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Background
Faustius Fogg is a man of faith.
In the midst of a world torn asunder by chaos, he has found order, peace of mind, and purpose in service to the One. Originally hailing from Ironhold, a common-born child apprenticed to an alchemist, Faustius soon found himself swept up in events that led him out of his home and all the way to Rikton. In Rikton and the embrace of the One, he found his calling. Faustius now serves the One as an Inquisitor of the Church, as well as Spiritual Advisor and Master Alchemist to House Cassomir.
The Heretic's Apprentice
Faustius Fogg was born a Commoner in Ironhold to parents Geofram and Aina Fogg (an alchemist and cook, respectively in the service of Baron Aric and Baroness Mathilda Cassomir, and both very devout followers of the One). His father was taken from him by the Thirty Year War when he was but a child of six. At the age of nine, Aina arranged an apprenticeship for Faustius with an itinerant, middle-aged alchemist named Gehn, who (in turn) promised to keep the boy out of the war as much as possible. That was the last time Faustius ever saw his mother.
The boy travelled and learned with the old alchemist for the next four years. Gehn proved to a very eccentric fellow - with more than a few strange habits - but he was also extraordinarily harsh upon young Faustius. His teaching methods were nigh-brutal as he pushed, and pushed, and pushed, and pushed Faustius to 'do better' - never praising, only rebuking. As time went by, Faustius began noticing Gehn performing alchemical concoctions that seemed almost magical - but he was unwilling to voice his concerns. Gehn had other 'strange' habits (such as mumbling to himself, and occasionally seeming to speak to animals).
Still, Faustius kept quiet - it was never enough to clearly 'out itself' as sorcery (he wanted to be sure), and the old man was already… eccentric. Gehn was not above beating the boy, and did so frequently - another reason to keep silent. A further difficultly was Gehn's refusal to give Faustius any time to pray. Gehn /claimed/ to believe in the One, but that time was better spent studying, than praying.
They travelled a great deal, from settlement to settlement - sometimes one of the larger towns or cities in Galenthia. Each in settlement, Gehn would leave the boy to himself for a while, as he went about 'his own business' - something of which he never spoke (and Faustius never asked). On the odd occasion when he followed the old man, he found him exchanging letters and objects (not always alchemical items) with strangers in secluded places. He was not game enough to bring it up, however.
Faustius found ways of coping with this lonely existence by praying in secret, teaching himself the tin flute (only when away from Gehn) which was something his mother had played, and collecting odd and interesting items along the way (something his father had done). Each item had a story attached to it - be it something to do with how Faustius came by it, or something he made up himself. His imagination was his escape.
Shortly before Faustius turned thirteen, he had a troubling dream. He dreamt of his parents - they were struggling to reach him as something (or someone) dragged him away into a place of total darkness and cold. He screamed - or tried to - but no sound would come out. Then he woke. That dream stayed with him for several days and nights, until he happened up Gehn in the woods - and he was not alone. The old man was garbed in animal skins, painted with blood and engaged in some sort of ritual involving… a body tied to a makeshift altar, its heart cut out.
The truth dawned on the young apprentice - Gehn worshipped the Many. He was a heretic. And, on top of that, a murderer.
There was no time to act upon this information, as they were far from most settlements, so Faustius had to play dumb for several weeks. When they reached a town that had a sufficient presence of the Church there, Faustius 'appropriated' one of Gehn's stronger painkillers and used it to make his master drousy. Then, he also 'appropriated' the satchel Gehn usually took with him for his 'personal business' (it contained relics and letters pertaining to The Many) and ran to the nearest Church.
Long story short: Ghen was arrested for heresy, and Faustius was taken into the protective custody of the Church, and sent to Rikton. The boy's association with the heretic warranted investigation, but his actions piqued the curiosity of certain members in the Inquisition - who approved of his patience and resourcefulness in bringing his former master to justice. Wheels were set in motion to begin training the child in the way of the clergy.
Man of the Cloth
Faustius' life with the Church began with a mixture of emotions roiling inside him like chemicals reacting against each other in a crucible. His initial request had been to return to his mother, but he had been told that she had gone to be with the One shortly after he left her with Gehn. Then there was the matter of Gehn - the sly old devil's fate was kept from the boy (not for a child's ears), and yet he wanted closure. Finally, there was the matter of his own future - and this filled him with elation. Faustius threw himself fanatically into his studies as a novice. Strangely enough (to him) his tutors encouraged him to continue his alchemical studies, and even provided him with a tutor for his flute. Knowledge and wisdom surrounded the young Faustius and he thrived in it. He found it a struggle to bond with most of the other novices around him, but instead found more in common with the Priests and Lay Clergy responsible for teaching him.
Except the old women.
Since his earliest memories, Faustius had been deathly afraid of elderly women - and he had no rational reason for it whatsoever (expect perhaps an encounter as a child - with 'something' that resembled an 'old woman' - a memory which he had buried as a nightmare…but he almost never spoke of it). His phobia applied just as much to women he liked, and respected; as soon as they came into his presence, he would have to fight panic. The young novice had hoped no one would notice this… slight weakness of his, but The One must have 'enlightened' someone to it, and it was brought to Faustius as a 'character flaw' he would have to overcome.
After that day, most of his classes were taught by women well into their twilight years.
Faustius learned to cope with his phobia (he had little choice), and about the time he was ready to become a full Priest (at age 21), he was approached by an austere woman, likely in her forties, with iron-grey hair and a handsome (if not beautiful) face who identified herself as merely Mother Iona. The young man knew instantly who had been manipulating his training, and told her so (he had always been perceptive).
She merely smirked.
Any expectations Faustius' had had regarding his life after becoming a priest, proved… greatly inadequate. Mother Iona was an Inquisitor and a master alchemist, and took Faustius under her wing to train him in the same calling. He became a member of her personal retinue, travelling the world again - far beyond the borders of his former homeland of Galenthia - engaging in various inquests, hunts… but (mercifully) no Purges.
Always, Iona had Faustius in the forefront of everything - just as she was. She trained him personally in self-defense (namely the sword and dagger), and made him 'point man' in every investigation - even every interrogation, every torture-session. She put his perception and alchemical skills to great use - even making him learn something of the 'forbidden arts' (as she had), so that he could tell the difference. The things he saw, the things he had to do… such as how to tell 'cause of death' when dealing with alchemical poisons, or how far to push an interrogation without killing the subject… would boggle the mind.
And he was good at it.
Faustius earned a reputation for putting alchemy to good use in his interrogations (such as inducing a fugue state), as well as using some of his 'collectibles' (those odd items he found along the way) to 'mess with one's head'. It was not uncommon for him to stick a misshapen rock (the more misshapen the better) on a table, in the middle of an interrogation, and then grill the suspect at some length on his/her perceptions of it (think: Rorschach test). Sometimes he would use it to mentally unbalance them, other times… just to amuse himself.
In short, everything Iona prompted Faustius to do heavily reinforced his will and faith in the necessity of his calling (as she had known it would). As the years went by, he grew into a formidable Inquisitor: methodical, tenacious, unwavering, not to be underestimated, and wholly dedicated to serving the One.
Baptised in Blood and Fire
The circumstances that elevated a thirty-something year-old Faustius to the rank of Bishop - and Full Inquisitor - were riddled with intrigue, heresy, misery, torture and death. It began with rumours of heretics hiding in the northern settlements (bordering the Wastes), among tribes of the Icenailans. Heretics fleeing the Inquisition (from places as far south as Galenthia) had been spotted amongst these tribes, and in addition to their presence, there were rumours of artifacts having been brought with them (Lightsilver, Sidhe-Steel… such rumours required investigation), as well as tales of Deep Alchemy combined with Sorcery.
Faustius' efforts (combined with Mother Iona's and those of her retinue - which involved agents of the Knights Vigilant as well) to find these heretics over the course of many months, proved largely ineffectual. Navigating the Wastes was difficult at the best of times, and the barbarian tribes inhabiting the area were hardly cooperative. Problems arose in the form of adverse weather - which often seemed deliberately pitted against them - wild animals, and the occasional monster.
Matters took a turn for the worst when Faustius was captured by the very people he had been pursuing. He had ventured out with only a small band of guards, all of whom had been slain, and was led - bound and gagged - deep into the mountains. They kept him alive - for reasons he could not understand (not at first), but that did not stop them torturing him. To this day, Faustius bears scars on his back, chest and arms - ritual scars, in various shapes and pictures.
Faustius remained a prisoner for a long time - many months - and he never broke. He also learned he was not the only prisoner. There were other citizens of the West there: lay clergymen, guards from the retinue of other Inquisitors, and one soldier in particular with whom Faustius bonded: a Templar named Sir Gaird. The band of heretics that held the prisoners did their best to wring information from them about the Inquisition, the Church, relics etc… some broke. Others did not - Sir Gaird among them. Faustius himself never uttered a word.
Until the day their (true) captor revealed himself.
Gehn.
How the old man had lived this long was anyone's guess. He had to have been in his 70s or 80s by now, and yet he looked little older than he had when Faustius had first known him. The captured Inquisitor settled upon the only explanation that made any sense: sorcery.
At least some of the rumours, then, had been true.
Gehn explained (with no small amount of contempt) about his betrayal - Faustius' doing - his capture, imprisonment, and subsequent escape. Why had no one pursued him? Why had no one told Faustius his first mentor was on the loose again? The answer lay in the fact that Gehn had found another old man who vaguely resembled him, murdered him and left the body for the Inquisitors to find. Then, he had joined the Northern Tribes and begun a personal little war against the Church.
A war that would eventually lead more of the Inquisition into the Wastes, where they could be picked off and disposed of - of course, then he had seen Faustius and decided to alter the plan for a taste of more personal revenge. Gehn wanted more than that, though. He wanted recognition. He dragged Faustius about, showing off his blasphemous works, preaching the doctrine of the Many, and ever enticing Faustius with the promise of power if he'd but join him. Such was the ego of the heretic.
Of course, Gehn's pride also led to his downfall. From the moment of Faustius' capture he had tried to leave clues (usually in the form of his kind of 'collectibles') lying around for Mother Iona and her retinue to find. Then came the moment when Gehn, eager to have his old apprentice back, brought Faustius too close too often to his alchemical concoctions. Faustius was able to upset the mixture on one such occasion, and trigger a MASSIVE 'flash-vial' effect that lit up the skies like a beacon.
Chaos ensued. In the confusion, Faustius and Gaird took up arms and fought. The Inquisitor personally wrestled his former master, taking from him the stolen Lightsilver dagger Gehn had used, and plunged it through Gehn's heart. Faustius murmured prayer for the heretic's soul as his life left him, then he and Gaird departed the settlement, to try and find their way home.
It did not take long. Ever the consummate investigator, Mother Iona found Faustius - and the other prisoners - and instantly saw to their medical care. Faustius, however, was given the right of choosing the fate of those in the tribe who had consorted with blasphemers. That is the moment, Aout 7, 1857, Faustius Fogg ordered his first Purge - one of the youngest members of the Church to do so.
The other prisoners were released. The few artifacts that had been stolen were reclaimed. And the entire tribe was wiped out.
The Price of Peace
Faustius returned to Rikton to be raised to the rank of Bishop and declared a Full Inquisitor. He used his convalescence to choose his retinue - first and foremost among them being Sir Gaird (who had also revealed himself to Faustius as a member of the Knights Vigilant), as well as a selection of guards and members of the lay clergy. Faustius' own induction into the Order of the Vigil (as a Brother) opened his eyes even further to the perils of the world, and the necessity for men and women serving in roles such as his and the Order's. Faustius' recovery became a period of intense prayer, research and more prayer.
The suffering he had endured had earned Bishop Faustius a reputation. The Purge that had ended his (and Mother Iona's) investigations in the North involved the deaths of hundreds, and the recovery of prisoners scheduled for torture and sacrifice had set tongues whispering (although the involvement of his former master, Gehn, had been suppressed by the order of Archbishop Sirrah Cantire). For a long time, Faustius took to working closer to Rikton. His scars were long in healing - the emotional scars even longer - but in the end it was not enough to keep him from 'the frontlines of the faith'.
He never married in all that time. He never really found the opportunity to stop and consider a family of his own. For Faustius Fogg there was only 'the mission' - honour the One, and protect His holy Church. The next several years found him doing just that, across the corners of the world - from the Northern Wastes, to the deserts of Partharia, from the island of Whitehall, to the empire of Vir Sidus. His skills of investigation and as an alchemist became highly sought-after, and he - ever the student - could not resist the chance to learn, especially when doing The One's work.
Perhaps Faustius ended up becoming a 'victim of his own success' - his tenacity had earned him a byname of sorts: 'Hound of the One', but it had also caused concern amongst the higher ranks of the Church - for such a thing as being 'too tenacious', or 'too driven'. Thus, when entering his late forties, Faustius received orders to fulfill a dual-role back in his homeland, the former Barony (now, County) of Ironhold: that of Spiritual Advisor (House Bishop), and House Alchemist, dwelling in Roseguard Castle. It was quietly regarded (amongst the clergy) as a gentle penance of sorts, for the Inquisitor.
The person responsible for securing these two positions for Faustius was none other than Her Excellency, Sirrah Cantire, Archbishop and Knight-Commander of the Order of the Vigil (a detail soon made known to Faustius, given his being a Brother of the Order). It should be noted, that despite Cantire's outward warm and motherly demeanour, she had always terrified the life out of him - a fact also known to only a few.
One conversation with Archbishop Cantire was enough to induce panic in Faustius.
Thus, the tale of Faustius Fogg, a heretic's protégé-turned-Holy Inquisitor, came full circle. Ironhold, to him, was a place of troubled memories and troubled spirits (both the living and the dead, if the rumours were to be believed - and he believed them), but with everything the County (and House Cassomir in particular) had been through, it was clear why spiritual guidance - and the services of a gifted alchemist - would be needed.
There was also more to it than that.
Supernatural forces had clearly 'left their mark' upon the war-torn County, artefacts of power had been discovered, used and abused (by the Thorn, for example), and heretics had hidden among Ironhold's people. Thus, although it might have appeared to others (on the surface) that Faustius had been 'put on a leash' for a while - to serve as Advisor and Alchemist, instead of 'Church Hound' - this was not entirely the case. Faustius was told of Baron Cassomir's membership in the Order of the Vigil, and vice versa, to establish some trust in a world where betrayal (such as in the Succession War) had torn so much asunder.
For the Great Enemy to target the Cassomir family (and their holdings) so cruelly with war and treachery, it is clear The One Himself has plans for this County, and such plans deserve to be realised - and Father Faustius is committed to seeing it through, as Bishop of Ironhold, and House Alchemist.
On the Grid
"Have they brought you water? Yea - nay? Is it not a blessing from the One? Reason is water: the water that seeps into the cracks of a heart that is hardened against its Maker - but I am more concerned with the moment when water turns to ice.
"Truth is ice: the ice that forms when water freezes in those little cracks… and breaks them asunder, and thus shall all secrets be revealed. So you understand what is happening here? We will reason. You will break. And the will of the One will be served. Now. Shall we begin?"
- Faustius with a suspected heretic.
Faustius is a very tall man in his late forties - 6'4" - with dark wind-swept hair streaked with silver that curls across his brow and around his ears. He has an angular-shaped face, weathered from years of toil, with dark eyes set deeply in his skull. An immaculately trimmed moustache adorns his upper lip, and he also has a narrow, arrow-head goatee on his chin. His eyebrows are bushy and angular, seemingly set in a perpetual glare. He is a thin man, with taut wiry muscles, and long, bony fingers.
He is generally clad in black. He would either be found wearing billowy robes that reach down to the shoes on his feet, and along his arms to his wrists - or a supple tunic of fine black leather, belted at the waist with boots on his feet, a blade sheathed at his side and an Inquisitor's surcoat worn over the top. A hooded cloak is clasped around his neck with a brooch, and hangs down to his booted feet. He wear very little in the way of jewellery or ornaments.
For those rare times when he is not wearing a shirt, Faustius' back, chest and arms are covered in ritualistic scars in various shapes, swirls and sigils that some might recognise as having to do with worship of The Many.
Faustius is a man who… "lives in the dark - but remembers the sunlight, and visits it from time to time". Much of what he does in the service of the One would be considered 'dark'. Some might even call it 'evil'. He calls it 'necessary'. Faustius gets to see the worst of humanity - even within the Church - and this has left him cynical and acerbic much of the time. Nevertheless, he remembers the simple joys of his early childhood and occasionally allows himself to indulge in those memories.
As for Faustius' interests, ambitions and values… everything he does, he does for the One, and for the Church of the One. He is a man with blood on his hands, and a prayer on his lips, and while he fully understands the significance of his work, he still feels the need to get away and appreciate the 'little things'. Many would think him 'odd' or 'eccentric' if they knew of his preferred hobbies. He is a guarded man, careful in what he says and to whom he says it. He is more intimidating than charismatic
Justified/CharGen Quirks:
- Gifted Alchemist - Faustius is highly sought-after all across the West for his skills in alchemy, and with good reason. Only a few (most of them in the upper echelons of the Church) are aware of just how far he has gone in his studies and practices in the Art. He knows more than he technically "should", and yet it is completely necessary for him to do his job. Regardless, his expertise in the field of alchemy has greatly contributed toward shaping his public identity.
- Skilled Investigator - Faustius is notorious for his "doggedness" as an Inquisitor. This is what has earned him the moniker 'the Hound of the One' or just 'the Hound'. A highly perceptive man, he puts this to good use both 'in the field', and in the interrogation chamber. He has invested considerable time and effort in his intimidation tactics, although his charisma and charm could use some serious polish. He is known for not giving up an investigation until he has seen it through.
- Collector - Something of an oddity with Faustius Fogg is his love of collecting "interesting" items. These could be anything - from curious coins to misshapen rocks and twisted tree-roots. By now he has a substantial collection, and he is continually adding to it. Every item has a story, and if prompted he may be inclined to share it… or not. (What is not commonly known is that Faustius often uses this 'hobby' of his as a cover for transporting artefacts back to the Order of the Vigil. If he is seen with some 'strange' item, it can be dismissed as just another 'collectible'). He also collects "tunes" - things he learns, or invents himself to play on his flute (often when he is alone).
- Fear of Old Women - Nothing in all of Creation terrifies Faustius Fogg more than… elderly women. This should not be confused with sexism or male chauvinism - it is a genuine phobia, and extremely intense. He has worked very hard to conceal it - and usually succeeds, so it is not common knowledge - nevertheless, it is always "there". There are those in the Inquisition (and Order of the Vigil) who know, such as his mentor (Mother Iona), and Archbishop Sirrah Cantire (who terrifies the life out of him). As to what sparked this phobia… it is possible Faustius encountered something supernatural (or just a snarky old woman) when he was a child, but it is equally likely that there is no logical reason whatsoever. Some phobias just "are".
Assumed/Church Quirks:
- Fanatic - This almost goes without saying. Faustius Fogg is utterly loyal to the One, and to the Church. He embodies the stubbornness of the typical fanatic as well - very difficult (if not impossible) to sway to other schools of thought. He is not *quite* the "black and white" type of person, unless one were to add a third category: "necessary" - as in, "the good, the bad, and the necessary". It is a given that some actions must be done, and some words must be spoken… even if they might fit the "bad" category. That is where he lives: in the gray of necessity.
- Religious Education - As with other high-ranking members of the Church (and especially the Inquisition and Vigilant), Faustius is very well educated, and well travelled. He is fluent in several languages - including some of the dialects used by various "barbarian" tribes - and harbours a special passion for history and lore. Less known about Faustius is the fact that he "knows" some things most people do not know (i.e. Forbidden Lore). Other people might tell tales of monsters - Faustius has actually encountered a few.
- Discreet - Faustius must, by nature and by calling, be someone who guards his tongue. While he IS known as an Inquisitor, it is not known he is affiliated with the Order of the Vigil. Faustius will not divulge secrets, even under torture - and he has the scars to prove it. He has a particular fondness for "using one truth to disguise another", when it comes to keeping secrets - or he is just as likely to say nothing at all. "Silence is next to Godliness…"
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