The Congregation continues to grow around its supernatural core, but most of those answering the call of the Baptiste brothers remain ordinary men and women who rely upon gunpowder rather than Arcane Power. The musketmen and riflemen provide fire from a distance, while others prefer the mobility and simplicity of a pistol when fighting through settlements, woodland and the tangled country of the Louisiana bayou.
The next two additions to my Congregation posse are both Creole gunmen, each armed with a pistol. Neither possesses any supernatural abilities, although both have spent enough time around Étienne and Mathieu Baptiste to understand that there are occasions when the sensible response to something inexplicable is not to ask questions, but to draw a weapon.
Théodore Moreau
Théodore Moreau grew up around the docks and warehouses of New Orleans before returning to his mother’s family in the bayou. He worked wherever employment could be found, including as a deckhand, warehouse guard and occasional escort for merchants carrying valuable cargo along the river. These occupations taught him to recognise trouble quickly and convinced him that a pistol carried beneath a coat was considerably more useful in close quarters than the finest rifle left leaning against a wall.
Théodore first encountered the Congregation when men associated with the Dark Confederacy attempted to seize a shipment of supplies destined for several isolated communities. He helped drive them off and subsequently discovered that the cargo itself had merely been bait intended to draw out those resisting Confederate influence. Rather than withdraw once the danger became apparent, Théodore joined the Congregation in tracking the attackers back to their camp.
He has remained with them ever since. Théodore possesses a dry sense of humour and an impressive ability to remain calm when confronted by the supernatural, although he insists this has nothing to do with courage. After travelling with two Vessels, two Houngan, several Arcanists, Zombies and an enormous Temple Snake, he maintains that his understanding of what constitutes normal has simply deteriorated.
Sébastien Robichaux
Sébastien Robichaux was raised in one of the smaller Creole communities beyond New Orleans, where his family operated a modest store serving fishermen, hunters and passing river traffic. He became accustomed to dealing with strangers and learned early that a friendly manner and careful attention could reveal considerably more than threats. When necessary, however, the pistol kept beneath the counter provided a more direct method of settling disagreements.
His family became involved in the Congregation’s struggle after Dark Confederacy agents began purchasing unusual quantities of supplies while asking questions about local cemeteries and abandoned settlements. Sébastien followed them, discovered enough to understand their purpose and carried the information to Auguste Delacroix. The resulting confrontation destroyed a small Confederate operation and convinced Sébastien that remaining behind his counter while others fought was no longer sufficient.
Sébastien now serves as one of the Congregation’s scouts and close range gunmen. He is sociable, observant and particularly useful when the posse needs information without announcing its presence. He also possesses the useful habit of keeping his pistol loaded even during supposedly friendly conversations, something experience with the Dark Confederacy has repeatedly demonstrated to be sensible.
Théodore Moreau and Sébastien Robichaux bring another pair of ordinary Creole fighters into the Congregation, complementing the musketmen and riflemen already gathered around the Baptiste brothers. They have no desire to become Houngan or Arcanists and are perfectly content to leave dealings with the Loa to those better qualified.
When the spirits speak, they listen.
When the shooting starts, they have a rather more immediate contribution to make.
All six Congregation Gunfighters
