Mr. Lazarus Black
From Unofficial Handbook of the Virtue Universe
| |
| Mr. Lazarus Black | |
| Player: | |
| Origin: | Natural |
|---|---|
| Archetype: | Stalker |
| Threat Level: | Confidential |
| Personal Data | |
| Real Name: | Reverend Lazarus Black |
| Known Aliases: | Confidential |
| Species: | Human |
| Age: | 80 (appears roughly 30-35) |
| Height: | 6'0" |
| Weight: | 185 lbs |
| Eye Color: | Blue/Grey |
| Hair Color: | Stark White (has no pigment) |
| Biographical Data | |
| Nationality: | U.S.A. |
| Occupation: | Baptist Reverend / Demon hunter |
| Place of Birth: | Atlanta, Georgia |
| Base of Operations: | Confidential |
| Marital Status: | Single |
| Known Relatives: | Confidential |
| Known Powers | |
| Immortality | |
| Known Abilities | |
| True Faith , Bibliomancy, Minor Military training. | |
| Equipment | |
| Martyr's Cross, Crusader's Sword. | |
| No additional information available. | |
Contents |
A life of Duty: The unstoppable force.
"Suffer not the Witch to live."
Personality
Lazarus has two very different personas, One he shows to humans, and one he shows to everything else. Born in Georgia at the beginning of the great depression, Lazarus has that certain southern charm about him. Being a Reverend, he cares for others and their well being. All in all Lazarus is the kind, caring soul that enjoys helping others through life. Always willing to offer advice, but not one to hold back the truth, even if painful. Once he takes up the hunt for the supernatural, Lazarus loses all compassion, becoming a methodical killer. While Lazarus may kill the supernatural, it's an odd classification for him. Mutants are simply humans with a special gift. Cyborgs are just humans with prosthetics. Robots are simply the works of man. Aliens... Well Aliens are Gods creatures too; they just need to be shown the light. To be truly Evil (and therefore the target of Lazarus's hunt) you need to be in some fashion Demonic by his definition.
Demonic Entities
Anything Lazarus judges to be demonic he sees as a blight on Gods creation, and treats as such.
Creatures Lazarus considers demonic:
- Demons/Daemons - This one is obvious; any actual demonic being is obviously the servant of Lucifer and needs to be dispatched.
- Vampires - Lazarus actually groups these in with Demons if you ask him, he believes them to be a demon possessing a dead body.
- WereWolves - Going by Germanic myth, Lazarus believes Werewolves to be people possessed by Hellhounds. Most don't have any sence of self left, and need to be put down. However, Lazarus has successfully cured one Werewolf via an Exorcism.
- Necromancers & Undead - The Undead are soulless abominations, created by the darkest magics, and those who would create them are the truly Damned.
- Witches - Women and Men who use magic (not Bibliomancy). These people have allied themselves with darkness for their power, and so they shall be treated no better then those they derive their magic from.
Accent
Having grown up in the south, Lazarus has a slight Southern accent. It has been dulled with time due to his travels however. Only a wisp of it can be heard in normal conversation, however it tends to return full force if he is upset.
Skills and Training
- True Faith - Lazarus's faith in God has proved most useful in his battles against the Armies of Darkness. Most vampires and demons will feel uncomfortable just being in Lazarus's Presence, but he can also brandish a cross or crucifix to cause any vampire or demon to draw back in fear, revert a werewolf to human form, and even repel magic.
- Christian Rites - Possessing True Faith, Lazarus is able to perform many different Christian Rites and Benedictions, including sanctifying Holy Water, Consecrating an area, as well as Last Rites and Exorcism.
- Bibliomancy - Lazarus's Travels brought him into several Ancient Christian tomes, including several original works of King David. These tomes laid the groundwork for Lazarus's Godly magic, or Bibliomancy. It has taken a lifetime to learn to correctly cast these spells and rituals, but Lazarus has as much time as he needs.
- Military Training - Lazarus spent time in the Chaplain Corp During the Vietnam Conflict, acting as Chaplain to a Marine detachment. During his time he received basic military training for the era, but no specialized training.
- Swordsmanship and the Martial arts - Lazarus's formal training has been sporadic at best. Usually taking a few lessons from whomever will teach him while he's in town. Most notably Lazarus learned the basics of Kendo, and at the same time reduced his hostility towards Shinto, this being the only Polytheistic Religion Lazarus tolerates.
Relics, Rituals, and Spells
- Martyr's Cross - These rare crosses are made when those truly faithful sacrifice themselves for a stranger. All of them are different in appearance, but nearly all of them are on a chain, to be worn around ones neck. All of them are Blessed, making it impossible for them to be touched by the supernatural. The other common trait is their major ability; The cross protects the wearer from magical and demonic energies. A few of these crosses, such as the one Lazarus has, have also been known to protect the wearer from more mundane attacks as well. On more than one occasion Lazarus has found that a bullet or sword has been stopped by the cross before it pierced his skin. These occurrences are rare however and no pattern has been found other than they were all blows to the chest, Lazarus writes it off as "The will of God" and leaves it at that.
- Crusader's sword - The sword Lazarus uses is a Falchion Used during the Crusades. This Blessed blade doesn't seem to have any special abilities at first glance, however Lazarus has yet to face an opponent it can't harm (even ghosts), and those few whom escape with their lives tell of the fact that the wounds it inflicts take nearly twice as long to heal.
- Potions - From his books, Lazarus has learned how to make several "Blessed Brews", Simple liquid drafts that have remarkable powers, enhancing ones strength, healing wounds, even giving one the clarity to see beyond the mundane. Lazarus makes these from time to time and usually has a small assortment on him at any given time.
- Blessings of Saint Francis of Assisi - More than a single blessing, this collection of blessings allows Lazarus to take the form of many different animals, or to simply allow him the use of their parts (such as the wings he has given himself). A short whispered prayer to the saint, and the transformation takes place. While it is possible to use on others Lazarus tends not to, as the magic of the transformation is tied to his will, not that of the person it's used on.
- Blessing of King David - This blessing allows Lazarus to strengthen himself and his allies, freely enhancing their Strength, speed, or Endurance. Only one of these things can be enhanced at a time however, and the duration is short. Lazarus regularly uses this blessing to enhance his own strength when going into battle.
- Power of King David - This spell is used sparingly, for though it has great power, it comes with a price. Even as David slew the giant Goliath, this allows someone to battle even the toughest foes on an even footing, Transforming their visage to that of an Angel, and providing protection and strength, for a short time. For most men, using this power will kill them. Lazarus can use it without this fear due to his Immortality, but using it for too long can still leave him drained, and finding it difficult to move.
- Blessing of Saint Christopher - A short prayer to Saint Christopher, allows Lazarus to travel undetected.
- Blessing of Saint Andrew - Only Lazarus seems to know what this Blessing does, and he's not telling. All anyone has been able to find out is that he used the blessing during the "New Orleans incident", and Lazarus doesn't like talking about that time at all.
Immortality
While not Immortal in the traditional since, Lazarus might as well be. Shortly after his birth (at his baptism), a prophecy was spoken by his families Minister. The details of the Prophecy have been lost to the ages, as while Lazarus knows it, he's loath to speak much of it. It is known however that in order for Lazarus to find his eternal reward (Heaven), he must destroy all the servants of Satan.
Healing
Lazarus heals faster than most people. Lazarus attributes this to being what help God is willing to give him in his task. Oddly enough Lazarus doesn't always heal at the same rate. It seems the more injured he becomes, the faster his body heals. While small cuts and bruises fade in minutes, bullet wounds close after merely an hour, and once a severed limb was reattached in less than 24 hours. Even death doesn't stop Lazarus for long, minutes or hours after most deaths he rises again, ready to fight on. Once Lazarus was dead for nearly a month, but he doesn't know what happened to kill him that time.
Weakness
It is whispered among the darker circles, that the Prophecy spoken at Lazarus's Baptism had two parts. Leading most to believe that there is a second way for Lazarus to be permanently put to rest (as most don't like the first option). If this is true however, Lazarus is keeping it to himself, and all those present at the baptism are already dead.
Affiliations
Through his travels, Lazarus has met many interesting people.
Friends
Lazarus claims no-one as a current friend, however he can often be heard referring to "Old friends", it is generally assumed that these "Old friends" are all dead.
Acquaintances
Lazarus Knows many people around the world, but few in any single location. A few of these people in the Rogue Isles are:
- Will McBlack - Lazarus met young Will in New Orleans, during what has been called the "New Orleans incident". Little is known about what happened, as Lazarus doesn't like to talk about it, but somehow Will and Lazarus gained a respect for each other there.
- Ten'ro - Lazarus became Privy to this Shinobi's secret during their battle with Labal, and has decided to keep it quiet. Lazarus has decided that when Will refuses to go after a threat for some bad reason, he can count on Ten'ro to force the situation.
Enemies
Aside from whatever demonic being crosses his path, only one being has survived long enough to be considered Lazarus's Enemy.
- Labal - Likely the most powerful demon in the Rogue Isles. As if this weren't enough of a reason, evidence that Will and his Witch-Hunters have uncovered, links Labal to opening Hell's Gates on Earth. Needless to say, the destruction of Labal has suddenly taken up much of Lazarus's time.
Organizations
- Baptist Church - Lazarus is an active Reverend of the Baptist Church. While there is no branch of the church that deals directly with the destruction of demons, they are aware of the basics of the prophecy, and thus they have placed Lazarus on "Missionary duty" and turn a blind eye to his activities.
- Ghost Hound - At the request of Will McBlack, Lazarus has joined Ghost Hound as part of Will's Witch-hunters. Lazarus has his doubts about some of the group’s members however, and has been taking steps to root out the "demonic" influences in the organization.
History
Early years
Born in 1928, just before the Great Depression, Lazarus spent his formative years watching the suffering of the penniless masses. He felt great compassion for these people, even despite the fact he was one himself. From a young age Lazarus found himself drawn to the work of the Lord, and rarely missed Services. In his spare time he spoke with the local Minister, and it was during one of these talks that Lazarus first found out about the prophecy. Despite Lazarus's great faith, he found it hard to believe that God would let demons walk the earth, and so for a time thoughts of fighting the servants of Satan stayed out of his mind.
World War II
Late 1941 saw the United States entry into World War II. The following year Lazarus saw his father, and several of his older friends get drafted into the war effort, most of them never to return. Despite being too young to be drafted, the war had a great impact on young Lazarus's life. Seeing the broken men returned home, gave Lazarus the push he needed to become part of the church. As soon as he was old enough (ironically shortly after the war ended) he began his studies to enter the service of the Lord, always intending to take his teachings where they were needed most.
Korean War
In May of 1950, Lazarus took over as Reverend of a small church in Kansas. It was the lack of another spiritual leader that caused Lazarus to remain Stateside when a month later the U.S. entered the Korean War. Lazarus desperately wanted to go and bring the word of God to the men fighting in that foreign land. However duties at home left him little option. For the three years the war raged, Lazarus tried to find a replacement. It was not meant to be however, as all those suitable to replace him, were going to the war themselves.
Vietnam Conflict
In 1965 The U.S. committed fully to the Vietnam Conflict, and with the troops and munitions went Reverend Lazarus Black. Lazarus, now 37, Joined the Chaplain Corp at the beginning of Vietnam. Stationed for most of the conflict at a small Marine base near the southern most tip of the country, Lazarus didn't see much of the action, however he did see the casualties. Much of Lazarus's time was spent giving the last rights for those mortally wounded who made it back from the front. Then one night it happened. They slipped into the base like shadows, the men standing guard never knew of the danger till after they were dead. The entire base would have gone down without a fight if not for one man, Gunnery sergeant Peterson. A member of the bases Logistics, Peterson was out late, looking for a crate of ammo that was supposed to be in the last shipment, but never got checked in. They almost got him without a fight too, but luck was with him in that moment, as he turned just as the creature was about to strike. Squeezing off several rounds into the Vampire poised to strike him, Peterson alerted the rest of the base. Not that it mattered. Within moments the base was a buzz of activity, but mortal men, who don't know what they're facing, don't stand much chance against a pack of hungry vampires. The next morning Lazarus awoke amidst the carnage, remembering the night before, and the vampire that had ripped open his throat. Needless to say, the higher ups don't believe in vampires. They attributed the attack to the VC and Lazarus's mild delusions (it was a brutal sight) to a mental break at the carnage (Post-traumatic stress disorder wasn't assumed until after the war), and Lazarus was given a medical discharge.
The Hunt
After being discharged and returned stateside, Lazarus began his journey. The vampire attack in Vietnam awoke childhood memories of the prophecy, and he knew what he had to do. For the next 35 years Lazarus wandered the world, killing vampires and demons wherever he found them, and coming into possession of many bizarre and powerful items. Many of these he destroyed, deeming them "Unholy", but the few worthy items he kept have made him much more of a threat to the powers of darkness. After the first decade, rumors began about him in dark circles. Few claimed to survive a confrontation with this "Zealous Preacher", but what the underworld seemed to notice most, was that unlike most of their mortal foes, he wasn't aging. Many notable incidents litter this period of Lazarus's life, a few follow:
Mexico City
Shortly after he began his one man crusade against the darkness, Lazarus found a group of vampires living in an old catholic cathedral outside of Mexico city. Attacking in the daylight he took them by surprise managing to defeat them with only a few minor wounds. However when he searched the cathedral he found something most curious in a hidden compartment under the alter. An ancient tome penned by King David. This discovery began Lazarus's study of bibliomancy, and marks the beginning of Lazarus's belief in magic.
Detroit
The mid 90's found Lazarus in Detroit Michigan, Where he encountered his first "team" of vampire hunters. Many times in the past he had come across other hunters, but all of them worked either solo, or with a single partner. Intrigued, Lazarus stayed with them for a few weeks, becoming friends with several group members. So much so that when the group found out about a vampire organized rave taking place in the Salt Mine Lazarus was more then willing to join their hunt. Sadly this hunt was doomed to end poorly. The local vampires were tired of being hunted down, and the group walked right into their waiting trap. Unable to keep Lazarus down, or remove his weapons due to their blessed nature The vampires left Lazarus in the mine during one of his periods of being dead. Over the next several days Lazarus brought the bodies of the team to the surface, and buried them in the graveyard of a local church. After another two months of hunting by himself in Detroit, Lazarus finally believed that he had gotten the last of the vampires involved in the ambush, and it was time to move on.
Chicago
The turn of the millennium found Lazarus in the windy city. A short, but brutal string of incidents here added much to Lazarus's reputation. It began with Lazarus inadvertently helping the local vampires by destroying a Bhaali that had been plaguing the city (which drew Lazarus there in the first place). The local vampires appreciation was short lived however as it quickly became obvious that Lazarus didn't see any difference between the Bhaali and the rest of them. Over the course of the next week Lazarus chased the vampires out of "Club Seal", one of the local vampire feeding grounds, and destroyed a skyscraper that belonged to one of the local elders. Believing his work in the city done, Lazarus left Chicago a little over a week after he arrived.
New Orleans
Lazarus doesn't like to talk about his time in New Orleans. It is known that he arrived in town roughly a week before Hurricane Katrina hit the city. It is also known that this is when Lazarus first met Will McBlack. Beyond that not much is widely known.
Rogue Isles
Lazarus first came to the Rogue Isles on the trail of a group of lesser demons that had been managing to keep one step ahead of him for nearly a year. Eventually cornering them in a warehouse in Port Oakes, Lazarus dispatched the last of them just as Will McBlack came in through the door. Recognizing each other from the "New Orleans incident", Will extended an offer for Lazarus to join Ghost Hound. In his short time in the Rogue Isles Lazarus had already seen that much work needed to be done, so he accepted Will’s offer.
