BROTHERHOOD OF THE WOLF
SIR GREGOIRE DE FRONSAC
Val CHA Cost Roll Notes 15 STR 5 12- Lift 200 kg; 3d6 HTH Damage 17 DEX 21 12- OCV: 6/DCV: 6 14 CON 8 12- 11 BODY 2 11- 18 INT 8 13- PER Roll 15- 17 EGO 14 12- ECV: 6 15 PRE 5 12- PRE Attack: 3d6 14 COM 2 12- 6 PD 3 Total: 6 PD (0 rPD) 6 ED 3 Total: 6 ED (0 rED) 4 SPD 13 Phases: 3, 6, 9, 12 6 REC 0 30 END 1 26 STUN 0 Total Characteristics Cost: 85 Movement: Running: 6"/12" Swimming: 2"/4" Cost Powers & Skills Martial Arts: Blade Fighting Maneuver OCV DCV Damage 5 Block +1 +3 Block, Abort 4 Bind +1 +0 25 STR Bind 5 Evade +0 +4 Dodge, Affects All Attacks, Abort; Full Move 5 Slash +1 -2 Weapon Strike +4 DCs 4 Thrust +2 +0 Weapon Strike +2 DCs Use Art With Blades Martial Arts: "Savate" Maneuver OCV DCV Damage 4 Block +2 +2 Block, Abort 4 Cross +0 +2 5d6 Strike 4 Dodge +0 +5 Dodge, Affects All Attacks, Abort 5 Joint Break -1 -2 Grab One Limb; HKA 1/2d6 (2 DC), Disable 5 Side Kick -2 +1 7d6 Strike 3 Throw +0 +1 3d6 +v/5; Target Falls 6 Keeps His Eyes And Ears Open: +2 PER with all Sense Groups Perks 30 Follower: Mani (150-point base) 2 Fringe Benefit: Knight/Member Of Lower Nobility Skills 16 Combat Skill Levels: +2 with Combat 5 Combat Skill Levels: +1 with HTH 10 Skill Levels: +2 with Agility Skills 3 Acrobatics 12- 0 AK: France 8- 3 AK: New France 13- 3 Breakfall 12- 3 Climbing 12- 2 Concealment 13-; Self Only (-1/2) 8 Defense Maneuver III 3 Fast Draw (Blades) 12- 3 Fast Draw (Early Firearms) 12- 3 Forensic Medicine 13- 5 High Society 13- 1 Language: French (native, literate) 2 Language: Iroquois (fluent) 3 Paramedic 13- 3 Riding 12- 3 Stealth 13- 2 Survival (Temperate/Subtropical) 3 Tracking 13- 0 TF: Equines 10 Two-Weapon Fighting (HTH) 10 Two-Weapon Fighting (Ranged) 8 WF: Early Firearms, Blades, Bows, Off-Hand, Spears, Thrown Knife, Thrown Spear 3 Jack-Of-All-Trades 4 PS: Artist 14- 1 PS: Soldier 11- 2 PS: Naturalist 13- 5 PS: Taxidermist 16- 3 Scholar 2 KS: Indian Customs 13- 2 KS: Indians Of North America 13- 2 KS: The Natural World 13- 1 KS: Mythology 11- 2 KS: New France 13- 2 KS: Philosophy/Theology 13- 3 Scientist 2 SS: Anatomy 13- 2 SS: Biology 13- 2 SS: Medicine 13- 2 SS: Zoology 13- 268 Total Powers & Skills Cost 326 Total Character Cost 150+ Disadvantages 5 Distinctive Features: Scars; Indian arrow and bear's claws (EC) 20 Normal Characteristic Maxima 15 Psychological Limitation: Dislike For Excessive And Unneeded Killing (C, S) 15 Psychological Limitation: In Love With Marianne de Morangias (C, S) 15 Psychological Limitation: Loves Mani As His Brother (C, T) 10 Reputation: As a libertine and a sharp wit, 11- 96 Experience 326 Total Disadvantage Points
Background/History: Sir Gregoire de Fronsac is a naturalist, interested in the science of the natural world. In the 1750s he journeyed to New France (i.e. Canada), to study the native flora and fauna, but instead found himself caught up in the French and Indian War. Fighting against the British, he ended up with several scars, an Indian companion named Mani, and the rank of Captain in the Royal Army.
In 1765, he is sent from Paris (where he worked as a naturalist and taxidermist to the king and the Royal gardens) to the province of Gevaudan, to find a beast responsible for killing dozens of locals. His attempt to find and destroy the Beast of Gevaudan form the basis of the film Brotherhood of the Wolf.
Personality/Motivation: Fronsac is an interesting man. In many ways he's "advanced" (in a moral sense) for his time. He doesn't look down in the Indians of America as savages, but respects them as equals. He doesn't believe in superstitious nonsense either, and is convinced from the start that the Beast of Gevaudan is a living creature. A good idea of his personality is found in the story of how he and Mani ended up as companions:
Mani was captured by French forces and turned over to Fronsac to learn French and act as an interpreter. Everyone else in Mani's village was slaughtered. Several weeks later, Fronsac caught Mani cutting the throat of the captain who had ordered his capture. Fronsac, instead of turning him in, helped his escape. His reasoning was simple—the captain's idea of warfare was to sell the Indians infected sheets from a hospital in Quebec, only attacking after most everyone has fallen ill and died from disease—thus the captain got what he deserved. Later, after Mani helped Fronsac escape from the English at the Battle of Three Rivers, the two, now pretty much alone in new France became virtual brothers. Now, having returned to France, he tries not to think about New France, as it brings back too many bad memories.
This attitude helps explain why Fronsac doesn't go around killing wantonly either. He's seen enough death, and doesn't feel the need to cause anymore than is required. As Marianne de Morangias says, he has little taste for the hunt. However, this shouldn't be taken to mean Fronsac is a pacifist. If properly motivated, he can be a one-man army. Just look at what he does after he finds the corpse of Mani. He gathers his weapons, goes out to where the murderers are hiding out, and promptly starts killing anyone and everyone he can get his hands on.
Quote: "Lies may often appear as truths when they are dressed in Latin."
Powers/Tactics: A true "Renaissance Man," Fronsac can be best described as a 18th century mixture of Batman and Doc Savage. Aside from his extensive skills in the natural sciences (such as zoology), he is a master taxidermist (just look at the "beast" he made to be exhibited in Paris), an excellent artist (even if his style is 100 years too early), knows a scatting of philosophy, theology, and even medicine. On top of all that, he is a very skilled combatant, aptly demonstrating his ability with hand-to-hand fighting in the aforementioned scene of revenge for Mani's death. He's seen using a bow, pistols, rifle, knives, and short swords with equal proficiency. Don't let his gentle and almost playful (at times) demeanor throw you. Underestimating Fronsac's skill at arms can be fatal.
When fighting, Fronsac doesn't mess around. He goes for the direct kill if at all possible, although if outnumbered he'll fight defensively, Blocking a lot and then throwing fast and hard strikes to take his foes down. He will use whatever is at hand, and can fight quite well with paired short swords, a single knife, or nothing at all in his hands.
Appearance: Fronsac looks to be of average height, or a little taller, for a man of his time. He has a strong build, a fairly handsome face, and long blond hair worn in a ponytail. His dress is typical for 1760s France and usually includes a sword. At one point, he dressed more like an American Indian, complete with face paint, leather clothing, and moccasin boots. Under his clothes, he has the scar of an arrow wound on one side of his chest, and of a bear's claws on the other side.
Designer's Notes: Readers who question Fronsac's point total should keep in mind that he, in one way or another, demonstrates just about every skill listed here at one point or another. My biggest "questionable" skill was giving him the Ranged Two Weapon Fighting. He only pulls this stunt once (while he and the Marquis are shooting at pumpkins), but since he turns, grabs the pistols, and fires both at once, without really taking the time to aim, I felt it was justified. I should also point out that the opening fight scene with the soldiers was originally much longer, with Fronsac himself getting into the act, demonstrating his fighting skill early on (one reason why it was cut). So yes, he does have justification for his "Savate."
Game Masters who wish to tone down Fronsac should remove his "Savate" skills, his Ranged Two Weapon Fighting skill, and his Fast Draw (Early Firearms) skill. This will drop him to just under 300 points, making him more of a master swordsman, as opposed to a master of all weapons.
(Gregoire de Fronsac created by Stephane Cabel and Christophe Gans, character sheet created by Michael Surbrook)
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