Father Gideon Thorne
Father Gideon Thorne is an aging yet imposing figure within the town of Brimstone, his presence as much a force of law as it is of faith. Draped in the purple and gold vestments of the Chantry, he cuts a striking image, his thin frame belying the iron will that has made him one of the most influential figures in the region. His face is weathered and gaunt, his piercing gray eyes alight with zealous conviction. His voice, though rasped with age, carries with unwavering authority, each sermon laced with the weight of divine judgment.
Thorne oversees the Sanctuary of the Martyr, the lone church on the outskirts of Brimstone, its looming spires casting long shadows over the adjacent graveyard. The burial grounds are meticulously maintained, for in death, all are returned to the Empire’s embrace—at least, so Thorne claims. He is deeply devoted to the Chantry and enforces its imperial doctrine with ruthless efficiency, ensuring that faith remains a pillar of control in Brimstone. Though the town falls under the jurisdiction of Marshal Elias Dane, Thorne sees the appointed lawman as weak-willed and far too lenient, particularly toward the indents and undesirables who skulk through Brimstone’s streets. Rather than defer to the Marshal’s authority, Thorne asserts his own, commanding a contingent of Imperial Inquisitors—fanatical enforcers clad in ceremonial plate and trained to root out heresy, rebellion, and lawlessness. He claims to answer only to Lord Vale himself, bypassing the Marshal entirely when it suits him. Thorne’s rule is one of unwavering discipline, fear, and devotion. He believes that indents are tools of the Empire, meant to serve without question, and any who step beyond their station must be swiftly corrected. Whispers abound of darkened chambers within the church, where disobedient souls are "purified" by inquisitorial hands. His influence runs deep, and though many fear him, few dare to challenge his grasp on Brimstone’s moral order.
