Dietrich

(Last update: 16/11/96)

Father Dietrich is the newly-arrived priest, having taking over the duties of Jean-Pierre at the chapel after his death. In contrast to the friar, he is a large, gruff and intimidating man, and a strict Catholic. Not much else is known about him yet, but he seems to be rather suspicious of the Magi.

Basic Stats

Name: (Father) Dietrich
Gender: Male
Current Year: 1241 AD
Age: 43 (4 years of magical aging)
Year Born: 1202 AD
Decrepitude: 0
Size: +1
Confidence: 3
Height: 6'6"
Weight: 260lbs

Appearance

Few men can hold Father Dietrich's gaze. Leaning back to stare up past his huge frame, one is met by a broad stern face, framed with thick light brown hair and beard. His cold steel-grey eyes are very penetrating, enough to make all but the most strong-willed uneasy. When he speaks it is with a loud gruff voice, with a very slight German accent.

When performing his duties, he usually wears a large red robe and cassock, which barely contains his bulk. The wooden steps groan under his weight as he ascends to give his sermon, and he rests fists like hams upon the altar. When travelling, he wears a large suit of chain hauberk and carries a fearsome-looking mace, a throwback to his crusading days. He looks the part of an experienced warrior.

Origins

Dietrich was born in northern Germany, but as a boy he was brought up in a monastery near Lyon. Showing promise as a warrior, he was drafted in to the Crusades at the age of sixteen. He prefers not to talk about his experiences at that time, but twelve years later, disillusioned with the holy wars, he gave up his life as a soldier, and travelled around as an itinerant friar of sorts, hoping to make his peace with God. Eventually his travels took him to Perpignan where he settled down in the service of the Catholic church for a couple of years. Upon hearing of Jean-Pierre's demise, the senior officials thought that a replacement should be sent to Santare Hill, with the interdict under "review". Dietrich was selected as the ideal man for the job.

Characteristics

Int: -1 (Narrow Minded)
Per: -3 (Preoccupied)
Str: +4 (Hearty)
Stm: +5 (Stalwart)
Prs: +2 (Intimidating)
Com: 0
Dex: +1 (Steady Hand)
Qik: -2 (Bulky)

Personality Traits

Brave: +3
Stubborn: +3
Distrustful: +2
Rash: +2
Reverent: +2
Crude: +1

Reputations

Violent: 2 (Catholic Church)

Virtues and Flaws

Clergy +3
Large +2
Piercing Gaze +2
Educated +1
Strong Willed +1
Tough +1
Vows -3
Oath of Fealty (Church in Perpignan) -1
Bad Reputation (Violent) -1
Faerie Emnity -1
Poor Hearing -1
Deep Sleeper -1
Sensitive (Impiety) -1
Delusion (Magic is Diabolic) -1

Abilities

Alertness (Ambushes) 1
Area Lore - Rousillon (People) 2
Athletics (Endurance) 1
Mace Attack 2H (Formation Fighting) 5
Mace Parry 2H (Formation Fighting) 3
Brawl (Holding) 2
Chirurgy (Cauterisation) 2
Church Knowledge (Doctrine) 2
Church Lore (Clergy) 3
Debate (Stubborn) -2
Drinking (Relaxing) 1
Dodge (Sword Attacks) 1
Etiquette (Church) 1
Folk Ken (Peasants) 1
Intimidation (Sinners) 4
Leadership (Inspiring Bravery) 2
Meditation (Prayer) 1
Military Tactics (Crusades) 1
Occult Lore (Demonic Temptation) 1
Oratory (Sermons) 3
Piety (Sacraments) 5
Pretend (Obvious) -3
Ride (Battle) 2
Sing (War Songs) 1
Scribe Latin (Church Terms) 3
Speak German (Peasants) 2
Speak Latin (Church Terms) 4
Speak Provencale (Religion) 5
Stealth (Noisy) -3

Combat Stats

Soak: +21
Fatigue: +4
Active Dodge: 0
Passive Dodge: -3
Load: 5
Encumbrance: 1
Body Levels: OK 0 0 -1 -3 -5 I
Fatigue Levels: OK 0 0 -1 -3 -5 U

Weapons

Mace 2H: 1st +4, Atk +8, Dam +15, Par +5, Load 0
Brawl Attack: 1st -2, Atk +3, Dam +6

Armour

Chain Hauberk: Protection +12, Load 5, Per -1

Notes

Father Dietrich is an uncomplicated man who is not to be turned when he has his mind made up about something. Many in the church do not view him favourably, thinking that he should have stayed as a soldier. Nevertheless he makes an adequate priest, although he can often be a little too forceful when trying to convert people. He is fearfully intimidating and not afraid of life's hardships. In many ways he was the ideal man to send to Malinbois.

The military mannerisms that Dietrich acquired during the Crusades are still with him today, and he has an aura of authority. He has several scars on his body, testament to his experience in battle. Due to a severe blow received to the head in a fight, he is a little hard of hearing.

So far Dietrich has not yet met all of the Magi, although he plans to get round and see them all soon. Apart from with Maria, who seemed to be an honest God-fearing woman, these meetings have gone rather badly. After the Lord of Maggots (Salamandrus) flippantly admitted to diabolery, Dietrich succeeded in wresting his mask off, only for Salamandrus to knee him in the groin. Now he keeps a very stern eye on Salamandrus during sermons, and makes frequent mention of the "Devil's servants who come among us and seek to lead us into perdition". He hasn't yet pointed to Salamandrus though... Father Dietrich's reaction was also distinctly frosty when the Infidel (Saeed) came to visit. He was quickly shown to the door before long. He has also heard rumours of Beastmen in the towers and, according to Maria, the leader of the sorcerors, known as the Liar, is also not to be trusted.

After having visited the Infernal Regio known as the `Place of Battle', Dietrich is finally convinced that there are serious matters afoot.

After the momentous events of the final battle with the Devourer at the place of battle, where Salamandrus blasted Harkerr himself with a mighty spell, Dietrich is now not quite so sure about him. Dietrich himself was lucky to be alive, after having suffered incredible agony from a direct infernal attack.

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