Thomas Galilei

Thomas Galilei is well-groomed without being handsome, well-dressed without being in style. He stands rigid, upright, arms often relaxed at his sides. His gait seems measured, purposeful without appearing hurried. You might guess by his movement and posture that he was a military man: disciplined and dignified. His voice is quiet, but certain, and he never seems to raise it. His eyes, brown, are severe yet serene; they meet yours when you speak to him, or he you--confident without being challenging, penetrating without bearing judgment. His aura is one of sober calm--thoughtful--and seems to inspire the same in others.

History

Thomas, as he is now called, is an Irish American, born and raised in New England. He attended Boston University's school of Theology, majoring in Biblical Archaeology. Upon graduation, he enlisted in the United States Army, serving as a chaplain's assistant. He was deployed as part of a discreet military presence in the Middle East at the beginning of the Gulf War.

In 1990, his convoy was ambushed by radical Islamic insurgents while en route to performing a communion service for a removed American outpost. Thomas was taken hostage, along with the priest he served, others of the cadre, and their escort. (The event never received media coverage given the clandestine nature of the larger unit's purpose in the area. Instead, members of the convoy were reported "killed in action," and received military funerals. Despite the best efforts of the United States military, the location of Thomas and his unit was never discovered.)

For seven months, Thomas was a prisoner of war, suffering torture and abuse from his captors along with the other members of his cadre. Each was offered the mercy of a quick death if they would renounce their faith before a video camera, presumably for terrorist propaganda. Thomas was forced to watch as, one by one, cadre members succumbed, receiving death by decapitation after forsaking God and the Catholic faith. Eventually, even the priest Thomas assisted faltered, denied, and then died, until only Thomas remained.

One night in his cell, a commotion woke him: hurried footsteps, shouts, and gunfire. (Thomas thought, at last, the Army had come to save him.) A long silence followed. His cell door swung open, and men who were neither his captors nor his countrymen entered through the doorway. They explained to him that they were Magi, wisemen of the East, that they'd heard tale of his afflictions and his persistent faith. They made him an offer: delivery to an American embassy, or induction into their mysteries.

Thomas awoke at a Monastery in Israel. There he would complete twenty years of devoted study under the tutelage of Unified monks: Dammitic (Jewish), Ibn-Shaitan (Moslem), and Monarchal (Catholic) alike. On completing his tenure, Thomas expressed interest in spreading the beliefs of the Lancea Sanctum to his home country. He was assigned to Sacramento where he now resides.

Sacramento Ministry

Thomas owns a small fixer-upper church-office. (Currently a Haven, not a Site.)

Rumors

God speaks directly to Thomas Galilei.

God has forsaken Thomas Galilei.

In prison camp, Thomas Galilei cursed God, that he might be struck down rather than deny Him or suffer further torture; as punishment God allowed him to live.

After a ten-year vow of silence at a monastery in Israel, Thomas Galilei went another two years without saying a word to make sure he'd learned how to listen, and because he couldn't think of anything worth saying.

He was renamed Thomas after the Doubter, one of Jesus inner twelve who, on seeing Jesus resurrected, asked to see the holes in his wrists to confirm Jesus' identity and the fact that he was crucified.

He encourages diligent doubt among his congregation, claiming that doubt is not enemy of either truth or faith, but their litmus, that truth, if it be true, will stand against all scrutiny; that faith untested becomes weak.

He was renamed Galilei after Galileo--renowned scientist and devout Catholic, who was imprisoned and nearly exiled by the Catholic Church for suggesting that the earth rotated around the sun, not vice versa.

The Lancea Sanctum is grooming him to be a Cardinal.

The Lancea Sanctum excommunicated him, and he has no official authority.

Longinus came to him in the Middle East and offered to tell him the true meaning of unlife; Thomas politely refused, said he would rather find out for himself. Longinus blessed him and moved on.

Thomas' sire was of the Sotoha Bloodline before conversion, and it is Thomas' intent to pursue that Bloodline himself.

Scenes

Ministry

A Calling, Not a Curse Confession Service Available Funeral Service Inquiry: Aileen McFarlane A Letter to Bishop Connery (Josephine as Archivist) Confession Service I A Knight's Confession Sibling Rivalry Old Soldiers, New Friends Hard Truth and Dumb Love Confessions of Conscience A Letter to Father Galilei Trimming the Excess Home, Sweet Hellfire Sterling Anointed, Created Anew Torpor Dreams Into Something More Monomancy Postlude A Gentleman's Confession

Theban Sorcery

Blood Scourge

Social

Acknowledgement Gotta Like Gothic (Reverance) Ballo Della Notte (1408) Diilon, Thomas, Dog, Harold, Ashley (1408) Josephine and Thomas (1408) Sterling, Galilei, and Clarke (1408) Meet your Harpy III Rag and Bone Sympathies Insults for Charity 1410 Ventrue Lords and Ladies Return of the Priest

Feeding

God's Monster Barbecued Pedophile Faith Despite Outrage Unholy Savior Merry Fucking Christmas What God Wants

Plot

Invisible Hands

Invisible Hands: Rent Veils Invisible Hands: Research, Intrigue, and Coffee Invisible Hands: Crime Scene Investigators

Golden Bough

Police Presence Noted The Moore House