Edward Gavigan
priest of the Black Pharaoh
An intelligent and polished man of the English upper class,
Gavigan is an astute and intelligent adversary. He is the
main threat and villain of the England chapter.
Outwardly to society, Gavigan is the director of the Penhew
Foundation and a respected academic in matters of ancient
Egyptian antiquities. Secretly, he is the high priest of the
London branch of the Brotherhood of the Black Pharaoh; a
formidable sorcerer, he runs the organization with an iron fist.
Though Gavigan is the epitome of an upper class and
wealthy Englishman, he was relatively poor as a young man
owing to a disagreement with his father, who withdrew
Gavigan’s allowance. His interest in Egyptology eventually
led him to the door of Sir Aubrey Penhew, where Gavigan
spent many years scheming and dealing his way into Sir
Aubrey’s confidence. Eventually, Sir Aubrey revealed to
Gavigan the majesty of the Black Pharaoh; Sir Aubrey told
Gavigan the return of the Black Pharaoh was imminent,
and that Gavigan would play a significant role in the Great
Plan. In time, Sir Aubrey departed with Roger Carlyle,
leaving Gavigan in his stead as director of the Foundation
and leader of the London Brotherhood. Gavigan defers
to his old master, Sir Aubrey, in all matters; more so than
in his dealings with Omar al-Shakti (A Dangerous Man,
page 344), who Gavigan is convinced despises him (true; alShakti doesn’t trust the Englishman and would prefer Zahra
Shafik to have total control of the London Brotherhood).
Gavigan’s father died a few years ago and finally his
inheritance, so long withheld, came to him. Now, he is independently wealthy and enjoys material life as much as
he enjoys being empowered by the gods; favoring Savile
Row tailored suits, elegant jewelry, and an expensive and new
wristwatch (still a relatively new item of personal adornment).
Relishing the power he commands as high priest, which
goes hand-in-hand with the authority he demands as the
Foundation’s director, Gavigan is well placed to ensure
that the essential activities of the Brotherhood remain
out of the public eye. The word of a respected academic
versus that of a gaggle of unwashed (and possibly foreign)
conspiracy theorists is a one-sided argument. At his word,
the investigators can be barred from learned institutions,
pilloried in newspapers, or named in libel lawsuits. If
he can tie them to disastrous events in another country
(New York City, or elsewhere if the investigators come to
London later in the campaign), he may leak biased and
very damaging stories about them to the press or police.
Should the investigators attempt to pin anything on
Gavigan, perhaps via Inspector Barrington (page 250),
he may be brought in by the police for questioning but
soon departs with his solicitor, who uses legal trickery and
Gavigan’s public standing to get any accusations thrown out.
Witness testimony is easily discounted for a man of Gavigan’s
stature (or witness evidence can be retracted with suitable
bribes or intimidation). While Barrington may believe the
investigators, the detective will, ultimately, be frustrated and
annoyed that the British legal system can’t make charges
stick to a man like Gavigan.
With enough incentive from the investigators, Gavigan
could declare all-out war against them—kidnapping, breakins, beatings, murder, and arson are all possibilities—that’s
before he even thinks to utilize Mythos magic.
Gavigan’s utter confidence may be his undoing. Focused
on the delivery of machine parts for Sir Aubrey’s rocket
(see the China chapter) and possibly distracted by the
nuisance created by the investigators, he is unlikely to
see the threat from Zahra Shafik (The Schemes of Zahra
Shafik, page 259).
Description
Slim and superbly dressed, balding hair, manicured nails, and clean-shaven.Traits
A mask of charm and grace, coupled with good manners, hides an insane ego intent on the accumulation of personal power.
Current Status
Deceased
Current Location
Children
Aligned Organization
Other Affiliations
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