Description
A short and broad shouldered middle-aged man. He has full cheeks
and his hair is grey and tonsured.
History
Ancel is a Franciscan friar but he is also a member of the secret Society
of Leopold. The Society of Leopold has existed in parallel, but separate,
from the Holy Church for centuries. A learned society most, but not
all, are members of the Church others are scholars and concerned nobles.
All are dedicated in the purpose of the destruction of the demons that
walk the face of the earth, specifically vampires. Bitter experience
has taught the Society the importance avoiding the vast temporal power
of the Children of Cain (even over the Holy Church!), of working from the
shadows and hiding their true purpose. The Society is aware of the
existance of other shadow orders, such as the secret 'Order of St. Paul'
which deals primarily with exorcism, within the Church but chooses to limit
interaction with them. Every once in great while an apparently ordinary
girl is ‘Chosen’, endowed with miraculous physical powers to fight against
these demons. The Chosen are quite rare, there is never more than
one of the Chosen in any geographic location, usually about one per Tribunal
sized area. The process and reasons behind the creation of a ‘Chosen One’
is little understood though it does seem to be magical in nature rather
than directly divinely inspired. Some experts claim to have noticed
a vague similarity between the powers of a Chosen in action and the rites
and forms used by the Order of Hermes. The Society of Leopold has noticed
that a new Chosen One seems to be only created upon the death of a previous
Chosen. The Society has also noticed that there always seems to be
a member of their organization nearby who rapidly forms an unusually close
relationship with the new Chosen One, usually as a mentor. Relations
between the Society and the Order of Hermes are generally good; both groups
have many of the same enemies and scholarly bent.
Growing up the younger son of a minor but politically active noble family Ancel was indoctrinated from early on with three things; the Church, politics and the importance of a good education. As a young man Ancel fell in with a group of troubadours and was soon fast friends with one in particular their leader Folquet de Marseilles. Folquet was troubled and looking for a change in direction in his life, Ancel encouraged him to enter the Church. Soon after, because their large array of acquaintances made them excellent canidates, both Ancel and Folquet were inducted into the Society of Leopold together. Over the years Ancel and Folquet have helped the Society root out many infestations Lucifer’s spawn. The problem with so many of the members of the Society of Leopold being members of the Church is that, in spite of Society rules, it is dangerously easy for them to get mixed up in the politics of the Church. The now Bishop Folquet has continuously pressed for the Society to take a more proactive approach to combating not just Demons but the enemies of the Holy Church and to Ancel it became clear that this meant rather the enemies of Folquet. Relations between the two former friends have collapsed into bitter acrimony.
Ancel is by no means a warrior, his job has always been to watch for signs of corruption and report that to his superiors. Unfortunately, one time his pryings did not go unnoticed and he found himself one night alone and attacked in an alley. Ancel thought he was certain to die but out of nowhere a figure appeared, a girl, who moved with amazing speed and agility and destroyed his attackers. Ancel knew at once that she was a Chosen One and that he had to save her as she had saved him.
This girl was Jacqueline, daughter of a local blacksmith. At the
prompting of Ancel and upon the examination of her superhuman abilities
by the Questior Dlibro she became a member of the Order of Hermes.
This was over the objections of many in the Order who see Beschuetzer’s
totally non-Hermetic origin as reason enough to exclude her.
The Questior Dlibro felt that however inexplicable her powers and origin
might be she was obviously a powerful worker in magic and she would be
best in the Order rather than out of it. Ancel feared the growing
influence of the Bishop over the Society and wanted to keep Beschuetzer
safe and independent by having her join the allied Order of Hermes.
The Society was appalled though they had to admit that there was technically
nothing wrong with it, Ancel was even able to convince some that it would
be good for the Society by strengthening ties with the Order. The
Bishop thought this was just a bunch of hot air designed to cheat him of
a powerful weapon. Jacqueline probably did not really understand what all
the fuss was about.
Personality
If a bit over talkative Ancel is personable and outgoing, unless anything
to do with the subject of Bishop Folquet comes up, which these days includes
just about anything to with the Church, politics or the Society of Leopold.
Ancel delights in traveling and meeting new people and over the years has
come to know an amazing array of contacts thought the land. In any
given place there is a pretty good chance that at least one person, whether
they be of high or low status, he will be acquainted with. There
is no reasoning with Ancel about his former friend Folquet, anything to
do with that subject will infuriate him.
Quote
“Ah …come in I have good news! I have heard from one of my friends
in the Duke’s palace that ….
View of the World and Its Powers
The Church: That Damm Folquet!!! [rage, rant, rage, etc]
The Faith: For me it is the Reason, … and if it was not for that Damn Bishop Folquet I and a lot of other people [rage, rant, rage, etc]!
The Gift: It is something that I do not really understand except that it is a gift that must come from God. It is up to us mortals to use it for Good, which means keeping it out of the hands of that Damn Bishop Folquet [rage, rant, rage, etc]!
The Order: A fractious and sinful lot, they are nonetheless useful in the fight against the Spawn of Lucifer.
The Nobility: A fractious and sinful lot, they are nonetheless useful in the fight against the Spawn of Lucifer. It has not escaped my notice how so many of them prostate themselves before the throne of that Damn Bishop Folquet [rage, rant, rage, etc]!
The Fey: The Fey of this land can be particularly nasty compared to those in other lands, but I know Nobert the of the Lutins Fey who might be able to help us.
The Infernal: Children of the Night, Spawn of Lucifer. Horrible and corruptive. The most evil and tormenting creations in existence.
The Divine: Glorious and beautiful. All that is good and pure.
Rules
Ancel has Faerie Lore and Occult Lore talents. Officially these
talents are only available to members of the Order. Ancel’s
background could have provided him with access to this information.
Obviously The White Wolf gaming company and the Ars Magica gaming system have long ago parted ways but I think the idea of the Society of Leopold is just too useful to forget. I have not read the complete details of the Society of Leopold from the 'Vampire, The Masquerade' game system by 'White Wolf' so I do not know which details of the organization might conflict with official published information.
Enemies: Bishop Folquet de Marseilles (see A Medieval Tapestry pg 44-46). His story would have to be changed to the Rouen local.
Fury: Folquet, his influence and use of the Society of Leopold
and the Church.