Knowlton
From LanceaSanctum
Player Name: Jeff Carnegie
Current Name: Thomas Knowlton
Clan: Nosferatu
Covenant: Lancea Sanctum
Title: Grandmaster of the Ordo Praesidium Sanctum
Faction: Unifiers
Creed: nominally Tollison Creed
Apparent Age: mid-30s
Date of Embrace: 1776
Contents |
[edit] Public Information
Lt. Colonel Thomas Knowlton was a hero of the Revolutionary War and a US Patriot. As a pioneer in military intelligence, leader of Knowlton’s Rangers, he was embraced into a famous line of Invictus Nosferatu. He was problematic from the start, disliking the feudal structure of the First Estate, and especially the British. After only a couple of decades, he became infamous for leading battles against "Invictus oppressors". A crisis of faith caused him to stop. He eventually was converted by Michael St. John, and both joined the Tollison Creed in the 1930s. Thomas served as warrior for the Sanctified, but after just a few years began to doubt his purpose. In the 1940s, he left on a pilgrimage around the globe to regain his faith. He has only returned to the US in 2006, but seems more assured to those who knew him before. He has been seen traveling a great deal, but he remains a mendicant nomad for the time being. He has created the Ordo Praesidium Sanctum as a military order in North America and become Grandmaster. He is now seeking others to join the order, although it has stirred some controversy with the Ninth Canon.
Recently in Tampa, Thomas was seen to take on a strange appearance when angered, his skin appearing as black granite and his hand growing long claws. Some feared he was an infernal demon, although Thomas assured them he was in full control of himself.
[edit] Appearance and Demeanor
Normally, Thomas appears as a tall thin man with a pleasant demeanor. A mendicant and nomad, he wears casual clothes that are good for traveling. Jeans and a loose shirt would be common. He is polite, but talkative. He has traveled across the globe and so has an air of worldliness and experience. Although he is never unintentionally rude, some would say that he is too familiar with them. One example is his habit of referring to all Sanctified as Brother or Sister, regardless of rank.
Most recently he lived in the Middle East, or the "Holy Land" as he calls it. He has picked up some of the Arab habits, including being very friendly and forward. He has a closer personal space than most westerners. He does tend to shake and then place his hand over his heart to show sincerity. He may add "salaam aleekum" or "ma-salaamah", wishing peace. What remains odd is that he seems to have a sinister or suspicious look about him that can make it hard for others to trust him. It always seems like he is up to something or not being completely forthcoming.
[edit] Timeline
This information can be assumed to be in character for those PCs who would have a reason to know it. Thomas is a moderately well-known historical figure from the US Revolutionary War, thus a summary of his mortal life is also listed.
- Nov. 30, 1740: Born in West Boxford, MA
- 1748: Moved to Ashford, CT
- 1755: joined Army, served in six campaigns of the French and Indian War, including Battle of Havana, Cuba in 1762
- 1762: Returned to CT; married Anna Keyes, fathered nine children
- 1773: Appointed Selectman (political office) for Ashford
- Apr. 1775: Outbreak of hostilities in American Revolution; Thomas joins the Ashford Company; Thomas chosen unanimously as Captain to head the 5th Connecticut Regiment leading 200 men (mostly farmers)
- June 1775: Battle of Bunker Hill, Charleston MA; Thomas promoted to Major by Congress for his bravery and performance; considered the first officer of his grade in the army
- Aug. 1776: Promoted to Lt. Colonel by General George Washington; formed the elite squadron dubbed Knowlton’s Ranger, first elite intelligence unit of the US; led 130 men and 20 officers, including Nathan Hale
- Sep. 16, 1776: "Killed" at Harlem Plains, NY, after an "officer" gave away their position; Embraced by Connal Mac Corcrain, a childe of Shaitan Zas Fershun
- 1777 – 1785: With sire in NE US, nominally Invictus
- 1780 – ~1880s: Associates with the Good Citizens, pre-Carthian US patriots
- 1785: Finally abandons sire, becomes anti-British, anti-European, and generally anti-Invictus insurgent along the east coast US
- 1870: Begins to lose interest in fighting; becomes Unaligned and nomadic
- 1895: Converted to Lancea Sanctum by Michael St. John (Jon Hermann)
- 1925: Assists with Washington, DC, Diablerie War, meets Aroex Xaviar Bastian Valario de la Cruz (Wade Racine) and Phineas Franklin (hugh Montgomerie)
- 1928: Meets Virgil “Junior” Tollison, joins Tollison Creed
- 1930: Begins world pilgrimage
- 1931 – 1935: around Washington DC area, with Phineas
- 1935 – 1940: NE US, west across Canada, down West coast US
- 1941 – 1950: Through Mexico and South America; insight and care for flock; meets Andrea Imez Ramirez (NPC)
- 1950 – 1951: Spain, France, Germany, Poland, south to Turkey; European dogma
- 1951 – 1975: The “Holy Land”, the Middle East, the Iblic Creed
- 1975 – 1984: Africa, missionaries
- 1984 – 1988: Across Middle East, India, Australia, back up to China, Japan; mixed beliefs and persecution
- 1988 – 2002: Across Russia, Eastern Europe; associates with the Knights of the Fiery Cross; meets Grandmaster Orzini (NPC)
- 2002 – 2006: The Middle East
- April 2006: Returns to the US
- June 2006: Founds the Ordo Praesidium Sanctum, anointed as Grandmaster by Father General Areox de la Cruz.
[edit] Character Inspirations
- Thomas Knowlton
- Samuel Clemens (aka Mark Twain)
- any worn-out retired old war horse
[edit] Talents
- Arranger: Thomas is adept at putting all of the pieces together to find a best solution
- Belief: Thomas has a strong set of personal values that he uses to make decisions
- Command: Thomas is comfortable taking charge and telling others what to do
- Self-Assurance: Thomas has a natural intuition that guides his decisions
- Strategic: Thomas always thinks long-term and plans for what could go wrong
Thomas occasionally tries to preach, but will admit that he is not very good at it. He gets long-winded and may get nervous in front of a large audience.
Thomas is very accepting of other beliefs so long as they do not cross the line into heresy. Being well-traveled he has experience with all major creeds, and many minor ones. He always looks for ways to bring the Sanctified together.
