Simpkin Cotter

Simpkin Cotter was a mortal Dark Age carpenter who joined the Thomas' Men and Oculi Dei.

Biography

Simpkin Cotter was a London boy like a thousand others, growing up in a large family, many of whom didn't survive childhood. As he reached manhood, he had to choose between apprenticeship and poverty and wisely went for the former. He spent the next two years of his life in his master's carpentry shop or the local chapel. Perhaps it was the skill of the local preacher, or perhaps it was the profession that Jesus and Simpkin shared - carpentry - that awakened the lad's faith. Whatever it was, it affected him so deeply that when he caught a monk in the arms of a whore in a London back street, his first reaction was tell his preacher. When his preacher told him to keep his mouth shut, he took to watching the preacher in his rare free time, to see what had possessed him to so abuse God's Commandments.

Simpkin was not the only man watching the priest. A member of Thomas' Men had been watching both the monk and the priest for some months and was impressed to note how swiftly the unskilled boy learned their mutual secret: Membership in a sensualist pagan cult that seemed to offer certain members genuine diabolical power. He was of a mind to approach Simpkin when God intervened. Cotter was trailing the priest one evening and, to his delight, watched him meet with the monk. The two then met with a third hooded man and entered a house together. Simpkin managed to steal a glance through the window just as God showed him the truth. The third man's diabolic nature was laid bare to the young apprentice, who started screaming, "The Devil is here, the Devil is here" as loud as he could. The watching member of Thomas' Men calmly punched the lad into insensibility, made some excuse about drunken apprentices to the crowd that had gathered and escaped with the lad before the occupants of the house could emerge.

Simpkin spent the next six months of his life learning how to read and write English and Latin, while also learning the mechanisms of Thomas' Men. He proved a quick learner and an able spy. By Easter the following year, he was back on the streets of London, in the pay of the Men. He was serving God, and he was happy.

By 1215, Cotter was approaching middle age and had become the Men's most senior spy in London. The transition to serving the Oculi Dei made little difference in his life until the day the London chapter-house was destroyed in an hour of violence and blood. Simpkin was the first to find the bodies and the last to visit the house after it was emptied. The experience has given the quiet man a harder edge and an absolute loyalty to the Inquisition. Many of his fellows underestimate him because of his lowly background, especially the Norman Abbot Albert and Sir Robert Bernières. Simpkin doesn't mind: It's his information that's important, not his self-esteem. After all, isn't pride a sin?

Image

Simpkin is a typical Anglo-Saxon, of average height and stocky, with muddy brown hair. His mouth seems perpetually downcast and he has a habit of walking in a round-shouldered manner that makes him seem shorter than he is. He dresses exactly like every other artisan in London, except that he carries a slightly larger bag than most do. This, of course, houses his paper, pen and ink.

Influence

Considerable. Simpkin Cotter is a high-ranking member of the Oculi Dei, and most members of Thomas' Men have heard how he found a diabolic cult without any training or aid. He commands the loyalty of much of his order in England, and as such as a tremendous amount of information available.

Character Sheet

Order: Oculi Dei
Nature: Perfectionist
Demeanor: Survivor
Physical: Strength 2, Dexterity 2, Stamina 3
Social: Charisma 3, Manipulation 4, Appearance 2
Mental: Perception 4, Intelligence 4, Wits 4
Talents: Alertness 4, Athletics 2, Brawl 2, Dodge 2, Empathy 2, Leadership 4, Subterfuge 4
Skills: Commerce 2, Crafts 3, Etiquette 3, Melee 1, Performance 2, Ride 1, Stealth 3
Knowledges: Academics 2, Hearth Wisdom 1, Investigation 4, Law 2, Linguistics 3, Occult 3, Politics 3, Theology 2
Backgrounds: Allies 3, Contacts 5, Flock 2, Influence 1, Rank 4, Resources 3
Orisons: Eye of Vigilance, The Penitent Man
Endowments: (Benedictions) Gift of Second Sight, Heavenly Shepherd, Divine Liturgy, Water to Wine; (Psalms) Fiat Lux
Curses: (Anathemae) Lamb of God, Silent Vigil; (Interdictions) Suffer the Little Children
Virtues: Conscience 3, Self-Control 4, Courage 4
Piety: 7
Willpower: 6

References

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