Post by avarice on Aug 29, 2005 20:28:41 GMT -5
Name: Jean Mondeau, though he refers to himself as Jean de Molays.
Age: He appears to be in his early thirties
Sex/Gender: Male
Race: Human
Alignment: Chaotic Evil
History:
At the end of the First Crusade, an order of secular knights was formed with the mandate of protecting Christian Pilgrims en route to the Holy Land. No greater accumulation of warriors had ever taken the monastic vows before, or has since....
They were to be known and revered as the Ordo Templar, meting out justice on their sword-edge, and carving their place in history as an indomitable force of relentless bravery.
From humble beginnings, these warrior monks went on to fight alongside historical figures such as Richard the Lionhearted and other Crusaders in their bid to secure the Holy Land.
An unprecedented amount of victories were booked in their name, as they laid waste to all who rose against them. When the European Monarchies received word of these exploits, they did not hesitate to array themselves behind their proponents, and soon the knights even enjoyed the backing of the Holy See.
Within two centuries, they had scaled the ranks to assume a position of power just short of the Papal throne. Between their undisputed fighting prowess, religious zeal, and brimming coffers, there remained no doubt that the Templar Knights were the key players among the monastic fighting orders. Their political influence grew steadfastly, as well, due to their immunity from any authority but the Pope himself.
This would, eventually, be the very thing that led to their downfall.
For fate would have that even the most devout of worshippers are susceptible to corruption, and how the mighty then shall fall.
October 30th, 1307, the Pope in conjunction with King Philip ordered the arrest of all Templars -- this on grounds of heresy. Protests were given, and to this day it is rumored that their true objective was to have the Order’s monetary assets to themselves. The fact remains, however, that lengthy tortures conducted by the Church’s most persuasive persecutors produced confessions both horrible and condemning.
Amongst these were the trampling of the cross, homosexuality and sodomy, and finally the worshipping of the Baphomet, a foul demonic idol.
And so, on March 19th of the year 1314, the Ordo Templar came to an end on a very dark note; their last Grand Master, Jacques de Molay, was burned at the stake, cursing both Pope and King with his dying breath.
<><><><><>
Whereas the Knights Templar found themselves hunted down, routed, and very nearly expunged from all recollection, the dark object of their worship has weathered the passage of time remarkably well.
If anything, the mythos surrounding Baphomet has intensified many times over since the age of the Crusades. Many twisted depictions have been attributed to him throughout the centuries, each a horrific amalgam fit to send crawling one’s skin, but the most prevalent amongst these has been that of the Satanic goat. In many circles, he has become synonymous with Lucifer himself.
This, however, takes away from the blackest taint of perversion all his own.
For he was once known to devour the newborns of his worshippers, and was revered by occultists as the vessel from which all evil springs. Though his Sigil serves now as the blazon of the Satanic Church, his own following – a pure cult – is fast gaining a foothold.
And in this time fraught with unfathomable discord, ill omens foretell of his return, and the reinstitution of the Ordo Templar. These portents reveal the coming of an heir to the Knights of yore; a man of age whose bloodline can be drawn back to the most prolific of their members.
When the new order casts off the shadow of obscurity, he will be the tip of its sword.
Their ultimate purpose is something for time to tell; murmurs from shadowed passages resound with litanies of hate and vows of total requital.
Though King Philip and his puppet Pope Clement V have long since passed away, simple revenge can no longer suffice.
Now is the time.
The time to collect an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
An order for an order.
<><><><><>
To this date, little has been divulged of the insurgent's identity. He doomed up from the blackened pages of history, it seems, an all-consuming dread attributed to his name.
The followers of the Baphomet have gathered to his side, hailing them as their own -- their child of prophecy.
But of one thing, at least, the children of the Vatican can be assured; Jean de Molays will prove himself a scourge upon their beliefs.
Appearance:
Sharp-featured, with striking high cheekbones and a tight disposal of lips, the heir-apparent to the Ordo’s vacant throne is bound to fill his position with an undeniable charm and grace. Lending to this impression is the meticulously trimmed mane of gold hair stabbing in radiant shocks downwards from his scalp. No less prominent are his eyes – emerald, with the slightest hint of a cold glaze, easy to freeze, quick to flare. His sole, distinguishing flaw is a crude, hypertrophic scar running parallel to the entirety of his jaw line, grazing it nearly by his left ear.
He carries his lean, slightly honed frame with casual confidence, surety in every stride. This is no remarkable feat, for it is commonly bedecked with an unusual accumulation of both conventional and extraordinary arms and armor. Even though he does not prefer the confinement headgear imposes, he is never so foolish as to rush into battle without his protective helmet of choice, a peculiar ornament though it may be; the Morion, with its strongly curved brim and high comb, extends proudly from his shoulder, elevating him from rank and file of the Templar.
In like manner, safeguarding his chest is a coat of brigandine armor, the overlapping plates of which run seamlessly into the articulated pauldrons seated over his shoulders. A full arm-harness adorns his arms from there on, comprised of the couter, vambrace and rerebrace, housing respectively his elbow, lower arm and upper arm. His hands, then, he has tucked snugly in a pair of cowskin gloves, allowing great small-joint dexterity while guiding his blades.
From the waist down he is outfitted similarly; tassets cover the juncture of hip and thigh in formidable full plate, while armored mail chausses drawn over quilted leggings fall to his knees. There arranged one finds greaves topped by poleyn knee-guards, solid plate both.
This uncustomary composite-armor sees its every last inch deliberately polished, his form so articulated with an enveloping shine.
Even without the velveteen half cape, trimmed with metallic gimp, regularly draping from his shoulders, he cuts an impressive figure. A sharpness of appearance, it has to be noted, that by no means takes away from the fine edge of his blades, which are poised in ornate scabbards from his belt. Their compound hilts, designed with intricate configurations of quillons, side-rings and knuckle-bars, provide him with ready access to the swift and merciless downfall of his foes.
Weapons/Fighting Style:
How he came about either is as yet unknown, but this man’s collection of weapons is only exceeded by his knowledge regarding their function. A consummate warrior of the highest order, Jean’s ambidexterity and remarkable agility amalgamate into aggressive, deathly accurate swordsmanship that knows no reckoning. Wielding slender, razor-edged blades in each hand, he becomes a veritable whirlwind of steel, bearing ruthlessly unto his foes, though not without design.
While preferring the combination of rapier and main-gauche, he is equally adept with many other weapons of similar making, and is known for exchanging them in the midst of battle.
The matted black jewels glistening wetly in the pommels and cross-guards of his most favored brands of death have long been a topic of discussion amongst scholars. Some say that they are a gift granted to him by Baphomet -- that they are infused with the dark god’s infernal powers. When called upon by a servant in good standing with the Diety, its fiendish blessing will be manifest throughout the jewel, and funneled into the weapon housing it, mystically enhancing its bite and aim, amongst other effects.
Other Equipment:
Jean has a wide range of items with varying uses stowed away on his person. Things such as thieving tools, rope and even some ingredients for exotic concoctions and poisons are always on hand.
Age: He appears to be in his early thirties
Sex/Gender: Male
Race: Human
Alignment: Chaotic Evil
History:
At the end of the First Crusade, an order of secular knights was formed with the mandate of protecting Christian Pilgrims en route to the Holy Land. No greater accumulation of warriors had ever taken the monastic vows before, or has since....
They were to be known and revered as the Ordo Templar, meting out justice on their sword-edge, and carving their place in history as an indomitable force of relentless bravery.
From humble beginnings, these warrior monks went on to fight alongside historical figures such as Richard the Lionhearted and other Crusaders in their bid to secure the Holy Land.
An unprecedented amount of victories were booked in their name, as they laid waste to all who rose against them. When the European Monarchies received word of these exploits, they did not hesitate to array themselves behind their proponents, and soon the knights even enjoyed the backing of the Holy See.
Within two centuries, they had scaled the ranks to assume a position of power just short of the Papal throne. Between their undisputed fighting prowess, religious zeal, and brimming coffers, there remained no doubt that the Templar Knights were the key players among the monastic fighting orders. Their political influence grew steadfastly, as well, due to their immunity from any authority but the Pope himself.
This would, eventually, be the very thing that led to their downfall.
For fate would have that even the most devout of worshippers are susceptible to corruption, and how the mighty then shall fall.
October 30th, 1307, the Pope in conjunction with King Philip ordered the arrest of all Templars -- this on grounds of heresy. Protests were given, and to this day it is rumored that their true objective was to have the Order’s monetary assets to themselves. The fact remains, however, that lengthy tortures conducted by the Church’s most persuasive persecutors produced confessions both horrible and condemning.
Amongst these were the trampling of the cross, homosexuality and sodomy, and finally the worshipping of the Baphomet, a foul demonic idol.
And so, on March 19th of the year 1314, the Ordo Templar came to an end on a very dark note; their last Grand Master, Jacques de Molay, was burned at the stake, cursing both Pope and King with his dying breath.
<><><><><>
Whereas the Knights Templar found themselves hunted down, routed, and very nearly expunged from all recollection, the dark object of their worship has weathered the passage of time remarkably well.
If anything, the mythos surrounding Baphomet has intensified many times over since the age of the Crusades. Many twisted depictions have been attributed to him throughout the centuries, each a horrific amalgam fit to send crawling one’s skin, but the most prevalent amongst these has been that of the Satanic goat. In many circles, he has become synonymous with Lucifer himself.
This, however, takes away from the blackest taint of perversion all his own.
For he was once known to devour the newborns of his worshippers, and was revered by occultists as the vessel from which all evil springs. Though his Sigil serves now as the blazon of the Satanic Church, his own following – a pure cult – is fast gaining a foothold.
And in this time fraught with unfathomable discord, ill omens foretell of his return, and the reinstitution of the Ordo Templar. These portents reveal the coming of an heir to the Knights of yore; a man of age whose bloodline can be drawn back to the most prolific of their members.
When the new order casts off the shadow of obscurity, he will be the tip of its sword.
Their ultimate purpose is something for time to tell; murmurs from shadowed passages resound with litanies of hate and vows of total requital.
Though King Philip and his puppet Pope Clement V have long since passed away, simple revenge can no longer suffice.
Now is the time.
The time to collect an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
An order for an order.
<><><><><>
To this date, little has been divulged of the insurgent's identity. He doomed up from the blackened pages of history, it seems, an all-consuming dread attributed to his name.
The followers of the Baphomet have gathered to his side, hailing them as their own -- their child of prophecy.
But of one thing, at least, the children of the Vatican can be assured; Jean de Molays will prove himself a scourge upon their beliefs.
Appearance:
Sharp-featured, with striking high cheekbones and a tight disposal of lips, the heir-apparent to the Ordo’s vacant throne is bound to fill his position with an undeniable charm and grace. Lending to this impression is the meticulously trimmed mane of gold hair stabbing in radiant shocks downwards from his scalp. No less prominent are his eyes – emerald, with the slightest hint of a cold glaze, easy to freeze, quick to flare. His sole, distinguishing flaw is a crude, hypertrophic scar running parallel to the entirety of his jaw line, grazing it nearly by his left ear.
He carries his lean, slightly honed frame with casual confidence, surety in every stride. This is no remarkable feat, for it is commonly bedecked with an unusual accumulation of both conventional and extraordinary arms and armor. Even though he does not prefer the confinement headgear imposes, he is never so foolish as to rush into battle without his protective helmet of choice, a peculiar ornament though it may be; the Morion, with its strongly curved brim and high comb, extends proudly from his shoulder, elevating him from rank and file of the Templar.
In like manner, safeguarding his chest is a coat of brigandine armor, the overlapping plates of which run seamlessly into the articulated pauldrons seated over his shoulders. A full arm-harness adorns his arms from there on, comprised of the couter, vambrace and rerebrace, housing respectively his elbow, lower arm and upper arm. His hands, then, he has tucked snugly in a pair of cowskin gloves, allowing great small-joint dexterity while guiding his blades.
From the waist down he is outfitted similarly; tassets cover the juncture of hip and thigh in formidable full plate, while armored mail chausses drawn over quilted leggings fall to his knees. There arranged one finds greaves topped by poleyn knee-guards, solid plate both.
This uncustomary composite-armor sees its every last inch deliberately polished, his form so articulated with an enveloping shine.
Even without the velveteen half cape, trimmed with metallic gimp, regularly draping from his shoulders, he cuts an impressive figure. A sharpness of appearance, it has to be noted, that by no means takes away from the fine edge of his blades, which are poised in ornate scabbards from his belt. Their compound hilts, designed with intricate configurations of quillons, side-rings and knuckle-bars, provide him with ready access to the swift and merciless downfall of his foes.
Weapons/Fighting Style:
How he came about either is as yet unknown, but this man’s collection of weapons is only exceeded by his knowledge regarding their function. A consummate warrior of the highest order, Jean’s ambidexterity and remarkable agility amalgamate into aggressive, deathly accurate swordsmanship that knows no reckoning. Wielding slender, razor-edged blades in each hand, he becomes a veritable whirlwind of steel, bearing ruthlessly unto his foes, though not without design.
While preferring the combination of rapier and main-gauche, he is equally adept with many other weapons of similar making, and is known for exchanging them in the midst of battle.
The matted black jewels glistening wetly in the pommels and cross-guards of his most favored brands of death have long been a topic of discussion amongst scholars. Some say that they are a gift granted to him by Baphomet -- that they are infused with the dark god’s infernal powers. When called upon by a servant in good standing with the Diety, its fiendish blessing will be manifest throughout the jewel, and funneled into the weapon housing it, mystically enhancing its bite and aim, amongst other effects.
Other Equipment:
Jean has a wide range of items with varying uses stowed away on his person. Things such as thieving tools, rope and even some ingredients for exotic concoctions and poisons are always on hand.