Jake Kesey from 'The Wraith' (1986)

  “An evil force took his life, an unearthly power has brought him back, he is a phantom, a wraith, a cosmic spirit given another chance”

The Wraith is one of those odd movies which chooses an interesting premise and never fully explains elements of that premise. In the movie, the main hero is killed before the opening of the film, and it is his ghost/spirit/wraith that returns to not only seek vengeance but to get the love of life back, say goodbye to his brother, and return to parts unknown. It’s a different sort of horror film, and one that I had hope to cover last year.

Two things about The Wraith stand out – the very 1980s feel of the film (and cool soundtrack) and the car….the car is as much of a character as any of the others, and it certainly is both the tool of Jake Kesey’s revenge as well as the visual key of the movie. 

Jake Kesey

Jaime Hankins/Jake Kesey

F: Ex (20)

A: Ex (20)

S:  Gd (10)

E:  Rm (30)

R: Typ (06)

I:  Rm (30)

P: Rm (30)

Health: 80

Karma: 66

Resources: N/A in the traditional sense

Popularity:  5 (within his home area as Jaimie Hankins), - 10 as the Wraith (For law enforcement)

Talents:

Jake Kesey had several talents in his previous life that he maintains:

Auto-mechanics

Pilot: Street Racing

Pilot: Motocycle

Area Knowledge: Brooks Arizona

In addition, Kesey has gained the following abilities:

Combat Driving

Firearms

Mystic Origin*

 Powers:

Spirit of Vengeance:

Since Hankin/Kesey’s return from death, he has acted as a spirit of vengeance against his direct murderers. Although most of the time appearing as Kesey, when the Wraith chooses to act he appears in a black clad armored suit, surrounded by trauma braces and wearing a black featureless helmet. The Wraith also armed with a modified shotgun which seems to have unlimited rounds and can do Ex (20) shooting damage in a one area range (Rm (30) to materials).  In addition, the Wraith has the following abilities:

• Self-Revival: The Wraith will always appear to die in a fiery accident either crashing into one of his murderers or drawing them to a location and running through it. The accident will completely destroy the Wraith’s vehicle and in many cases himself….only to reform 1-4 rounds later completely unharmed and able to act. The Wraith seems to be able to reform himself and his car in the state that they were prior to the accident with no sign that they were ever in such an event.
• Justice of the Damned: The Wraith always knows where his targets are, possessing Telelocation specifically tied to those who were responsible directlty for his death. The Wraith will often silently give opportunity to the murderers to ‘race’ him, which results in their deaths, or the Wraith will antagonize his murderers with actions which would draw them out (such as destroying their clubhouse). As the wraith is destroyed each time he strikes, the murderer is also killed. The Murderer’s body is found always unharmed and naked, cool to the touch, and missing their eyes. All four of Jaimie Hankin’s murderers are found this way despite being caught in terrible explosions and/or massive accidents.
• Immunity: The Wraith is a spirit of vengeance, although he does seem to eat and breathe. Whether the Wraith is indeed immune to disease, toxins, etc. is up to the Judge and personal interpretation.

Contacts:

Jaimie Hankins had many contacts around Brooks, Arizona, including his girlfriend Keri and his younger brother Billy.  The Jake Kesey identity has no contacts, although by the end of the film he would be able to say that he had regained his former contacts.

Limitations:

• Need for Vengeance: The Wraith’s purposes in returning was to get revenge on his murderers. The Wraith is dedicated to that purpose and will stop at nothing to see justice done, although he is careful about it.  
• Secret Identity: The Wraith maintains a new identity of Jake Kesey, either due to the fact in his own words ‘This is as close as to who I can be to who I was’ or to ensure his actions are not immediately detected.
• Enemy: Packard Walsh and gang: The Wraith has several enemies in the form of his direct murderers – A man named Packard Walsh and his gang which operates a chop-shop and illegal racing group around Brooks Arizona.  
• Limited Time: Although not specifically stated, it is cryptically mentioned several times by Kesey that his time is almost up, that he’s only present for a short time, etc. It may be possible that Kesey has only a short time to put things right and settle his scores before he must leave the area or return to where he came from.

The Car

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Control: Rm (30)   Speed: In (40)   Body: Ex (20) Protection: Gd (10)

The Turbo Interceptor is its own vehicle, and as stated by Kesey has many unique and additional abilities when he leaves it for Billy Hankins. The Turbo Interceptor is faster and more durable than most cars, and when destroyed reforms itself as Kesey is able to. Eerie green lightning-like effects seem to arc through the car, as does an eerie red glow under the engine.