Lorenzo Navarre de Montenegro
From LanceaSanctum
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This character is deceased. |
Player Name: Lucas Powell
Character Name: High Inquisitor Lorenzo Navarre de Montenegro
Clan: Mekhet
Covenant: Lancea Sanctum
Title: High Inquisitor
Faction: Hardliners / The Inquisition
Creed: Monachal Creed
Concept: Ultraconservative Inquisitor
Apparent Age: Late 20s
Date of Embrace: 1799
Contents |
[edit] General Description
Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, / And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
The Inquisitor stands at the tall height of 5'7" for his time, bearing the dark hair and pale skin of his Spanish descendants. He is a portly man who during his mortal life knew little of want and need. He speaks with an odd Spanish accent, no doubt influence by his life in Mexico and the United States. He tends to dress in a formal manner, with a vest and coat. Except on Elysium he will never be seen without his two six shooters, weapons from his early years as an Inquisitor.
The Inquisitor is a hard and cold man, showing little emotion that is not contempt or irritation or great anger. He is rarely prone to laugh, and has never been heard of to speak louder than a speaking voice when dealing with other Damned, even when anger burns in his eyes. His mannerism are small or non-existent, and he makes no pretense at his Damnation, never blinking or partaking of what he considers the bad habits of mortality. However, his coldness and views on dogma and faith have earned him little love with most other Sanctified, and even less so within other Covenants.
He is known to be a harsh confessor, preferring the implements of torture and forcing ascetism upon those who come to him for pennance. It is not unheard of for Damned to leave the confession branded, scarred, burned, or missing body parts that they are forbidden to heal until full penance is made or in dire need.
[edit] Background
Diego Navarre was born on Good Friday, 1771 in San Diego (Mexico), his parent's fifth child. His family was one of the pre-eminently powerful families of the area, commanding vast wealth and social importance. His family used their wealth and power not to the benefit of anyone other than themselves and controlled the two cities of Tijuana and San Diego ruthlessly.
When he came of age, perhaps as an act of penitence, his family gave him over to the Church. He joined the Society of Jesus in 1793 and was made of service to the Vatican's Office of Doctrinal Purity.
In 1796 he returned to San Diego to aide with the growing concerns of Mexican mysticism corrupting Catholic faith among the parishoners. During his campaigns against heresy it was said that he carried with him the Directorium Inquisitorum and the Malleus Malleficarum, and he would often say that he was "engaged in a true spiritual battle, the forces of God are pitted against the forces of the Adversary. To better engage the overcome the Devil, it is better to cut off a man's arm than allow him to sin with it, it is better to gouge out a man's eye than allow him to lust with his eyes, and it is better to end a man's life in a state of grace, than to allow him to further the cause of evil."
Unbeknownst to him, he had come under the eye of the Prince of San Diego, Prince Montenegro, a ancient Daeva of the First Estate. Using his political power and growing influence over the Navarre family itself, Montenegro arranged for Lorenzo's "death" and embrace. Lorenzo's sire performed the deed and departed leaving Lorenzo to suffer the Creation Rites of the Sanctified on his own. Lorenzo embraced his damnation and the Monachal Creed with a fanatcism unexpected by the Archbishop of the Californias, who began Lorenzo's training as a member of the Inquisition.
It was not long before Lorenzo was sent on specific missions to the service of the Sanctified. One of his first missions came in 1835 when he was sent to the Middle East by the Archbishop at the behest of the Inquisitrix.
The Mexican-American War had a great impact on the Archdiocese of Baja California and San Diego, seperating the archdiocese into two distinct parts, forcing the Archbishop to seperate San Diego and allowing it to form its own diocese under the leadership of the enigmatic "Baron", a recent arrival to the city. Unwavering in his dogmaticism, the Baron was eventually brought under the charge of heresy by Lorenzo. It is believed that Lorenzo is still in possession of the Baron's torpored body. Upon the Baron's conviction a new Bishop was appointed, one more well suited to Lorenzo's taste.
He spent a significant amount of time travelling to cities with a significant Sanctified population throughout Mexico, ensuring the doctrinal purity of the Sect and battling the influence of the Circle of the Crone, hoping to break their indiginous mortal power base as much as possible. During his travels he picked up a mortal identity, which he has kept to this day within the Catholic Church, a man of significant power, coming directly from the authority of the Vatican itself. During this time in Mexico, the Inquisitor lived up to his mortal reputation in San Diego, however, his eye was not only trained on the Canaille, but anyone who dared defy the Sanctified or deny God.
In December 1912 Lorenzo travelled to Cripple Creek near the city of Colorado Springs to aide a Damned he had earlier converted in Mexico during his early years as a young Inquisitor. After two weeks in the area he returned to San Diego.
In the 1920's an Invictus of the Savage line arrived in San Diego. After a few brief years Beau Savage departed San Diego shortly before Prince Montenegro declared a bloodhunt upon him. His departure from the city heralded the disbanding of official court, an attempted Carthian coupe, and Montenegro's lapse into isolationism. More importantly, although the events surrounding Beau Savage's arrival and departure are not discussed by Lorenzo, Beau for whatever reason has earned Lorenzo's eternal enmity.
In the 1940s, during the wave of conservative movements throughout the United States, the Inquisitor took to travelling to various domains to aide those in overthrowing and putting down those who did not adhere to the Monachal Creed and who had the audacity to claim any title above that of Father. He made himself known to be an enemy of the burgeoning White Sunday Movement and when the Exotheist Manifesto appeared on American soil one of the more quiet, yet effective, voices of opposition. It was rumored that during this period that Lorenzo himself was named an agent of the Synod as he roamed the Southwest and the Midwest, and it was they, who finally annointed him. When the Synods disappeared in 1966, Lorenzo saw to the enforcement of the oaths individuals had sworn to the Syndics, making it known that despite their absensce, apostacy from the orthodox would not be tolerated.
It was not until 2006 when Lorenzo reappeared in the society of the Damned in Colorado Springs after a long hiatus away from the peering eyes of the Danse Macabre. It is speculated he wandered to find enlightenment from God after a period of ennui and doubt. However, with his reappearance he had a fanatical fervor to his faith akin to the one he had as an early embrace in San Diego.
He appeared at the side of Bishop Padre Espinalda. It is not known how Lorenzo and the Padre know each other, however, it is speculated that they perhaps are broodmates, but neither individual speaks of it.
Upon Padre Espinalda's annointing as Archbishop of Colorado, Lorenzo was named High Inquisitor of the state.
In modern nights many have commented on how the Inquisitor, once a level headed and calm man, grows more and more obviously angry at the world around him. They see him lash out at any who do not share his singular vision of the Lance as being lesser and flawed theologians. He has become vocally antagonistic to the Curia and many of the Cardinals, calling Kenzie Dumont a diablolical Prophetess in private. He seems to be retreating further and further into the inflexible confines of a strict dogma, becoming more and more conservative of Faith. Some say that it is simply that it is the sign of an Elder to cling desperately to what their faith is and was in defiance of modernity. Others perhaps view it with a bit more skepticism, saying that the Elder Mekhet is falling into madness and zealotry, a sign that he may shortly enter Torpor.
[edit] Pertinent Theology
These are excerpts from Lorenzo's notes and journals and while the general opinions may be known nebulously, the verbatim wording below is not .
Heresy & Blasphemy
Heresy is a perversion of the Orthodox faith. As there is One God, there can only be One Church, One Faith, and One Creed. Any deviation from the authority of God is heresy, and heresy is the worse of all sins. Let it not be confused - heresy does not and can not exist for the Lance amongst those who follow the Ordo Dracul, who blaspheme against God, and the pagans of the Circle of the Crone, who mock creation by their denial of His omnipotence and omniscience. Only those who hold to the divinity of Christ and hold themselves to at least the appearance of embracing the Testament of Longinus can be held as heretics. Any creed or faith that deviates from the Orthodoxy of the Lance as written by the Monachus as to defy or corrupt its teachings can be considered heretical, any opinion or doctrine in philosophy, theology, politics, science, or art at variance with the teachings of Longinus, is to deny, by deed, word, and thought, the infinite perfection of God. Such things are not acceptable and deserve no quarter, for to stand in opposition to God is to stand with the Adversary. There is no greater enemy than the Adversary that masquerades as a wolf of the Lord.
Perhaps some would ask my to explain what I mean when I state that blasphemy is different from heresy. Blasphemy is a much easier enemy to identify, for it is far more bold and far less insidious. Blasphemy traditionally is a statement or deed taken in direct contradition to the revealed will of God. It also includes taking the Lord's name in vain, or speaking of the Lord in impious and irreverent ways. This is not the same as heresy, which I explain above. Next will come the question why I hold the Ordo Dracul to be blasphemers. To this I respond that my understanding of the Ordo Dracul is weak, however, from what I do know they are alchemists and practice sorcerous arts that seek to defy the curse laid upon the Damned by God. Such defiance is blasphemy.
God has created all things within a divine order, such cannot be denied. Within the divine order, even damned beings such as ourselves have a place. God can not and does not err, and as such no damnation and no life is a mistake and has a place within the divine hierarchy. Even in damnation there is a hierarchy of predators and the hierarchy of the Sanctified, according to Longinus and the greatest Damned theologians, reflects the heirarchy of God. To deny such, to embrace equality among all, such a thing is heretical as it is a perversion and denial of God's plan. It mocks God and all of His creation. The Tollison Creed, born of American idiocy embraces equality and denies their own purpose and place in God's plan. The Tollison Creed not only embraces equality, thus denying the divine hierarchy, it also limits those who follow their Creed on whom they may feed. This mocks their charge by God to punish the godless and chase man back into the arms of the Lord. How such a thing has become acceptable I do not understand.
One can hardly call this collection of agnostics a true Creed. There is no statement of faith common to them all, nor do their ritual find commonality among any two covens of them. They deny the divinity of the Testament profaning it to be nothing but a philosophical treatise, when in truth, the Testament of Longinus is divinely inspired and is not open to revisionism, reinterpretation and debate as are philosophical treatises, nor is the Testament of Longinus a recommendation, nor is it opinion, the Testament of Longinus is undeniably Truth.
They deny the rituals and ritae on which the Monachal and Westminster creeds revolve. They make the false claim that we, as Damned, must create our own unique rituals by which to affirm our faith, not, as they say, create parodies of the rituals of the Canaille. The rituals and the ritae of the Damned, as expressed in the Monachal and Westminster Creeds are beyond question the product of divine inspiration. To alter and change these rituals is heresy and blasphemy against the eternal wisdom of God. For further illumination, the rituals of Catholic Church are divinely inspired, so it stands that God in his infinite Wisdom would inspire rituals pleasing to Him and the purpose of the Church. Then it stands that there would be great similarities between the rituals of the Lance and the rituals of the Church, for the rituals of the both the Catholic Church and the Monachal and Westminster Creeds share the same source, our Lord.
To speak of redemption is a sign of weak faith and openess to the suggestion of sin and heresy. To be of firm conviction and belief that upon His Second Coming one will find redemption and a place in Heaven is a sign of influence by the Adversary for we are truly Damned. God is infinite in his wisdom and God in perfect in his action; to say that God would change his mind is to say that God perhaps has acted in err, and to say such is the worst kind of blasphemy and heresy imaginable. The members of the Lance never should focus on the end of days as described in the Revelation of St. John. This book is not for us and we can not pay it any heed as Damned. To do so would distract us from our duty to God as his wolves among his flock. We must act in perfect piety and perfect faith. To even think that there will be redemption for the Damned tarnishes piety and faith and transmutes it through selfish thought to an act of indulgence and sin, which is displeasing to the eyes of the Lord. No doubt, should redemption be possible, those who seek it will be denied it.
The Crucifix & Cross
These symbols have no power nor authority over the Damned and are reserved for those still blessed by the Lord. They represent the passion and sacrifice of Christ, in whom all Canaille find absolution of their sin and redemption in the eyes of the Lord. However, we are Damned, truly cast out from the redeeming qualities of Christ's blood. To were these symbols is blasphemous and is borderline heresy. However, some I have spoken to state that they wear these symbols because they are viewed by those outside of the Lance as symbols of our faith. We are beholden to make clear that we are denied the meaning of the cross and Crucifix and no Bishop, Archbishop or Cardinal should ever be found wearing such a symbols a testament of their faith.
Pagans & Heathens
Pagans are those who willfully deny the existence of the one true God and worship something that is not God. In general pagans can be classified as polytheists who acknowledge the existence of a multitude of archons and demons, and animists who worship creation itself. While I will not say that the pagans of the Circle of the Crone are beyond conversion, I would urge others not harass them or attempt aggressive conversion. Neither is beneficial to any party involved. They have willfully chosen to deny our Lord, but take comfort in that even though they stand as agents of the Adversary and even though they stand as enemies of our Lord, that they too even in their ignorance serve the indomnitable and omnipotent will of our Lord.
[edit] Sermons and Letters
[edit] Pertinent Politics
These are excerpts from Lorenzo's notes and journals and while the general opinions may be known nebulously, the verbatim wording below is not .
The Curia Cruentus
They attempt to usurp the power of the Archbishops, bisthops and Inquisitors. They state they are not a ruling body, and they state that they are not in it for power nor authority, yet I am filled with doubt. Their actions to date do not speak to these ends especially in the person of Cardinal Tiernan Callahan. More towit, how can such a council hold up the Testament and truly decide heresy when it is filled with heretics? Their will has no power over the Lord, and therefor they will never have power over me.
As there is a divine order to all things, the First Estate fits into this Order. I support the notion of the First Estate and in general support the First Estate, although I reserve to withold my support should they withdraw themselves from their support of the Lance or act in ways not beneficial to the Lance. My duty to God is first in my heart, my duty to the Lance is second. Should neither of those things conflict with the best interest of the Invictus, then they will have my support.
I once remember a story regarding an upstart Covenant of neonates and ancilla that changed the world forever... that was at the end of the Roman Empire. I will not discout these upstarts out of hand.
[edit] Character Inspirations
- Bernard Gui as written by Umberto Eco in Name of the Rose
[edit] Character Connections
I am always looking to create more background connections with other PCs. I, as a player, am open to anything that would fit the mood of the character. Perhaps your character visited San Diego and were persecuted for heretical beliefs. Perhaps you are looking for an IC mentor for your character, or an inspiration to faith, or an inspiration to hatred. Perhaps you persecuted him for his ultra Orthodox beliefs or engaged him in debate via correspondence.
I am also looking for a sire and broodmates, if you are interested in this aspect of the character I'll be willing to discuss the situation surrounding his embrace in further detail.
[edit] Rumors and Damned Lies
Please feel free to post rumors you have heard about this PC here
- He has never killed a single Damned, regardless of their sins.
- Maintains a private lair reserved for the most eggregious offenders of Sanctified Faith.
- Rumored to have been embraced from Crassus stock.
- It is rumored that Lorenzo exists in a permanent state of doubt, never having been able to learn the miracles of Theban Sorcery.
- It is said that the Inquisitor was partly responsible for the ascension of the latest Pope through his ties to the Vatican's Office of Doctrinal Purity.
[edit] IC Quotes
We are engaged in a true spiritual battle, the forces of God are pitted against the forces of the Adversary. To better engage and overcome the forces of the Devil, it is better to cut off a man's arm than allow him to sin with it, it is better to gouge out a man's eye than allow him to lust with his eyes, and it is better to end a man's life in a state of grace, than to allow him to further the cause of evil.
In this fallen world there are but two sides. There is the side of righteousness which is the side of God, and then there is the side of corruption which is the side of the Adversary. To comprimise, to yeild to any notion, thought, or deed which is not firmly entrenched in the righteousness of our divine Purpose is made in defiance of God and is an action taken on behalf the Adversary. This in any person laying claim to the Lance is tantamount to the gravest of blasphemies and is tantamount to heresy.
God is perfect in all ways. He is immutable and unchanging. He is eternal. As such, His will and plan for the Damned is likewise unchanging, immutable, and eternal. To attempt to deny the Testament or the writings of the Monachus in total or in part is heresy. To attempt to alter and change the Lance, as built upon the foundations of faith, piety, and Damnation as described in the Testament and in the writings of the Monachus is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit itself. For such a thing, only the ressurection of hell awaits. They are truly the enemies of the Lance and no quarter shall be given unto them.
[edit] Playlist
This is Heresy - Christian Death
Here to Stay - Korn
Awakening - The Damning Well
Redeemer - Marilyn Manson
Heaven's a Lie - Lacuna Coil
Judith - A Perfect Circle
The Grudge - Tool
Sacred Lie - Disturbed
Avoid the Light - Pantera
The End Has Come - Ben Moody
Bleed - Puddle of Mud
Sin - Nine Inch Nails
No Time To Cry - Cradle of Filth
Ashes - Danzig
Guilty - Gravity Kills
The Divine Enigma - Christian Death
