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Jaquel Rainrix, a.k.a. Jake the Knife: Gcirthi's Exiled Pyrat King, Left Hand of The Monolith, Saud Kruger Patron, Kumo Crew Elder, Privateer for The Code, and Black Omega's Pontifex. Over a thousand years ago on Earth, the Monolith was found by a group of scavengers, trespassers, adventurers, loners, killers, explorers, and robbers. It changed them into the first Monolith Preachers, and since that day we have been spreading the holy light of the Monolith. It began with Preachers telling people of the glory of the Monolith, and people going there to meet it. However, in order to do so, one had to attain the rank of Preacher. This first meant being taken into the fold. This was achieved by the Brain Scorcher, a bad pun for what was the first Enlightenment Machine. This device, contained in a power station itself quite close to the Monolith, would scan the thoughts of those hopefuls and decide who was worthy of the Monolith's grace. Those it found unworthy were left dead, but those who were worthy became open to the Monolith's whisper. Originally, this left converts somewhat too intoxicated with holiness to properly take in their surroundings, but technological advances soon made such problems irrelevant. Nowadays, we retain full personalities, with the glory of the Monolith glowing in our hearts but not blinding our eyes to the outside world. With the advent of space colonisation, physical pilgrimages to the Monolith were no longer made by any but the highest members of the Monolith Preacher Enlightenment Foundation, registered charity #19860451. Instead, every preacher had Enlightenment Machines installed in their craft. These were portable upgraded versions of the Brain Scorcher, blessedly closet-sized and less prone to stupefying their subjects. This was a new beginning for the cult of the Monolith, with Preachers saving the souls of slaves as they sold their flesh throughout the galaxy. The highest echelon of the Monolith Preachers is known as "Crystal", and never number more than a thousand. Of these, the Right and Left Hands of the Monolith are joint second in command, and only they can meet with The Master. The Master is the only person who knows where the Monolith is, and eventually either the Left or Right Hand will succeed xir. The First Space Preacher, being the first Master to send the light of the Monolith to other stars, operated when slaves were 12.5 cr/t. When he passed, his craft was dissembled and given, part by part, to different members of Crystal. As time went by only the aesthetics were left, the FSD being outdated within a couple of decades. This is how the faithful can identify members of Crystal. The Monolith no longer resides on Earth. That would be too dangerous. Its location, ever changing, is known only by The Master. But its light is spreading throughout the galaxy... |
CURRENT STORY ARCS:
Chapter 1: FOR THE MUG! - 22nd September 3301 - 9th December 3301
The Preacher joins the Kumo crew, and helps his people take their system. He meets AJRimmer at Hutton Orbital, tries a Black Riband run, then travels to and from Sag A* as part of the GIMPP.
Chapter 2: 1 Year A Slave? - 17th December 3301 - 6th February 3302
The Preacher goes from slaver to slave after being betrayed by his superior, Springheel Jack. He must work towards attaining his freedom by any means necessary. He must also plan revenge...
Chapter 3: A Poor Excuse for a King - 8th February 3302 - 10th Jan 3303
The Preacher is made King, but his throne threatens to slip from under him as soon as he sits upon it. He finds help closer than he imagined, but at what price?
Chapter 4: Preaching to the Converted - 21 Jan 3303 - 9 Nov 3303
The Preacher finally accepts his exile, and attempts to engage the affairs of Pegasi at large rather than worrying about just two systems. He starts to find some calm amidst the chaos erupting around him as he balances his Archonian and Black Omega ties with newfound alliances within the Pegasi Sector Commonwealth.
Chapter 5: Pontifex 2 Dec 3303 - 1 Dec 3304
Finding himself as the public face of Black Omega as the old vanguard departs en masse in the face of a terrorist threat, Jaquel oversees the re-branding of his wing from a paramilitary unit to a smuggling network using Deggie's as its front. As they finally take control of the production of Kamorin Historic Weapons, he finds himself training new recruits as old hands leave the fold, and a wanderlust begins to stir in him once more.
DRAMATIS PERSONAE:
Jaquel Rainrix - Our protagonist. A terrorist. A cultist. A king. Spreading the will of the Monolith from his home in Gcirthi through his work as a representative of Black Omega and the Monolith Preacher Enlightenment Foundation. Also drill instructor and "B-Wing" leader of the Archon's forces. Known to name his craft after Culture convention.
Hammer Time - Preacher's childhood friend and wingman when he's available. A good pilot, a better gunman, and an even more outstanding drinker. Known for rash actions and re-fitting any vessel he owns with as many guns as its powerplant can handle. His real name is unknown, as the reason for his nickname keeps grown CMDRs awake at night.
Sheng - San Wu's local mechanic. A Jamaican/Mandarin rastafari with links to Li Youg-Rui and Pranav Antal's faction networks. Known for having a sharp tongue, and sharper hairstyles. Also able to fix anything he can't hack, or hack anything he can't fix. That last part has, however recently come under dispute...
Orpheus - Preacher's liason within Imperial space. A sickly looking runt of a man with a greasy half-hairstyle and an overclocked pistol. A fastidious diplomat, known for his adherence to the letter of Imperial protocol regardless of the situation. Not known to be an agent of the Monolith by his superiors.
Clancy - Orpheus' secretary, bodyguard, and occasional big spoon. A hulking gorilla of a man with a gruff voice, abundance of body hair, and a training regime that obviously favours his shoulders to his legs. Known for his typing speed, heavy left straight, and penchant for antique Dior pour la femme perfumes.
Springheel Jake - Ex-Pirate King of Gcirthi, he was Preacher's direct superior in pirate hierarchy. Known for ruling even-handedly with an iron fist, and for aping centuries-old pirate tropes no-one cares about any more. Got his name because of the amount of times people thought they'd killed him and he sprung back. Sold Preacher into slavery in order to take spoils from the Archon for himself.
Admiral Blix - A Federation duffer who managed to get one good plan out of his thick head. Unfortunately, that plan may steal Gcirthi back from the Pirates, not a year from when the Preacher helped them take it.
Z - An Imperial contact of Hammer's. A CMDR who lets actions speak louder than words. His greater plans remain ambiguous even to his own people, but his liaisons with Hammer and the Preacher are sanctioned due to his standing alone. If there's one thing you don't do around Z, it's ask questions he doesn't want to answer....with words....
Scarlet - A mystery wrapped in an enigma wrapped in a red leather jacket. A Class-A Wizard-level hacker with a penchant for monochromatic design and chain-smoking. The only thing more worrying than her unhealthy fascination with the Preacher is her hat. Is it a stetson or is it a top hat? The implications horrify the mind...
Wray Hammerson - A weapons nut, a surfing nut, and a nutbag. This gruff geriatric gentleman has been running the Kamorin Historic Weapons Warehouse for forty years, and was born in the back with the merchandise. What he has forgotten about weapons doesn't bear knowing, and he has a penchant for craftsmanship beyond the ken of anyone else in the bubble.[/center]