People of Mention

High Priest Gregan Lagoros

High Priest Gregan Lagoros is a former House of Veneration cabinet member who stepped down from his position nearly fifteen years ago in order to become a traveling missionary. Brother Gregan has taken several controversial ventures to Helios 13, Phaya 2, Phaya 3 and plans on making several more to even more perilous planets like Hades and Protega. His legend has spread throughout the House of Veneration, and many converts as well as employees have taken leaves of absence in order to follow Lagoros throughout his tour.

Brother Gregan not only looks to convert nonbelievers, but also is a large humanitarian, helping organize relief efforts for low income developments and municipalities struck by tragedy. His valiant efforts have earned him a plethora of awards as well as personal funding that he uses to finance charity efforts. Within his ten years of travel, he has helped rebuild several cities and is looked at as a hero on Thalassa, one of the moons of Neptune, after he and his devote helped free miners during a cave in.

Yet, not all that Brother Gregan has touched becomes gold. Controversy arose many years ago when a secretive bastard son named Manthos, came out about his father’s unfaithful deeds. While neither sexual relations nor parenting are condemned for priests of the House, procreating outside of one’s marital bonds are frowned upon. Though High Priest Gregan Lagoros admitted to his moment of weakness, his honesty lost him a great many followers. Meanwhile, his son Manthos, who was studying to become battle-clergy within the House, resigned after the House’s council refused to reprimand Lagoros for his sinful deeds.

While Brother Gregan is still looked at as an amazing spiritual leader, many fear he may be endangering those who look to follow him. With an abundance of donations at his side, Brother Gregan is a prime target for bandits and pirates alike. Though it might take violent coercion to get Brother Gregan to transfer his millions in capital to such unsavory characters, it isn’t beyond many outlaws to commit such atrocities for the sake of profit. Still, High Priest Gregan Lagoros continues his tour, fearless of danger so long as he is helping in an almighty God’s cause.
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Lady Kara Ferdinand

Lady Kara Ferdinand is the leader of Empyrean Legion’s Quest 4SF, a quest that has left six Empyrean Knights missing in action. The quest began as a simple excavation mission, starting in  the H.O.V.  Battle Craft “St. Augustus” (stationed in the Milky Way) and ending in the planet of Zeas (Hexisan Galaxy). The special mission took months of sanctioning by both the House of Veneration and Hexisan Union. It was intended to allow Empyrean Knights to exhume ancient tombs of Novacon emperors in order to find out if there were signs of a “God” within early Novacon civilization. However, before the crew could ever arrive at their destination, all contact was lost and the crew not heard from for the last three months. This is extremely alarming due to the fact that the crew was last seen in the Hexisan Galaxy, a much safer and more patrolled galaxy than the Milky Way.

Before her last mission, Lady Kara Ferdinand was a prized knight, loved by her Legion comrades. She’d struggled early on in her tenure due to a psionic blindness, but faired well after the construction of her special sonar helmet (Kara refusing bioware). She helped fend off the pirate hoard on the moon of Hercules 7, then was decorated for her capture of their pirate leader who attempted to escape into the Pirate Asteroid Belt. She was given the title of squad leader for Quest 4SA-4SE and did very well on these nonviolent missions. Unluckily though, Lady Kara would fight for her chance to be the first leader of an intergalactic Empyrean quest, a quest that possibly cost her and her team’s lives.

Both Hexisan Union forces and a specially permitted House of Veneration retrieval team spent weeks searching for the crew, but there were no signs of Quest 4SF’s participants. The desolate planet of Mortar was combed, but there were no signs of Lady Kara’s crew ever landing. She is still officially considered Missing In Action, along with her crew, but is suspected to be deceased. A candle light vigil was held in the crew of Quest 4SF’s name and a 10,000 Capital reward has been offered by the House of Veneration.

Dr. Brandon Conners

Dr. Brandon Conners is a lead archeologists, theologist and scientist who focuses his career on the uncovering of ancient religions. Dr. Brandon Conners theorizes that though many civilizations have a large gap in culture, they inherently come to believe in a single, almighty god as their civilization advances. Dr. Conner's theory has been supported by an array of top Terran minds, and his seventeen published works are nearly as popular as the House of Veneration book of beliefs. He also hosts a children's educational show on the House of Veneration's media network, teaching youngsters the value of learning about new planets.

As knowledgable as Dr. Conners appears to be, he continuously has ignored pleas from the House of Veneration heads of state to allow droids or more trained members of staff to do his exploration for him. This hands on, front of the line method for artifact study has landed Conners in emergency medical facilities more than one time. And even though the House has distributed several Legion Knights to escort the Doctor, his risky endeavors still seem to put him in riskiest of binds. His latest trip has found Dr. Conners on Deimos, the planet directionally closest to the Hexisan Galaxy.

Manthos

Manthos is the bastard born child of Brother Gregan, a wondering priest of the House of Veneration. He was conceived during a religious retreat nearly twenty-five years ago between his mother, a follower of Gregan’s holy sect, and the priest himself. After the consummation, Manthos’s mother took her secret love child to be raised on Enceladus, the House of Veneration’s moon that orbits Saturn. There the boy dedicated himself to the House, studying to become battle-clergy. However, Manthos was always jaded towards his father, who never wished to be part of the child’s life, and soon this anger turned to action.

He informed the House of Gregan’s tasteless deeds, even offering his own DNA for sampling as proof. Once Lagoros was questioned for his acts, the priest admitted to the allegations, formally apologizing to the House. And though his dealings were frowned upon, there was no official punishment handed out to the priest, subsequently driving Manthos into a furious rage. He resigned as battle-clergy and left for the planet Bacchus. There he joined an order of monks who practiced a revision of the enlightened Asian culture. For ten years he remained there, slowly dissolving into the planet’s scenery like the first snowflake of a winter storm.

While its not certain if Manthos still among the monks of Bacchus, it is undeniable that the monk is extremely deadly, especially with his hands. His years of training as battle-clergy is only complimented by the martial exercises practiced by the monks of Bacchus. Furthermore, Manthos is armed with a massive mêlée hand which he was gifted with while still with the House of Veneration. This tungsten plated cybernetic implant makes for devastating attacks, as well as a good tool for the field. And though its not definite if Manthos is still angry with his father, most House of Veneration employees still tend to shudder when they hear his cursed name.

Sir Letholdus Zantorian (DECEASED)
Sir Letholdus Zantorian is an Admiral in the Empyrean Legion, High Vicar of Knavesmire Monastery, and hero at the Battle Of Marson Moor. He began his glorious career back on Earth, after stepping away from his family’s substantial wealth in order to join the ranks of the House of Veneration. His uncle was an archbishop of the House and had requested for his nephew to join the Sacred Guard in order to become part of the Bishop’s personal sentries.  After extensive military training, Letholdus joined his uncle, but their reunion would be short lived. For the archbishop had caught a cosmic disease dubbed “The Grinning Plague”(as it swells facial tissue, making the victim appear as if they are smiling), and passed within a year of Zantorian’s service.

With nowhere to turn, Letholdus thought it would be best to honor his uncle’s memory by applying for the Empyrean Legion. After sixteen months of testing, training and squiring, Zantorian was finally dubbed a Knight of the Legion. He began his tour by assisting in the defense of Longford Fortress, a House of Veneration compound located on Hades 13. The fortress had been struggling with the local criminal organizations for months, which used local wildlife to assault the fortress and scare off staff. Unfortunately, the House did not take well to these threats, and along with local Prometheus Enterprises law enforcement, planned an assault on the crime organization’s main strongholds.

But the criminal organizations were far more manned than anyone had estimated, and also requested reinforcements from the “Shambles Pirates” of Protega. For six nights and seven days the outmanned House and Prometheus forces battled with the outlaws, using the nearby Marson swamps to plan guerilla tactics. It was here that Sir Letholdus made his infamous charge. With numbers dwindling to a few dozen, Zantorian collected a small band of House defenders and attacked the Hades criminal organization’s main base in an act of desperation. However, with most of their forces on the front lines, the Hades syndicate was taken by surprise, allowing Zantorian to capture their leader. Once the Shamble Pirates learned that the crime lord had been captured, they collected their remaining men and retreated, forcing the Hates syndicate to surrender.

For his bravery on the battlefield, Sir Zantorian was rewarded with rank as High Vicar of Knavesmire Monastery, a priest’s academy within Phaya 2 (the Nagas’ home planet). He was also presented with Starflare, a rare smart metal sword that was gifted to the House by Hexisan diplomats. As appreciative as Sir Letholdus was, he was also grief stricken by the deaths of his comrades, and requested leave for mental recovery. His superiors granted Zantorian his desired time, so long as he mentally recuperate on Phaya 2, in order to manage the Knavesmire Monastery. House superiors even gifted Sir Zantorian with Celvin Castle, a manor house nearby his new assignment.  Sir Zantorian agreed, and made way to the wild planet of Phaya 2. Though the Naga people had little love for the House of Veneration, they became quite fond of Letholdus due to his generous donations bestowed by his family’s wealth.

Nevertheless, though the Kavesmire Monastery has finally overcome its many complications under the supervision of Sir Zantoiran, and the Naga have become smitten by their new neighbor, some suspect that not all is well within the walls of Celvin Castle. Persisting rumors claim that Letholdus has organized a group of Naga called the Red Tower Order. These snake-men are said to have orders to search for and collect all pirates hiding within Phaya 2 and bring them back to Celvin Castle, where they are tortured and executed. While the House denies such rumors, nameless informants of the H.O.V. state that Sir Zantoiran has become the organizations lead expert on the movement and whereabouts of the pirates within the Phaya System, making some suspect that there may be truth to the stories.

Sir Gareth Lanval
Sir Gareth Lanval, also known as the "Chortling Knight", is an Empyrean Legion sword and recruiter for the knighthood. The son of Olwen Lanval, an Empyrean Legion veteran, Sir Gareth is known for his dedication to the knighthood as well as the House of Veneration's personal goals. However, unlike many of the more heavy handed House of Veneration authorities, Sir Gareth has a very relaxed method to how his operations are handled, seemingly uncaring of his duties. Though, nothing could be farther from the truth.

Sir Gareth Lanval is not only extremely devote to the protection of House of Veneration worshippers, but his job as a recruiter for the knighthood. He hand selects only the best, presenting them carefully in front of the court. He believes in honor and bravery and will stand against wrongdoers, even if outnumbered. Yet most who meet the man swear that his good humor and constant laughter are signs of a human with little worry. Those around him are often entranced by his optimism and one-liners, as well as his open mindedness.

Sir Gareth Lanval has a wife and seven children. Though he is constantly traveling, he makes sure to be in contact with his loved ones at all time. When not on an assignment, Sir Gareth Lanval lives with his family a humble farm on Gliese 581c. His oldest sons are inspiring knights, enrolling in cadet school in order to begin their careers in the House of Veneration and follow in the footsteps of their father. Sir Gareth is currently on an undisclosed assignment within the Crux Arm of the Milky Way. He's believed to be assisting with the protection of a far off H.O.V. planet's defenses.

Helena Lockwood

Helena is the heiress of former House of Veneration High Bishop, Wesley Lockwood. The High Bishop used his position as a faith leader to gain his own following, which he took and opened up an independent chapter with. Through these millions of faithful, he earned countless donations that he invested into independent companies. He’d made himself billions of capital within his first ten years, and another trillion within his last ten years. Afterwards, Lockwood died, leaving his massive estate to his long abandon daughter, Helena Lockwood. Helena is said to be far more humane than her manipulative father. It is rumored, though not admitted, that Helena uses her earnings to swell her influence, though she uses this sway to help the Milky Way become more prosperous. Doing so means that Helena must play the political game. She has become a trustee of not only the Terran Alliance commerce board, but also an Aption higher up, and representative of the Milky Way for Terran affairs in Hexisan.

Sean McCloud AKA "The Black Knight"

((OOC: Changed the original photograph I showed players in game. Sean is suppose to be younger than originally described. Please use above picture instead))

Sean McCloud is a former Empyrean Legion Knight who walked away from the organization after surviving Quest 3838C, an intelligence mission that left him partially mad. The objective was simple. His squad of five were to investigate an old alien ruin dating back from 30 million years ago on the edge of the Milky Way (in the direction of Andromeda) when something went wrong. All contact with the team and the House of Veneration communication staff was lost, forcing administration to send an E-VAC in hopes of search and rescue.

However, when the rescue team arrived, they only found four corpses and a comatose McCloud. House of Veneration doctors could find no natural reason for the knights' deaths and deemed it death by a radiation overdose. For three years Sean remained in a catatonic state. His night terrors were the only signs of life and soon doctors spoke of experimental treatments, mind swipes, and even organ harvesting.

Yet, before crews could agree upon a decision as to what should be done about the young blade, he mysteriously woke from his condition and escaped from the Empyrean med-unit, but not before collecting his knightly effects. He remained lost for months before showing back up in the Hades System in late 2524 AD. With armors black as coal, top of the line Terran weaponry, and an official bounty hunting license, Sean wanders the corrupt cosmos looking to collect for any criminal foolish enough to face him. He travels in a make-shift freighter vessel he calls "Penance", trusting only its advanced AI to help him trek through the system. His grim armors, unnatural fighting technique and ability to apprehend his target has earned him the moniker, "The Black Knight" by criminals as well as bounty hunters throughout the Milky Way.

UPDATE: Sean McCloud was last seen on Phaya after following up on a lead for Aden "The Raven" Macer. While flying into Phaya's lower atmosphere, Sean's ship was shot down and the crew was in danger due to jungle wildlife. Luckily, the crew of The Steel Witch, a team of law enforcing Marshals/Deputies, came to the rescue. Sean was taken to town with Linda where they look to make expensive repairs before leaving for Protega, the supposed whereabouts of Macer.
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Linda

Not much is known about the field nurse named Linda. An unregistered nurse, Linda sold her expertise to whoever was in need in order to pay the bills back on the mining streets of Agricon, a moon in the Gliese System. However, when money became tight, Linda began to rent herself out as a battle nurse, risking her life in order to make ends meat. Then Linda's path crossed with the former Empyrean Legion Knight known as "The Black Knight," Sean McCloud. The knight was in need of a new medic after his first-aid drone was destroyed. With little to lose, Linda decided to take up contract with the mysterious knight, leaving with him to aid him with his bounty hunting career whenever needed.

Though Linda is a great mystery in many perspectives, it is known that she is suffering from some type of gender-confusion psychosis. While no one is sure what triggered it, for all extensive purposes, Linda believes she is a woman, as masculine as she may appear. Those who confront her about it are quickly blown off with any questions they might have.