscured by the edge of the panel.

Radigan goes through a drastic transformation as shown in the hidden links of The Engineer Update. He seems to have grown taller, grown a moustache, gotten stronger,and has a fond thirst for beer. This matches the qualities of the sterotypical Australians in TF2. This may be due to his exposure with Australium. One could even say he looks like an older Saxton Hale.[1]. In the photographs displayed on the Engineer Update webpage, Conagher is also shown holding what seems to be the very first Southern Hospitality. Later on, it is shown that he replaced his left hand with a robotic arm. At that last stage you see his chest hair is in the shape of Texas. He also appears more "Australian" than before, with a big, bushy mustache and carrying a barrel of BLU streak beer. It should also be noted that he has chest hair in the shape of Texas (Just like Saxton Hale has chest hair in the shape of Australia). One of the Paint Can colors is named after Radigan, and is called "Radigan Conagher Brown"


Sniper's Parents

"Put mum on the phone!"
“
I'll be honest with ya: my parents do not care for it.
— The Sniper on being a sniper
 ”

The Sniper's parents were first mentioned in Meet the Sniper. The Sniper, being a dutiful son, makes sure to keep in touch with his parents via phone or mail to inquire about their well-being and keep them up to date with his latest adventures and exploits. Living in the Red House on the Left on Adelaide St. in Australia, the Sniper's parents do not approve of his occupation. The Sniper's dad is especially condemning, calling the Sniper a "crazed gunman," against the Sniper's insistence that he is an "assassin." In a bid to bring the arguments to an end, the Sniper wrote to his mom asking her to just tell his dad about how he makes more than a doctor. Then he decides to tell his mom to tell his dad that he is a doctor now.


Other Individuals

Charles Darling

Charles Darling
“
A hunter needs his trophies, Saxton. You of all people should understand that. You were my best student, once. Before you gave it all up, for her.
— Charles Darling on hunting.
 ”

Charles Darling is the former mentor of Mann Co. owner Saxton Hale. Formerly a hunter, Darling decided to give up a life of savagery for a more comfortable one of zookeeping. His and Hale's falling-out appeared to occur following Saxton's decision to abandon his training for 'her'. He is currently the owner and proprietor of Darling Zoos, whose collection of animals includes such rare species as pygny rabbits, quaggas, tasmanian wolves, dodos, giraffes and sea cows. He is also thought to be based off of the famed evolutionist Charles Darwin.


Gentle Manne of Leisure

The Gentle Manne of Leisure and his Companione
“
A-ha-ha! You are as PRESUMPTUOUS as you are POOR and IRISH. Tarnish notte the majesty of my TOWER of HATS.
— The Gentle Manne of Leisure observes the peasants around him
 ”

The Gentle Manne of Leisure is an English Victorian, who is rich enough to buy a tower of hats. He goes around and tells the peasants they are poor and Irish. He travels around the streets with his companion. The Gentle Manne of Leisure walks around with a tuxedo, a cane, and his most prized possession; his tower of hats. It is possible that he is referred to as "Sinclaire" by his Companion as they spectate their 'Hatless Commoners' Boxing.


Kicasso

Self-portrait of Kicasso
“
Say, uh... That ain't an original Kicasso, is it?
— Dell Conagher on Blutarch Mann's choice in art
 ”

A painter whose work is on display in the lobby of BLU's headquarters, and recognized by Dell Conagher. Went through a "Hunted in the Jungle" period of artwork. Most likely a reference to the obscure short movie by the same name, as well as a play on the name of the famous artist, Picasso. The Artwork is based on Picasso's 'Self-portrait with Cloak', painted during his blue period.


Poopy Joe

Poopy Joe - "Taken too soon"
“
I have no idea what you're - ooo, right. That poor monkey.
— Saxton Hale takes a moment to fondly remember the pioneering primate astronaut
 ”

Poopy Joe was a monkey astronaut who tragically died in an explosion before taking off, caused by Mann Co. in their unsuccessful attempt to rid themselves of weapons involved in a Senate investigation. Mann Co. takes no blame for his death and created commemorative plates that remember Poopy Joe and America's dream of conquering space. These plates were actually hints of the upcoming War! Update at the time, depicting the Eyelander, the Equalizer and the Buff Banner's bugle.


Shakespearicles

Shakespearicles, the strongest writer who ever lived

Shakespearicles was the strongest writer who ever lived. He was the inventor of the two-story building, the stage play, America and the Rocket Launcher. Despite his powerful grasp of language and the ability to bench press 700 British pounds, several inventions eluded his iron grip—most tragically among them, stairs.

For the next three hundred years, people who needed to get to the second floor used the only method available to them, which was rocket jumping. This persisted until 1857, when the young bearded inventor named President Abraham Lincoln invented stairs.


Trent and Jessica

Trent and Jessica
“
...and the bullets biodegrade once they hit flesh, leaving nothing behind but a blog post.
— Trent explaining Apple's advances in the Minigun market
 ”

Trent and Jessica are two young fellows (and, according to the Soldier, hippies) who work at the Apple store located just outside Dustbowl.

They offered items for sale to the RED Scout and Heavy, specifically a very small looking, yet identical headset for the Scout, and a white, black, and blue Minigun whose bullets add kills to the user's killcount on his blog. (If the user does not have a blog, the gun is programmed to create one.) They also managed to impress the RED Soldier by instantly cooking a pig with a device plugged through a firewire port. Jessica also explained Apple's newest product, the iBlewupthemoon, to Saxton Hale, impressing him and leading him to attempt to purchase the company and being turned down by a "Mysterious" figure that runs the store.


The Mann Co. Ape

The Mann Co. Ape
“
WIN A PRIZE! If you order now, you'll be automatically entered in a free givaway. An all-expenses paid trip, including first class airfare, and a limousine ride, will be given to a gorilla so he can come to your house and fight you!
— From the Mann-Conomy update page
 ”

The Mann Co. Ape appeared on the Mann-Conomy update page, at the bottom, with the words: "WIN A PRIZE! If you order now, you'll be automatically entered in a free givaway. An all-expenses paid trip, including first class airfare, and a limousine ride, will be given to a gorilla so he can come to your house and fight you!" next to it. At first, many readers assumed that there would be some kind of actual prize draw for the first players to buy items from the Mann Co. Store, however, nothing of the sort has been stated by Valve. The picture of the Ape on the update page also closes one of it's eyes when it is rolled over, making it look as if it is winking. Clicking on the image of the Ape would take the user to a framed image of the Ape.


Historical Figures

Presidents

Abraham Lincoln

Wikipedia article: Abraham Lincoln

In addition to being the nations 16th president, Abraham Lincoln was also the BLU team's first Pyro when the war began in the 1800's. Abraham Lincoln is noted for his love of Arena Mode as shown in the Sniper vs Spy update. According to the WAR! Update, he was the inventor of stairs. And according to the Engineer update, Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by John "Tower of Hats" Booth, although according to the Loose Canon comic, there were blueprints for three "life-extender machines" the last one apparently built on the day of Lincolns death. Whether or not the Abraham is still alive is open to debate.

Harry S. Truman

Wikipedia article: Harry S. Truman

Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States (1945–1953). As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice-president and the 34th Vice President of the United States, he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his historic fourth term.

Non-Presidents

Fred Astaire

Fred Astaire

Wikipedia article: Fred Astaire

Fred Astaire, born Frederick Austerlitz, was an American film and Broadway stage dancer, choreographer, singer and actor. His stage and subsequent film career spanned a total of 76 years, during which he made 31 musical films. He is particularly susceptible to projectile weapons fire.


John "Tower of Hats" Booth

John Booth

Wikipedia article: John Wilkes Booth

John "Tower of Hats" Booth was the assassin of beloved president Abraham Lincoln. His last known photograph depicts him wearing his eponymous tower of hats. A wanted poster of him was published after the assassination, including an altered photograph depicting what he may look like after adding Abraham Lincoln's fearsome hat to said tower.


Groups

Australians

Australians in the 1890's
“
Every one of mankind's innovations now comes from the lager-pickled brain of an Australian.
— The Administrator's ancestor on the moustache-sporting, beer-swilling, deathray-inventing Australians
 ”

Once thought of as nation of idiots, since 1850 Australians have become world leaders in technology, with every innovation including cloaking and teleportation, coming from the lager-loving nation. By the 1890's, Sydney had become a city of tomorrow, with flying cars, giant airships and self-grooming moustaches. Much like their national hero, Saxton Hale, every man, woman and child in the nation of Australia (with the exception of at least one) sports a glorious, full moustache. An ancestor of The Administrator theorised that the nation's incredible intelligence came from the rare element, Australium. This theory seemed to prove true, once the element amplified Radigan Conagher's intelligence to phenomenal levels, and also caused various Australian-related side effects. As a result of the Australium every man, woman and child has the ability to grow a moustache


BLU team (Original)

BLU, circa 1850
“
...I assembled a team of the world's deadliest mercenaries to take it all by force. What I did not expect was that my idiot brother would do the same.
— Blutarch Mann on the original BLU team
 ”

The original BLU team was assembled by Blutarch Mann in the 1850's in an attempt to claim all of the land bequeathed to him and his brother, Redmond, by their father. Unfortunately for Blutarch, it appears that the original RED team was assembled at the same time, leaving both siblings at a stalemate. The original team consisted of the same nine classes as the current organization. The Scout (Billy the Kid) took on the appearance of a young cowboy, complete with spurred boots. The Soldier (Stonewall Jackson) dressed like a member of the Confederate Army, utilising a rifle, rather than a Rocket Launcher. In keeping with tradition, the Demoman (Alfred Nobel) was a one-eyed dynamite-loving prospector. Unlike his modern Russian counterpart, the Heavy (John Henry) preferred to put his enemies out of commission with a monstrous sledgehammer, whilst the Sniper (Davy Crockett) partnered his trusty rifle with a coonskin cap. Prior to his appointment as President of the United States, the Pyro (Abraham Lincoln) used an experimental Flamethrower to aide his comrades in battle. BLU team's Medic (Sigmund Freud) appeared to retain his contemporary's love of the Bonesaw, whilst the team's Engineer (Nikola Tesla), was forced to make do with a satchel of blueprints, rather than a PDA. Finally, the Spy (Fu Manchu) eschewed a balaclava in favor of a domino-mask and equally-sinister moustache.


Zepheniah Mann and Company

From left to right: Barnabas Hale, Blutarch Mann, Zepheniah Mann, Mann's maidservant Elizabeth and Redmond Mann. A mysterious man is also seen just out of shot on the far right side. (First presumed to be Silas Mann, but later de-confirmed by the revised family portrait.)

Zepheniah Mann was a wealthy Englishman who was convinced by his dimwitted sons, BLUtarch and Redmond, to purchase large areas of land in frontier America. He dreamed of turning the land into large pits of gravel for weapons manufacturing. On his journey over to see his newly purchased land, he was struck with almost every illness known to man, and was shocked to find his new land was an empty and useless desert. Eventually, he left a Last Will and Testamenton his own skin, which had sloughed off his body due to illness:

  • To his maidservant Elizabeth, he left his estate, including all deeds, accounts and debts, his tobacco plantation and the remains of his fortune. Elizabeth bears a striking resemblance to Helen, the Administrator.
  • To his aide and tracker Barnabas Hale (ancestor of Saxton Hale) he left complete control of Mann & Sons Munitions Concern.
  • To his "brain defective" sons, Blutarch & Redmond, he left a partnership. All of the new land they had convinced him to buy was now to be split evenly between them, so they would now have a reason to bicker endlessly. Blutarch and Redmond are still alive using a "Life Extender Machine"
  • The final entry of his will is hidden, reading only as: "Lastly to... I leave the entirety of my.... and swear you to utmost secrecy in its keeping." The figure to whom it is directed is mysteriously obscured from the family portrait.
  • In addition to the entires within the will, it is clear that Zepheniah's brother, Silas Mann, was also present. He however, was only revealed to have been at the event following the uncovering of another damaged photograph.

His will also leaves a curse to anyone who should use firearms near his grave, stating that he will deliver a haunting unlike any ever seen. True to his word, the ghost of Zepheniah will appear periodically on the event version of Harvest where he is buried, wearing his Ghastly Gibus hat. Any players who stray too close will flee in fear for several seconds, unable to jump or attack, similar to being stunned by the Sandman. He was first mentioned in the Halloween Update, as well as the above Will. One of the Paint Can colors is named after Zepheniah Mann and is called Zephaniah's Greed



Other Valve Characters

Whitaker

The Advertisement depicting Whitaker wearing Ellis' Cap while showing off the frying pan
“
RED, BLU -- your money's all green here.
— Whitaker on the TF Industries War
 ”

Whitaker, a minor character in Left 4 Dead 2, wrote a blog update on the Offical Team Fortress 2 blog advertising the promotional Ellis' Cap and Frying Pan one can get from purchasing or previously owning Left 4 Dead 2. Based on his opening paragraph, he is Southern like the other Left 4 Dead 2 characters. It seems he is neutral towards the RED and BLU Corporations' feud, and also seems to know little-to-nothing about TF Industries other than "what he is told". It also appears that his existence is outside of Team Fortress 2's canonical storyline, as he refers to the war as an "infernal game called Team Fortress 2". However, this can be countered by the fact that he seems to be addressing the RED and BLU team members in the blog. Within Left 4 Dead 2, he is voiced by Dayton Callie.

  • This character has only been seen in the 10/06/10 TF2 Blog update as of yet, and may be non-canon. For more information unrelated to Team Fortress 2, refer here.

External links


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