Repo

  "House has been ransacked, but I found something everybody else missed. There's a shelter door peeking out from under an overturned tractor out behind the house. My guess is that a tornado or earthquake after the Boom dropped the tractor on top of the shelter door and the people inside--if there were any--got trapped. Not likely they're still alive down there, but they probably hung on until the food ran out. Still, there might be some supplies or ammo down there worth a look. Shelter door looks pretty standard, so I'm sure I can get us inside if we can pull that tractor out of the way."--Bobby Morello, Repo

Most of the houses, stores, factories, and other buildings in the Boomlands with nobody left to defend them were picked clean long ago, but there are still some unexplored structures in remote locations. Additionally, previously unreachable locations and areas occasionally become accessible thanks to restored bridges and roads, shifting or receding fallout patterns, or terrain changes brought on by the aftershocks that still shake the Boomlands from time to time. Repos are the modern-day tomb raiders who specialize in accessing, exploring, and looting such unlspoiled treasure troves. Since most repos didn't become breaking and entering experts through honest labor, they're often the first convoy member people look to whenever a plan requires stealth, subterfuge, or dirty tricks.

Career

Qualifications

A repo's most important skill is the ability to access and explore long-abandoned structures without ending up trapped, crushed, poisoned, or otherwise dead. This requires a combination of athletic ability, resourcefuness, and situational awareness. While some repos are skilled at picking locks or even cracking safes, just as many rely on less refined methods of entry involving crowbars, hammers, and other brute force tools. In additional be being alert to the many potential dangers they might encounter when exploring, repos need to have good judgement about what's worth taking and what should be left behind, especially when there's only time for one foray into a potential treasure trove.

Perception

Social Status

Since most repos are former criminals, their status within a camp usually depends on how much others belief that they've turned a new leaf and only use their illicit skills for the good of the camp. Some campmates will never trust them, but most will (eventually) accept them as long as they don't steal from, cheal, or lie to other people in the camp. Repos who everyone knows obtained their skills through "honest" training don't have to overcome this stigma.

Demographics

While some repos earned their skill through mostly honest labor--as locksmiths, commandos, private detectives, investigative reporters, or even the repo men who they take their name from--most were at least part-time criminals before the Boom. Younger repos are often recruited from the ranks of camp kids who have a habit of ending up in places where they shouldn't be.

Operations

Tools

Most repos carry a bag or backpack containing their tools, which can include everything from everyday tools to specialized lockpick sets and safecracking gear. Typical contents include a flashlight, crowbar, some rope, and a selection of screwdrivers, pliers, and other hand tools. Those who often venture into locations that have temporarily or recently become accessible due to shifting fallout carry geiger counters when possible.

Provided Services

A repo's skills aren't very helpful to most camps, so they tend to end up on unskilled work details when in camp unless they have other useful skills or manage to set themselves up as a security advisor who assists with camp defenses.

Alternative Names

Archaeologist, Looter, Quartermaster, Prowler, Recovery Specialist, Scavenger, Scrounger, Thief, Yegg