Ardent Absolvers

Once a normal devout man, Jonah felt and saw the inexplicable call to war one the eve of Christmas, 1913. When he dreamt of these terrible things, he awoke to find Michael in his bedroom in Britain. Seeing the signs, he immediately left to go to the front, abandoning his wife and children to lead a new flock. During his travels, he met many and recruited few, a lot of hopeful applicants not willing to accept the burden of Jonah’s philosophy. Everyone can be redeemed, some just require a bit of extra help. He and his troupe are naive and inexperienced but after these first few battles, the finding of the Horn, and the arrival of the Observer, he knows he is on the right path laid out before him.

Appearing to Jonah on the eve of his awakening, he serves with utmost loyalty. Only known as Michael due to the inscription on his Communicant Cross, he does not speak, and barely makes a sound, save for the jingling of bells. He seems to respond to Jonah’s commands, both spoken and unspoken, and it seems they have an understanding at all times on all things. It could be argued whether or not Michael is merely an extension of Jonah’s will.

Bradford was devoid of hope, early twenties and down on his luck in a hellish war torn world. He was on the verge of suicide when he saw an angel. Brianna Nello stopped him from taking the plunge and he regretfully stalked her ever since. When she joined with the Absolvers, he grabbed his fathers rifle and headed out to join with them, believing in their ideals because she does.

Tony was a thug, an enforcer brute for his local mob in Florence, but with a soft heart. He was tasked with smuggling drugs over to the Levant, which is where he met the Absolvers, stowed away in the same smuggling section of the boat. He was swayed by the faith and conviction that inscribed Jonah’s words and helped him rig up the Loudspeakers. Joining with the troupe he feels more purpose than he ever did, and aims to make a name for himself.

A former travelling strongman, the muscly wonder decided to travel with the Absolvers after losing an arm wrestle to the communicant Michael. When they made it to the front, the patron gifted Fig with a Punt Gun, a shotgun of terrifying and reckless power. He bears this weapon as a personal cross, dealing with the backlash to prove his faith.

Danny is the youngest and most enthusiastic for life of the troupe. He snuck aboard after hearing one of Jonah’s marching sermons and has been giving it his all since… coming in at 14 years old, he’s got a knack for musical talent for his age, and having shown distinction in the previous battles, the troupe only felt it was right for him to bear the Horn of Joshua. He feels a great honour and Jonah has taken him under his personal tutelage for training.

Brianna, as any woman that receives the mark of the Stigmata of the Meta Christ, was heading to the front, when she heard the words of Jonah and the livelihood of his troupe. Enthralled, she tagged along and has proven vital, both for her combat prowess, sheer faith and her motherly way of boosting morale, often providing encouragement to those. She also serves as camp cook, though Bradford helps where he can.

The Observer appeared after the battle with the Mammonite soldiers conclusion and after the discovery of the Horn of Joshua. The Absolvers in their estasy from their victory and reclamation of such a great relic saw this as yet another sign of their providence. They have dubbed him ‘The Way’ and hang on every word, jumbled and nonsensical as they are. The Prophet Jonah knows however, this is a sign that in the way he has integrated itself in the warband, that they must have drawn the attention and wrath of Hell, and something big is headed their way to test the troupe faith like no other.