There was no sign on the building. No sign in the smallish parking lot. No sign on the glass door, nor any logo or similar design in the lobby or foyer of the building. The receptionist would happily guide visitors to meetings, but anyone without an appointment was escorted out the door by a squadron of security guards, most of whom had once been Secret Service or Marine Intelligence. There was no sign. But if you knew what you were looking for, you probably couldn't miss it. If you were sensitive to such things, you would have felt its presence throughout the long ride up into the hills. The Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense.

-Christopher Golden, Hellboy: The Lost Army

Overview

Since the American government had been in charge of the operation that had resulted in Hellboy's discovery, they laid claim on him as if he were property. Despite Trevor Bruttenholm's furious protests -- he felt quite protective of their strange visitor -- the Americans brought Hellboy back from England with them.

Fortunately for all, the professor's persistence and influence finally forced a compromise. Bruttenholm and a group of other paranormal experts founded the BPRD with funding from the American government.

-Christopher Golden, Hellboy: The Lost Army

The Bureau is based out of Fairfield, Connecticut, UCAS. The BPRD is similar to the United State's NSA (National Security Agency) in that it's a publicly known secret agency. Other organizations such as the FBI, CIA, and other intelligence and law enforcement organizations would know about it, but the average Joe might not.

The purview of the Bureau is to investigate magical threats and resolve them. While this poses some considerable overlap in jurisdiction for cases that deal with local police (who, in some cities, are actually corporations like Knight Errant or Lone Star), the Bureau doesn't waste resources on apprehending magicians wanted for burglary. Rather, the BPRD would send a field agent out on missions that range from stopping a serial killer mage to investigating magical artifacts to uncovering one of Winternight's plots.

Using the Bureau

The Bureau would allow the characters to see the world. They might go to Poland on one mission, to the heart of the Siberian Wilderness another time, deep into the Yucatan next week, and into New York City after that. As a UCAS-run intelligence operation, they should have a power equal to the FBI in dealing with cases that rely heavily on the paranormal. As a privately funded organization, they could be the guys the FBI calls in when the Feds are in over their heads or want someone who's "experienced with this sort of thing".

Antagonists and Plot Ideas

Obstacles that the Bureau's agents may come up against could be the majors covered in Threats (The Atlantean Foundation, the Vampires, Winternight, Mr. Darke, the Gestalt), "typical" paranormal things (ghosts, werewolves, poltergeists), or anything that the Awakened world could throw at them. Find out what the secret of Innsmouth really is. How about a search for the Spear of Destiny or the Lost Ark? Have the adventurers investigate the murders of a magical cabal... The sky's the limit here. One of the particular nasty things you might want to try is have the characters investigate the Polish Incident from Mayfair's Chill RPG (it's in the Werewolves supplement). Or use any of that game system's adventures in your BPRD campaign.

Characters

Although a mundane character can be played in this type of campaign, they would be rare for a PC. Almost all the characters would have some sort of magical ability, either some sort of adept or magician, although not every encounter will be one that is defeated by magic. The Bureau would have its own initiate order and the player characters would be invited to enter as soon as they are able to. When you go against the baddest mojo, it would be nice to be ready for them.

Speaking of being ready, the players will not have to worry too much about gear as the Bureau would provide all equipment the Bureau decides the characters need. That means that you, the GM, can outfit the player characters with whatever you want them to have. Like the Special Forces campaign type, these characters already get paid a set amount each year, enough for a Middle Lifestyle. Also, like the Special Forces PCs, one of their free contacts is already chosen -- the Bureau.

Hellboy Summoned by the Nazi's from some other dimension or world, no one is quite sure where Hellboy is from or what he is. One thing is sure for Hellboy, he sleeps better at night not knowing. He is tougher then a normal man, has a mean temper, and is hard as hell to kill. His right hand is made of some unknown metal-like material that cannot feel pain that he uses to beat ass. He also has two stubs on his head where he used to have horns which he now keeps nicely filed down, a tail, and hooves. Amongst all this though, Hellboy tries to blend in with human society and much as possible.

Abe Sapien The only known humanoid able to breathe water, Abe's origins are a mystery. The Bureau suspects genetic engineering but is still unsure. He was discovered by plumbers working in the basement of St. Trinian's Hospital in Washington, D.C. They had broken through a sealed door and discovered an abandoned laboratory. Within a fluid-filled glass cylinder, apparently lifeless, floated the amphibious man. A label on the cylinder classified the "experiment" as an Icthyo Sapien. It was dated April 14, 1865, the day Abraham Lincoln was murdered. Hence his name, Abe Sapien.

Professor Trevor Bruttenholm The Bureau's oldest and greatest field agent, the Professor has dodged taking a desk job for years. He has also been a father to Hellboy for more then forty years and is responcible for naming him. He was present the night that Hellboy was summoned to earth in 1944. The Professor and several other paranormal experts founded the BPRD with funding from the American government and was granted custody of Hellboy. Since then, he has raised him, educated him, trained him, and of course, studied him.

Elizabeth Sherman Ms. Sherman's special powers are what led her to the Bureau. 24 years old, she is pyrokinetic. He powers initial manifestation thirteen years earlier decimated a city block and incinerated thirty-two people, her entire family among them. With no place else to go, the Bureau took her in and taught her how to control her powers. She has left the Bureau a few times but always returns.