Lucien Gaspar

Senior Voice of the Congregation of Abundant Refrains
Templar of the Crossroads Chantry
Preceptor of the Militia Christi
Sergeant of the Convent

Description


~An aging soldier arrives, but he's a different kind of soldier. Lucien Gaspar stands tall and boasts a lean quality with but a touch of developing fat most evident in his rounding jowls. He does appear to be at least 45 and perhaps as much as old as 55. He sweeps a bit of dust from the broad shoulder of his heavy gray overcoat. Clearly, Luc takes pride in the expense of his attire; he wears only pricey namebrand suits beneath the coat. The cadence of his step echoes with the click of suede dress shoes. Frosty-blue eyes scan the area. Crow's feet and wrinkling brow testify to his constant vigilance. Lucien's chin tilts high, his high-sculpted features and broad nose suggesting high social rank. The haughty expression does not seem to compliment the heavy silver crucifix that dangles around his neck. The gold and silver ring on one finger might lend a clue, but its symbol is unrecognizable. Wherever Lucien Gaspar goes, the air of holiness he might hope to evoke falls away, replaced with the far more frightening whirlwind of crusading war. He drinks the blood of Christ with every Communion, but he drinks the blood of the Devil everyday, too.~

OOC: Appearance 2; Arcane 1

"In the name of Christ, yield to His mercy now or burn in Hell!"

History


Gaspar Manor

The Gaspars always commanded a legacy within the knighthood of the Templars. Conrade Gaspar was the proud father of one son and two daughters. Those children were mothered by Ide, who was fortunate enough to be married into this well-to-do family as her own noble lineage faltered. Marie was the oldest child, Veronique the youngest, and Lucien the name they gave to their only son.

The very traditional Gaspar family still dwelled on their family manor located in the French countryside. Not far from the village of Artenay, in the Orleans province, the estate boasted a farm and blueblood wealth extending back generations. Luc's father managed it all, hiring hands to help with the fields and orchards of wheat, barley, grapes, and apples. A full staff ran this isolated home. Professionals, such as a doctor and schoolteacher, were brought into the Gaspar home as needed.

It was 1938 when Lucien was born, and from infancy he was told the tales of the Templar Knights. He was raised strictly Catholic naturally, but was advised not to allow zeal overcome his good senses. Compassion was what Christianity was about first. All the same, being a knight included learning how to fence and fight -- to defend the innocent and the Church, of course. Lucien eagerly accepted the glorious role his family legacy shared. His own father was an ordained knight and a good one at that. Lucien's father wielded the Gaspar heirloom: L'Amecle, a holy sword, which was promised to Luc upon adulthood. Conrade made sure his son understood the secrecy of the Order, but at the same time instilled both chivalry and a sense of pragmatics.

During World War II, the Gaspars did what was right and shielded fleeing Jews from the Nazis. They were given sanctuary while Lucien watched on and learned all the things he could of life as a knight while still a boy. He was even educated in financial affairs, and often remained by his father's side as the man conducted daily affairs of the manor. Lucien didn't have friends: there was no one living close enough to play with. But he at least had his sisters, who feeling the same isolation were more than happy to be tomboys and play games with their brother.

But life wasn't all fun and games for Lucien. World War II was hard for the Gaspars in occupied France, but they capitulated to the Nazis' demands and satisfied their occupiers with hefty ransoms. Worse for the boy was his inability to ever pass a truly restful night. He got all the sleep he needed, but his dreams were troubled, plagued by nightmares he couldn't put his finger on. He could never describe the images, and was simply haunted with a lingering and palpable sensation of dread. Luc rarely smiled because of that. Yet when he did smile, it seemed to brighten the whole room. Only through prayer, however, did the young Gaspar elude what misery languished in his life. Indeed, his reverence deepened over the years, and Lucien spent less time with his sisters and parents and more and more time in the estate chapel. There he kneeled before the Cross, praying for God to give him destiny, to give him a role beyond the laissez-faire financing his father performed.

Knighthood

No sign came. Lucien was called a man at the age of seventeen. His father presented him with L'Amecle, and Lucien found he could wield the sword with ease. It felt light as a feather in his grasp, as if it had been forged for him alone. It was time for the young man to leave behind his family home, but he was not off to join a militia. First he had to complete his education as a knight. To do that, he was sent to a theological seminary that the Templars secretly ran. There Lucien studied for five long years, graduating finally in 1960 as an ordained layman of the Catholic Church.

At the Cathedrale de Payens near Paris, Luc met with other Knights Templar. He spoke with them about their lifestyles, their crusades, and what he could expect if he followed their footsteps as soldiers of Christ. After some forethought, young Lucien Gaspar took up the vows of knighthood, promising decency, faith, loyalty, adherence to Christian virtues, and a monastic (but not celibate) lifestyle.

Thus began Sir Lucien's service to the Militia Christi, continuing his family legacy. He made his parents and sisters proud and wielded L'Amecle with dignity and honor. And his first mission was as one of several bodyguards for a Parisian leader in the Order, Marshal Vinson Norris. These few years with Marshal Norris were largely quiet and uneventful. Nothing dangerous happened at first. So Luc filled his hours with constant training, study, and prayer. His comrades thought he was a bore, but the Awakened Marshal Norris saw potential in Lucien. He wrote of his thoughts about Lucien to his own superiors in Paris.

Lucien was especially careful to avoid forming too many habits. It wasn't that Lucien feared becoming predictable so much as he realized other knights founded a routine and surrendered themselves to it. They trained and prayed without real thought. Luc didn't want the same to happen to him. He devoted himself to his tasks, allowing only one real habit to form. Everyday without fail, even days Luc had nothing to do, he woke up at dawn. And he meditated and prayed to God without fail as the first rays of the sun touched his face.

Unexpected Illuminations

In 1965, unfortunate tragedy struck the Norris Household. Conflicts between the Templars and local vampires known as Toreador came to a sudden climax. The Toreador Primogen of Paris, Zeno Archambault, led an assault on the household. Twenty police-style commandoes, all ghouled and enthralled by Zeno, stormed the house without warning. There were only six knights, Lucien and Marshal Norris included, and only the Marshal was Awakened!

And their skills, heralded from an illustrious line of knightly training, did not avail them. Zeno employed his dark gifts to radiate such charisma that most of the knights could not bear to even look upon the vampire, never mind strike him. Most of the commandoes were slain but it was at a heavy cost: all but Lucien fell. Even Vinson Norris died that night. Only Lucien was able to resist the powers of Zeno to get close enough to strike the devil. L'Amecle bit deeply but the vampire blurred around Luc, too fast for the human knight to keep up. He was struck down and then drained of blood, nearly slain there. After the raid, the vampire and his surviving ghouls departed, leaving Lucien for dead.

Other Templars soon arrived, responding to the emergency beacon Norris set off. Only Lucien survived the attack and barely. He was given over to an abbey to recover. At death's door, Luc faced a crisis of faith. He could surrender to death and despair or fight on to save humanity from future tragedies like that of the vampire, in God's name and grace. As Lucien lay dying, he made his choice. He chose to fight if only God would heal him. Suddenly, the room brightened like golden Heaven. Lucien sat up with a gasp, restored. He received his sign at last.

Revisions

As Lucien's Awakening was realized, the leading monk of the abbey, Resommeil, took over Lucien's recovery. And the young knight's recuperation became a new education. Resommeil was a former knight, retired now to the life of a true monk, but was more than happy to teach new students. Lucien was unusual though in how long it took for him to Awaken; most were illuminated in their adolescence, their stronger link to God forged early. All the same, Lucien adapted well to what his new senses could feed him: he saw the world through new eyes, as if everything had brightened and deepened in meaning. Of course, Luc felt prepared for this role all his life.

So with Resommeil's assistance, Lucien learned how faith and science, how esoterica and exoterica, could mix. He learned how to apply God's will and gifts in battle and in everyday life. Lucien never took any of it for granted and revered the gifts now afforded him, as well as the sparing of his life. While Resommeil warned that modern Knights Templar, even the Awakened ones, had to be especially subtle, Lucien was struck by another realization. The despair of the visions God sent him only fueled his dedication. The world didn't need another banker, Lucien silently scolded his mentor (and the whole Order), it needed more heroes. Luc saw himself more like the knights of eld than the financiers of the modern era, and he was determined to stick to that model even if it meant he would never rise high in rank.

Not that Resommeil objected to Lucien's ambitions, mind you! The monk's tutelage of Lucien proved fairly short, thanks to the years of pre-education Luc already received. In 1968, Lucien was ready for the final test before Resommeil would submit his graduation as a fully Awakened Knight Templar to the Order. An obstacle course was presented to Lucien in the fields outside the abbey and in the halls within. But this was no mundane course. There were illusions to penetrate, and the same divine awareness was required at times to discern the sole method of broaching a particular obstacle, such as a sheer wall he was supposed to somehow get through. And Lucien was not permitted to use his gifts, his Arts, to physically overcome the obstacles. He could only use his extraordinary senses and resolve the problems with his mind. Resommeil wanted Lucien to learn from this test when were the right times to use his Arts. Luckily, Lucien was a bright young man, and soon puzzled his way through the entire challenge. Resommeil congratulated him and promised he would enjoy a bright future as a Knight Templar reborn!

Majestic Revenge

Seneschal Paul Siffres, Commander of Security, assigned Lucien to first job. Lucien was to avenge Marshal Vinson Norris and the other knights murdered by the undead. Lucien was given a team of (unAwakened) knights and financial advisors to carry out this task, which he dove into with relish. The financiers Lucien directed to begin probing and inquiring into the economic affairs of the Toreador Primogen, picking up where Norris left off. But unlike Norris, Lucien wasn't interested in the money. He wanted to incite the same response Zeno Archambault gave last time: a physical backlash.

After a few years of research and constant financial probes, Lucien instigated what he wanted. But this time he was prepared, as were his brethren. The house was mined -- literally -- so when the commandoes broke in, the explosions tore through their bodies. And instead of an unexpected response with revolvers and swords like last time, Lucien's comrades riddled the survivors of the mines with rifles from down the halls. Zeno himself recognized the folly he'd made -- what had worked so well last time was a massacre for his side this time. But he could not escape the house before facing Lucien's holy wrath. This time, Lucien proved too strong. Unfazed by Zeno's Majesty, Lucien saluted with his sword and readied for battle. While Zeno was demonically quick, Lucien only needed to hit the vampire once. He struck Zeno's head off with L'Amecle, thereby avenging his former master at last.

This "tour de force" brought the other Toreador vampires of Paris to the negotiating table with the Templars a few months later. And it seemed that that was what the Order wanted all along, to initiate financial trades. Paul let Lucien attend the meetings, to witness the benefits he helped the Order acquire in addition to revenge. The "Prince of Paris", the leading vampire there, was also the sire of Zeno. Francois Villon was outraged that the Order permitted his childe's murderer to be present at the negotiations. He snapped and stood in Lucien's face, not striking him but threatening his very life, his very soul. A dark gaze that would turn most men and even other vampires to quivering pudding provoked only a grimace of disgust from Lucien. Unfazed by vampiric attempts to sway his emotions, Lucien calmly volleyed the threats and derision. He felt in his heart for that moment a breath of relief. Despite all the blights and wickedness and sorrow that claimed the Earth and would dominate it come the Apocalypse, Lucien saw hope. The hope he saw was simple: the line drawn between good and evil was clear as day to those who had the courage to see it. Francois Villon was a villain and Lucien was still the hero, and for that fact he thanked God.

La Chambre Forte de Christ

With that assignment completed, Commander Siffres gave Lucien a new job. He was given a detachment of (unAwakened) young knights and assigned to La Chambre Forte de Christ -- "The Vault of Christ". This was vault contained many of the Templars' physical treasures, including gold, famous art, and religious relics dating back centuries. The place was based under what supposed to be a monastery just outside of Paris.

Lucien was not pleased with this inglorious role, but he remained a dutiful steward. He took the opportunity to focus on his skills and gifts, honing them to a fine polish. Lucien lived a severe lifestyle as well and expected his men to at least try to meet the same standards. Most of them did, so there was little argument there. Luc secretly confessed that he was growing more and more disillusioned with the Order. Studying current events was one of the greatest fetters that kept him faithful to the Militia Christi. Reading about the disdainful behavior of liberal atheists and conservative Muslims sickened him.

Only once did La Chambre Forte de Christ come under direct threat. The betrayers of the Order of Reason, now called the Technocratic Union, tried unsuccessfully to seize the assets contained within the vault through legal means. When those means were thwarted, they dispatched a team of professional robbers in 1977. Though the robbers broke into the vault, Lucien and his knights made sure they never left it alive. This one bit of action did little to assuage Lucien's hunger for greater glory in God's name.

His family was more worried for Lucien than he was for himself, however. Both of his sisters had long ago been married to fine gentlemen. And here Luc was, nearly 40, and apparently not the slightest bit interested in marriage. With his family's assistance, he was acquainted to a fine lady, Corette Aluin. Lucien courted Corette virtuously for two years, but she ended up breaking off the relationship before the end of 1979. She complained that Lucien was "too old"; although only barely over 40, he knew he was acting far older. His severe lifestyle did not leave much passion for romance: it all went to God. Lucien hadn't taken a vow of celibacy but he may as well have.

Antipathy

Finally, Lucien's break came in 1980. His superiors selected him for a special mission due to his age, skill, and experience. It was his vital task to physically protect the Catholic Church in non-Western lands versus the hatred and bigotry it often faced in such places. He was given a team of ten knights, two of were Awakened like he (though not his age), and they were all dispatched to Cairo, Egypt. There Lucien and the new team of knights all swore oaths of loyalty to one another, renaming their team Eclat de Ciel -- "Radiance of Heaven".

Naturally, Lucien suspected that this more righteous role in the Militia Christi was merely a smokescreen for more subtle, even shady, Templar activities in the region. Perhaps the Order was snatching up ancient treasures or achieving political gains. Whatever his superiors' ulterior motivations may have been, Lucien attacked his defensive role with a newfound vigor. He and his cabal often dealt with hate crimes directed at the Church. Most often it was nothing more than vandals, ruffians, harassers. Most often they were poor Muslims. The Eclat de Ciel investigated and punished such common punks, usually with nothing more than a gentle castigation. Sometimes Lucien and his men had to get a little rough, but it was never more than simple fisticuffs.

While stationed in Egypt, Lucien decided there was no better time than now to study Islam further. He read the Koran back to back and examined Muslim theologians' ideas. He came to a simple conclusion: Catholicism was the best religion after all. Studying Islam only reinforced his commitment to Christ and the Church. He knew that there had to be a balance of compassion and piety with fair rule. The theocracy of the Catholic Church was the only way that would be achieved. Secularists had no interest in piety, and most often worshipped nothing but technology. But rule by shaaria, the rule of Islam law, was just as evil. Its active discouragement of faith-questioning, which all theologians recognized as a basis of fortifying faith, as well as its breeding of racism, made it clear that fair rule was not possible. There would be only totalitarianism; therefore, Islam in practice was as evil as social-secularism. The world would only suffer more, Lucien concluded, if any religion besides Catholicism were to take the reins of world power.

Don't Go Looking For Snakes…

Despite Lucien's growing disgust for Muslims and the post he was required to occupy, he did not seek out trouble where there was none. Thus, it was not well into his tour of duty in Cairo that danger spawned. Not until 1987 were terrorist-like threats issued to the Catholic Church of Egypt. Lucien and his team investigated quickly and moved to exterminate the extremists planning attacks. They intended to bomb every Catholic Church in Egypt at the same time. The Eclat de Ciel discovered their hideout and attacked.

Alas, it was something of a trap. The human terrorists behind the scheme were ignorant to the intentions of their secret backers: vampires of the clan known as Followers of Set, that old and dark god of Egyptian myth. The Setites detonated explosives in the hideout, tearing through the terrorists and knights alike. When Lucien recovered consciousness and dug his wounded body out of the rubble, he discovered that the undead had captured some of his brothers. Intolerable!

The knights that were captured were subjected to torture and degradation as the Setites interrogated them for information on Gnostic Christians. Apparently, the Setites assumed the Knights Templar would know where some of their secret enclaves in Egypt were hidden. Whatever the undead wanted, they didn't get a lot of time with their prisoners. Lucien led the rescue after divining the dungeon in which they were contained. The vampires that stood in the knights' path were purged by holy radiance, turning them to ash in mere moments. Sadly, the captive knights who were set free committed suicide; the degradation included the vampires forcing the knights to betray their Oaths, and the knights couldn't bear themselves any longer. Lucien couldn't stop them from self-annihilation.

But Lucien could disobey command from on high and seek vengeance. He and the surviving knights swept across Egypt in perpetual "sting" operations. They attacked dens of crime and worked their way up the food chain to the minions of the Setites and sometimes to the Setites themselves. But the resilience of these snaky vampires came not from their physical power but their elusive behavior. Rarely were Lucien and his knights able to confront and destroy one of the vampires. Instead, they satisfied their bloodlust on ghouled minions: drug dealers, slave traders, and other vile filth of the criminal underworld.

In retaliation to this "Inquisition", the Setites instigated numerous hate crimes against Christian installations across Egypt. As Lucien withdrew from vengeance to defense, he found his team whittled down in time to just he and one other knight. They were withdrawn from Egypt in 1988 and sternly reprimanded for their disobedience and the repercussions that resulted.

Reflections

Lucien's growing disillusionment did not go unnoticed. The aging knight was sent home to relax. For the first time in decades, Lucien dwelled at that Gaspar Manor. From 1988 to 1995, he lived in his childhood home mostly alone. His parents were nearly dead and living with his sister Veronique. Both sisters were married off and lived with their new families. Hired staff managed the Gaspar Manor.

And it was largely left to them still. Lucien secluded himself away in reflection and meditation. He perused through old illuminations of the Militia Christi. The old works at least inspired the increase of God's gifted powers to the knight. While Luc still never missed his sunrise prayers, he questioned his faith more and more. He prayed, meditated, and handled lingering family affairs, legal and financial. None of it seemed to fulfill the knight, though Lucien had not surrendered entirely to despair.

Perhaps it was his hopes and fears that unconsciously called the bird in 1990. Nuage simply appeared one day while Lucien was out riding horseback on the countryside. They swiftly bonded as Lucien found himself able to empathically understand the hawk's intentions. He took Nuage's arrival and loyal companionship as a sign of God, and made sure this divine companion was with him thereafter. Though the zeal of his faith was down to a simmer after so many years, it had not faded entirely.

Old Guard

Finally, in 1995 he was called back to Paris to serve the Order once more. After a close encounter with assassins from the Technocracy, Seneschal Paul Siffres decided to beef up his own security team. There was now a space for the position of lead bodyguard, and that was offered to Lucien. The knight accepted and immediately set to work revitalizing the team of knights who were appointed to protect the Seneschal. The team was reorganized to be pre-emptively ready for any danger: action was faster than reaction, Lucien warned.

His innovations, discipline, and slow-burning ardor won him a friend in Paul Siffres. Even if the rest of the team was not required to accompany Paul on any particular event, Lucien was still invited. He traveled the world with the Seneschal, acquainting powerful world leaders as this high-ranking Templar Knight networked and politicized. Although this new job for Lucien was highly respectable, it still lacked the heroism he envisioned and clung to even through his depression all his life.

So Lucien's dismay lingered. He yearned for more still. And he prayed for anything. He would accept any role, he begged of God, that would truly instill glory and purpose. He surrendered himself to God's will during these days bleak prayer. In 2001, he made a new oath. No matter how terrible the world's doom, Lucien promised his heart, he would never stray from faith in God. Even if he were never delivered from ignominy, Lucien would stay true to Christ.

Shieldmate

And in 2005, it seemed his devotion finally paid off. He received a sudden new assignment, passed down from the Grand Master of the Order personally. Paul Siffres hated to see Lucien go, but he knew Luc was the best man for this new job. In Paris, Luc met with Camille Beauvais, one of the few female knights the Order ever ordained.

Camille was more than that though. She was destined to be the leader who, in the darkened days of Armageddon, would lead the free people of France and all of Europe, against the scourge of humanity -- the undead menace that would awaken in its most abominable and sinister glory. Unsurprisingly, the vampires wanted her dead now. Assassins already tried and nearly succeeded, murdering her former bodyguards. Now the plan was to give her the best guard the Order could offer -- Lucien Gaspar -- and send them away from Europe. They would have to start their lives anew in America, in preferably one of the less important regions (like the Kansas City area).

Lucien felt more ecstatic than he ever had. This was it! He could feel it in his bones. This was his duty and purpose, his destiny: to protect Camille Beauvais so she could fulfill her role. And while he knew he would probably die, Lucien's heart was dominated by this new role. He was more than willing to die for Camille, for God, for all of mankind, and he was glad he would die a true knight.

Familiar


Nuage answered Lucien's prayers for assistance from God sixteen years ago. The hawk is clearly of celestial origin, for it has not aged at all. He is not capable of communication with Lucien save through empathic urges -- which are patently clear to the knight. Together, out in the open, Nuage is a marvelous scout and aids in survival, too, by hunting prey. The real connection between Lucien and Nuage derives from their mutual love of dawn. Lucien's morning prayers never miss a bit at sunrise, and Nuage seems to bask in the words of praise and hope the Templar utters up to the heavens. In addition to the confidence in God that Nuage's presence restores through the hawk's soaring magnificience, Lucien can see through his companion's avian eyes for up to one hour a day. This makes Nuage a fantastic outdoors spy.

Significant Other


Assigned to Camille "Cammie" Beauvais as her protector in late 2005, Lucien accepted the duty with a dismal excitement. He knew he would die guarding her life, preserving her holy destiny--and it was a knight's death. Lucien was glad he would not perish in bed, Marshal over some ailing province. As they began to work together, however, their relationship budded into something more than either expected. They fell in love. Despite their Catholic stipulations, they both knew the order would never approve their marriage. They whispered secret oaths of love to each other and consummated the affair in secrecy. Hopefully, their love will strengthen their resolve to do the tasks that God appointed, and not turn them into cowards afraid of death because they prefer to languish in each other's arms.

Camille

Weakness
Crusader's Toll


Lucien is wise and steadfast about many things. But on other things, he's more stubborn than a donkey's rear end. Namely, Lucien is Catholic to the bone. Even Protestants are derided, but his cynicism is felt nowhere more than among non-Christians. Buddhism, animism, and Hinduism are dismissed as non-religions. Jews and atheists are regarded with suspicion and borderline contempt. And Muslims? They're the enemy. This bigoted viewpoint will forever stymie true spiritual growth and a recovery of true faith.

Likelihood of Corruption


Low.

In spite of his limited bigotry, Lucien has passed far too many tests to surrender now to the forces of evil and temptation. He's a stalwart knight dedicated to Christianity; the Devil will have far more success sending an army to slay him than any temptress would have to seduce him.

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Rest in peace, Rutger Hauer.