Phillipe Le Marchand
Phillipe Le Marchand
Phillipe Le Marchand was one of the evilest men alive. He lived in Parisius up to the year 666 AD dying on Friday the 13th of December. During his life he was an expert in proto-mechanical devices and simple objects with moving parts. Having come from a relatively wealthy merchant family he had contacts that travelled the Silk Road, that would pick up such devices in the Far East & Middle East, selling them to him, or bribing him with the. From there he would build his own devices and improve upon them where he could for the wealthy elite in Parisius.
As someone who had a specialised business that supplied goods to the elite of society, Le Marchand was very protective of his status. Not wanting to let it go, and gain even more privileges he thought he was due, Le Marchand soon started to dabble in the occult, alchemy, and dark magic. This was helped in part by making simple but strange objects for a couple of the elite families, namely the de Rais and the de Sade families. After a while the de Sade family refused to have any more made, and became a very influential family in the local church. The de Rais was different though, ands constantly asked for more ingenious devices. Over time they asked Le Marchand about puzzle boxes and how to make ones from an unknown substance they referred to as The Flesh of Leviathan. Le Marchand had no knowledge of this substance and managed to track down sources through his contacts to stories of the Library of Alexandria, and that it contained the writings of many occult groups linked to a group, the Order Of The Gash. From there, Le Marchand learned the spells for summoning a being he called The Librarian of Leviathan (became a warlock with the Librarian acting as his master), who provided him with pieces of the Flesh of Leviathan, and the occult lore in which to manipulate this substance.
This sealed Le Marchand's fate. To manipulate it, it must be heated in the fat of a freshly murdered child or youth, before it could be manipulated like clay when still warn and constantly covered in the liquid fat. By this time he had murdered seven children (boys & girls), disposing of their remains in the sewers. Obviously this had came to the notice of the authorities, who took an even dimmer view of the crimes, when one of the children turned out to be the daughter of the most trusted servant family of the de Sade clan. Eventually piecing to gather the movements of the criminal, it all led back to Le Marchand, who was eventually arrested, stripped of his wealth and then executed. The matter of execution was barbaric, where the authorities had him crucified upside and disembowelled, before leaving his body hanging in the closest public square. All traces were removed of his holdings were removed & destroyed, except for a hidden room below his old house.
This room is still whispered about to this day, with the rumours being of a hidden passage between the room & the sewers where Le Marchand dumped the remains of anything he wanted rid off. Also there are a number of other rumours, mainly that it is haunted by the ghosts of the dead children, that it contains sources of magic that anyone can use, and that there is a hidden door to it (either in the building on top of it, or in the alleyway that runs past it).
A strange rumour persists is that he is not truly dead, and can be called forth using some type of magical ritual. At the same time his spirit can be interacted with, or summoned forth in his old market area if one knows where to do this.
Physical Description
General Physical Condition
Le Marchand was a physical wreak according to others. Well overweight, wrinkly, with oily skin, and greasy gray-black hair, he also didn't wash much so smelled somewhat. He was known for using perfumes, and regularly wore more expensive clothing at times, he would regularly change his clothes to appear at least somewhat civilised.
He was not in good physical condition.
Special abilities
La Marchand was a Warlock, and had made a pact with a creature called the Librarian of Leviathan.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Grew up in Parisius, trained in the family business of merchants to the wealthy nobility. He learned quickly, and with learning the occult from early de Sade & de Rais, especially the latter, started to supply them spells, potions, magic items, and dangerous trinkets for summoning otherworldly creatures.
He never married but had close family ties to other Le Marchand members, who viewed him as an eccentric with a temper, and holding a grudge easily. Loved his food and most of his competitors lost their wealth, privileges, and/or lives in a series of bizarre 'accidents'.
Le Marchand was not well liked by others but nobody would actively annoy him, or get on his wrong side. Was known to have tortured other children and animals when young, and rumoured to have killed a few animals too during this time.
Education
Home schooled to a high degree in languages (Common: Frankish, Saxon, Arabic / and in Infernal, Abyssal, and Deep Speech).
Taught business, especially in running the family merchant business, supplying foreign goods to nobility.
Self trained in simple mechanical devices, in the occult, and alchemy.
Employment
Worked as a wealthy merchant.
Accomplishments & Achievements
Making a Chinese style puzzle box he called the Le Marchand Configuration. This led to the plans being copied and distributed to a few other occultist who created variants. Le Marchand also achieved the making of at least one other design, as well as making another Le Marchand Configuration.
Failures & Embarrassments
Le Marchand had tried to woo a number of high profile courtesans, and wealthy noble women. A few were tempted, but Le Marchand's domineering personality regularly won through, either scaring them off, or forcing their families to intervene. This led to him having to save face on a number of occasions, and pay recompense to some powerful families.
Intellectual Characteristics
Le Marchant was ferociously intelligent, yet lacked any tact in some ways. Able to speak, read, and write a number of languages he could communicate well enough. His blunt, aggressive, and sometimes downright rude nature scared off a few people.
Despite this, when it came to business his mind was second to none. Applying the aggressive nature he was known for, he would quite happily pull out of any deal that didn't favour him. At the same time he would be willing to take a risk, or even a loss, if it meant he could get ahead further down the line.
Always looking an edge in business, he knew that foreign objects, especially those of a unique nature would sell well to the right buyer.
Morality & Philosophy
Le Marchand was thoroughly evil through & through. Money and power was the only defining factor in his life. Using occult powers he felt would have given him an advantage, and would happily have used magic to further his aims. He was quite obsessive about being top dog, and didn't care if anyone got hurt, even killed. Never one to look after his own image he believed the inner self was more important, especially his own. His sadistic personality would never let any slight pass, and he had to dominate in everyone around him.
Personality Characteristics
Motivation
Power & greed. He loved both and would have used any means to obtain both.
Virtues & Personality perks
Excellent businessman & knew a good number of high society.
Vices & Personality flaws
Secret servant of a Cenobite.
Hygiene
Extremely poor. Rarely washed, but regularly used perfumes, with fresh clothes frequently.
Social
Contacts & Relations
Known to have had a number of contacts in merchant caravans, he also had a number of spies, thieves, and other occultists spread throughout Europe, and the Middle East. Also, had quite a few other merchants in his pockets in different areas of these regions who he would regularly do business with, both above board, and on the black market.
Family Ties
Had about three cousins who got portions of his estate after his execution, and they still have descendants involved with the merchant trade.
Religious Views
Hated the organised religions., especially the Abrahamic ones, though did not often mention this. Believed in a afterlife, but viewed it as only worthy of a few like himself.
Social Aptitude
Was okay at social settings. As long as it involved business he was above and beyond one of the best, and at all other times could be insufferable and infuriating, especially when not getting the attention he thought he should be getting.
Wealth & Financial state
Quite well off, La Marchand had a few hundred gold when he was executed. Had a respectable shop premises along with rich clientele, who always knew he could get some exciting new product.
Had a number of hidden caches of alchemical & magical lore & items stashed round a couple of hidden buildings in Parisius, of which one is rumoured to still exist wit a sizeable amount of material.
Overweight, sweaty, and still well-dressed Was a businessman when alive Executed by being crucified upside down and disembowelled
Character Location
Current Location
Parisius
Alignment
Chaotic Evil
Current Status
Dead
Current Location
Species
Ethnicity
Age
Died at 61 years
Date of Death
Friday 13th, December
Year of Death
666 AD
Circumstances of Death
Executed by crucifixion & disembowelling
Place of Death
Parisius
Children
Current Residence
Parisius graveyard (unmarked grave)
Gender
Male
Eyes
Brown, scowling, large
Hair
starting to bald, long with a mix of gray & black hair
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Ruddy skin with
Height
5' 92
Weight
130 lb
Aligned Organization
Other Affiliations
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