In Nomine: Gorthan

Sometimes a game needs a “mob boss” type of NPC. For my In Nomine campaigns, this demon usually fills that particular role. Gorthan is powerful, well connected, and not what anybody thinks.

Gorthan

Gorthan was a Calabite of Greed whose deeds are shrouded in rumor. Created by Mammon in 1812 and dispatched to earth in the 1850’s it’s believed the demon was instrumental in the formation and growth of the Cosa Nostra and other mafia-like organizations in Italy.

Most celestial beings strive to gain and embody a Word, it should be their reason for being. It’s not that the Calabite didn’t want a Word, but Words bring attention; as do distinctions. Gorthan happily let other demons take on the mantles of Demon of Organized Crime and Demon of Criminal Enterprises; that meant those demons would take the heat. He also turned down any promotions from his Prince and would instead ask for attunements or favors.

All Calabim have discord and Gorthan was no exception. He was perpetually gluttonous, but he hid his discord behind another. The demon requested a vessel with green skin, so that others would think he was discolored. He always presented himself in his green-skinned human form and could then hide in plain sight in another non-discolored vessel, acting in another persona.

The Destroyer was building a power structure on earth of the supernatural. He would aid or blackmail renegade demons, outcast and falling angels, ethereals, sorcerers, and the undead; offering protection, services, or (where needed) threats in exchange for services or treasure (usually rare artifacts or relics). If discovered, he would become a target to Judgment or The Game. Mammon didn’t care, though, so long as his servant’s activities stayed secret and he kept supplying the prince with worldly goods.

To aid in keeping his organization in the shadows, Gorthan allied himself with a Lilim of Secrets named Ravenna. She was instrumental in not only determining the Needs and Secrets of the growing power structure but also in blackmailing any Judges or Gamesters who got too close. The two worked together for almost a century, building a worldwide supernatural syndicate in the shadows. Like the Calabite of Greed, the Lilim of Secrets never sought a Word or requested a distinction. But Gorthan was always the face of power and Ravenna was always at his mercy. At least, until 1968.

The syndicate operated outside of the jurisdiction of Heaven and Hell and the Lilim saw no reason to ally herself with the Horde any longer. After years of planning, Ravenna made her move. In May of 1968, she traveled to Hell, secreting away Gorthan’s heart and shattering her own—staging her death. She then took Gorthan’s vessel while confining the Destroyer in a powerful artifact: a painting that could trap souls. She was no longer Ravenna, he was Gorthan.

The new Gorthan hides his secrets well, using Songs and artifacts acquired over the years to disguise his soul and conceal any trace of his former life. For all intents and purposes, Ravenna died at the hands of an outcast angel and was avenged by the Calabite of Greed. Mammon knows that something is different about “his servitor,” but keeps getting his take from Gorthan’s operation so doesn’t bother to look too closely.

Gorthan’s syndicate of supernatural protection and profiteering hasn’t changed much in the past 150 years. It uses small cells of other supernaturals that can be quickly disbanded and re-established if any suspecting eyes get too close. Gorthan only takes a direct, hands-on approach for very special cases or rewards. To those that interact with the demon, he’s a large (in both height and girth) bald man with green skin who wears fine suits, usually has a bowl of snacks on an otherwise empty desk, and speaks in a New York accent.

In my In Nomine games, Gorthan’s backstory was never used as a plot point or even touched upon. It was simply a fun history that I knew about the character. For the (demonic) PCs, Gorthan was a character who conscripted them to do strange jobs that might be beyond the standard purview of a Prince.

Ravenna Gorthan

Renegade Lilim of Secrets