Name: Wilton Jacobs AKA Father Divine Type: Mesmerist Allegiance: none Origin: Low Class
Physical
|
Social
|
Mental
|
Character
|
Inspiration:(5) Pool(9)
|
Strength:2
|
Charisma:5
|
Perception:3
|
Virtue:Coward
|
Intuitive:1
|
Dexterity:2
|
Manipulation:4
|
Intelligence:2
|
Vice:Hedonist
|
Reflective:3
|
Stamina:3
|
Appearance:2
|
Wits:4
|
Willpower:7
|
Destructive:1
|
Physical: Brawl (1) Firearms (1) Melee ( 2, straight razor) Endurance(3, preach all night) Resistance ( 3, drink all night)
Social: Savvy (2) Subterfuge (3) Command (4) Etiquette (3) Perform (3) Rapport (4, gauge people quick)
Mental: Awareness (3) Medicine (3) Drive (2) Occult*(1, knows enough to get scared)
Backgrounds: Allies(1) Followers (4) Influence (1+) Reputation (3) Resources (2)
Knacks: Hypnotic Presence, Inspirational Aura, Touch of Life, Mystick Sink, Omen Sight, Sleight of Will,
Initiative(7) Soak (3/1) Movement:Walk (Dex+2m) Run(Dex+12m) Sprint(DexX3+20m)
Bruised (-0) Hurt (-1) Injured (-1) Wounded (-2) Maimed(-3) Crippled (-4) Incapacitated,
Weapon
|
Damage
|
Accuracy modifier
|
Rate/Clip/ Conceal
|
Notes:
|
Small revolver
|
3 Lethal
|
pocket
|
in his armpit
|
|
Straight Razor
|
Str+2 Lethal
|
pocket
|
in his boot
|
Additional notes:
Equipment: Carries the above weapons at all times. carries a bible, a hip flask, and a deck of cards
Appearance/Clothing Tendencies: Tends to go in for gaucherie. thinks that a string tie is the height of fashion. if polyester existed, he'd be all over it. Snakeskin boots and slicked back black hair. Sharp eyes that miss little and a body that's running to fat.
House, Circle, Influence: His Ally is a large and possibly psychotic goon named Josiah. Josiah would cut his own throat if Father Divine asked him to. Has a large following among the poor and disaffected of the city. This following is augmented by the weekly radio show that the good father hosts every Sunday. (Influence slowly grows over the course of the chronicle) Father Divine has a reputation as a devout hot gospeller with the ability to heal by faith alone. His resources are enough to keep him and his church together. His resources would be much higher if he could keep from skimming off the church and spending it on cards, whiskey, and whores.
What has gone Before: Wilton Jacobs was a backwoods boy. He grew up nothing special and aside for a taste for moonshine and some luck with the local girls it was figured that he would live and die in that corner of the world.
A traveling tent revival changed all that. Wilton was a smart kid and realized he had the gifts to go into that line of work. and that's exactly what he did.
He left home and began a traveling revival of his own. It was successful enough that he invented a seminary degree from a seminary that didn't exist and became a doctor of divinity. He found a city where he could ensconce himself and build a church.
His own tendency towards sin would have gotten him in the end. He is a huge hypocrite and regular gambler, womanizer and heavy drinker. It would have come out eventually...Except for his powers. They came on slow. Wilton realized that he could pretty much make the crowd believe anything. he decided to test how far this extended by attempting a faith healing...and was as shocked as anyone when a fellow tossed away his crutches and got up and walked! Sometimes this happens because a person gets so ramped up but this fellow kept walking afterward...truly healed.
Is the lord working through this imperfect vessel? or has the devil merely given his favorite the best sort of tools?
Story Uses:
The Scumbag: The are any number of ways that the man might come to the attention of players. Perhaps one of their allies is a devotee of his radio program or belongs to the church. perhaps they notice this ally is always broke because he's poor and giving too much to the church. Perhaps, the PC's discover the reverend's unpleasant proclivities during an unrelated investigation and expecting blackmail, he decides to strike first. Perhaps, the PC's are the sort of shady types who are aware of the Reverend. (rumor has it that those who have tried to blackmail him in the past have met with grisly ends.) Players who go after him will find themselves confronted by fanatical followers, His potent growing influence, His command of mob psychology, and his potent mesmerist abilities. he keeps his Sleight of Will a closely held secret and on at least one occasion, an investigator saw the churches cooked account books disappear from their hands into thin air.
A Soul in Torment: It is entirely possible that Wilton is a man of faith and can be played as such. true he's not a real good man of faith. His vices are many but this does not detract from the fact that he a genuinely compelling man who has brought faith into the lives of many and has the ability to heal. Perhaps the players can help the man turn it around.
Author's Note: This character is based on a real life person of the period who basically ran a church very much like this. he had a huge following and a suspect personal life. The real life Father Divine was a black man and you can, of course, cast this Father Divine as any color you choose. The race question may add an additional layer to your story and give your players an additional obstacle to overcome. (Naturally, any charges against the man can be written off by the parishioners as blatant racism.)
