Page 242 - Chronicles of Darkness

Intrigued by this revelation, Benjamin asked the children his life if threatened. Most view him as a madman, and this
to bring him to the clearing. They led him through the woods is more than likely true.
to a small clearing in the forest with a blackened and charred Benjamin could appear in any Tale that takes place in an
hole in the center. Inside the hole was a mess of whirling urban environment. If the players need a strange, insane, but
gears and cogs. When he got near, the children scattered and still helpful, mentor in the mysteries of the God-Machine,
left him there alone. they can attend one of Benjamin’s sermons. Of course,
He leaned over the hole to inspect the machine parts, all Benjamin has some unsavory appetites. Can the characters
shining and well oiled. He could tell that this was just the stomach that, even if he has useful information?
very edge of the machinery, and that it extended for miles Appropriate Tales for Ben include: The 300 Block (p.
in all directions. Fearful, yet in awe, he addressed it as God 197), This Is Hell (p. 231), and The Squares of the City (p.
and it responded. Benjamin doesn’t remember the conversa- 203). He would also make an interesting red herring in The
tion or what happened, but he knows that he met God and Key (p. 208).
that he has a mission. He stumbled back to the missionary
compound, dehydrated and delirious. He was unconscious Virtue: Righteous
for a full 24 hours and when he awoke, all he could talk Vice: Cowardly
about was meeting God. Unfortunately for him, while he
was unconscious the missionaries had attempted to contact Mental Attributes: Intelligence 3, Wits 4,
his family, and in the process had learned of his disturbing Resolve 3
history. They booked him a flight home, and told him, as Physical Attributes: Strength 3, Dexterity 3,
had his old church, that they wanted nothing to do with him. Stamina 3
Benjamin was lost, yet strangely serene. He could still Social Attributes: Presence 3, Manipulation 4,
accomplish his mission, but he would never see his God Composure 3
again. Benjamin always saw religion as a way to manipulate Mental Skills: Academics (Religion) 3, Medicine
and control others, but now he saw that religion was a lie. 2, Occult 2
His contact with God had driven him to an insane fervor, but Physical Skills: Brawl 2, Drive 2, Larceny 2,
his reputation with the religious community prevented him Stealth 3
from getting a real following. This intensity also prevented
him from holding down a job. He took to the streets, and Social Skills: Empathy (Motives) 3, Expression
3, Persuasion (Motivational Speeches) 3,
found his place there. He joined a group of indigents living Socialize 3, Streetwise 4
in some old tunnels under the downtown area. They showed
him a deep undercity that was rarely explored. Out of curios- Merits: Allies 3 (Street People), Inspiring, Striking
ity, Benjamin began mapping out these tunnels and where Looks 1
the entrances and exits were. There, he was able to find a Health: 8
small hole in the tunnels that led to a deeper part of the city. Willpower: 6
Inside he found a set of exposed gears and cogs, shining and Integrity: 5
oily like the ones he found in Nigeria.
Benjamin knew ecstasy. He brought the homeless down Size: 5
to witness the gears and preached to them about God. The Speed: 11
group listened with rapt attention. Most of them were in- Defense: 3
sane already, and those who weren’t needed something to
hold onto. Benjamin stylized his small group the Church Initiative: 6
of Revelations. He and his homeless congregation preach Armor: None
the word of God to any that will listen among the streets
of the city. DR. HENRI GIRARD
Description: Benjamin Wayne Masters lives on the street
and so his clothes are worn and dirty, and he smells of oil and
earth. He has black hair and black eyes and his dark skin is Immortal inventor and rogue God-Machine
dusty from lack of washing. He is soft spoken, reverent, and operative who is attempting to save time.
his voice is a deep baritone.
Storytelling Hints: Benjamin Wayne Masters is a dis- Background: Dr. Girard was born in the early 19th cen-
turbed man, yet is strangely magnetic. He tries to convince tury, where he showed early promise as an engineer and an
anyone he encounters that he has met God and he has a inventor. He was approached by would-be acolytes of the God-
mission. If pressed, he doesn’t actually recall what his mission Machine, who offered him access to wondrous technologies to
is, other than to spread the word of God. He claims that he experiment with, as well as a lifespan measured in centuries
has seen God and that God is everywhere in the earth and instead of decades. Dr. Girard was a contented agent of the
surrounds us. He is not particularly violent, but will protect God-Machine until 1920, when he realized that a device he
what he believes is the physical manifestation of God with had built in 1901 was fatally flawed. The acolytes believed
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NPCs