Winston Churchill
Blessed Soul Without Portfolio
Corporeal Forces: 2
Strength: 3
Agility: 5
Ethereal Forces: 4
Intelligence: 7
Precision: 9
Celestial Forces: 3
Will: 6
Perception: 6
Skills: Artistry (Painting/1, Writing/4), Emote/6,
Knowledge (History/6, Politics/6, Politics of the
Seraphim Council/6, Research/6, Tactics/4), Languages
(English/6, plus a bunch of others), Ranged Weapon/2
(pistol), Savoir-Faire/4
Songs: Harmony (All/4), Tongues (All/2)
Winston found death to be much like life, only more
so.
Indeed, once the initial shock had passed (one never
really knows how it's going to turn out in the end,
after all), his new existence was quite satisfactory.
The Library itself would have been sufficient: the
books and research materials available made Heaven a
delight - and the librarians were most accommodating
when it came to helping him revise his History of the
English - Speaking Peoples and The Second World
War. The updated versions of both are considered to
be the current last words in their respective fields.
What was even better than the Library, however, was
the Seraphim Council. Ransacking the Library was
pleasurable.
Insinuating the Council was simply fun.
It should be remembered that the Seraphim Council is
more than Archangels, powerful Seraphim and a handful
of ancient Servitors of other Choirs. While the above
may the only ones that actually vote on policy, any
practical politician can tell you that underneath the
surface is where the real work gets done. Every
Council member has a staff who provides analysis,
research and expert opinions on every topic germane to
Heaven: even Superiors can't be everywhere nor do
everything at once (if they could, they wouldn't need
Servitors). The lower levels of the Council are thus
incessantly busy.
Winston has set up shop here, and is currently having
almost insane amounts of fun. His self-imposed task
is to be the entity one goes to when one needs
information: it seems that he knows everyone (or at
least someone who knows someone who knows someone).
The blessed soul will be happy to use whatever
trifling influence he might have on your behalf, too.
Don't bother asking for slanted materials, however:
Blessed Churchill only helps with the acquisition of
objective data. If it doesn't fit your prejudices,
then change your prejudices. Don't try to get
classified information out of him, either: the blessed
soul always believed in the cliche about loose lips
and sinking ships, and sees no reason to change his
opinion now.
Most of the not-quite-harried Council staffers accept
this with good enough humor: after all, Winston's
office often the only place where a Servitor of War
can get critical criminal justice statistical analyses
from Judgement - or where a Dominican can acquire the
latest reports on the fighting in the Balkans. Also,
information gathered from him carries no ideological
stigma, and neatly avoids awkward questions from
higher-ups about fraternizing with political rivals.
Well worth the trouble - and, if Winston should ask
you later on for a bit of assistance, well ... why
not? Quid pro quo was a word in Angelic long before
it was a phrase in Latin.
By now, Blessed Churchill is a full-blown agent of
influence (to use Trade's term): he's a honorary
member of most Heavenly organizations that include
blessed souls (from the Cadre to the Brotherhood of
Historians to the Order of the Sacred Heart), and has
personal friends everywhere. His personal suite of
offices appeared in the Council Spires roughly three
months after he began forging his network of contacts,
and he now even has a not-quite-modest staff to help
him coordinate his activities. Even Archangels
recognize his specialized utility: the Archangel of
Animals once called him 'the Spider' (one of the few
times Jordi has been complimentary to a human in
public), and by now the nickname has stuck.
Of course, Winston has an agenda: doesn't everyone?
Setting up his web of mutual assistance was enjoyable
and engrossing, but now that it mostly operates itself
the blessed soul is ready to pursue his real goal.
Before you wonder, it's hardly dishonorable, or even
particularly secret. Blessed Churchill has had offers
from the Archangels of Trade, Destiny, The Sword and
Stone to formally join their respective services, but
he never felt that he would fully fit in with any of
them. Winston would like to work for an Archangel,
however: one that deals exclusively with human
politics, cultures and civilizations. Unfortunately,
that current field is more or less divided among a
half-dozen Archangels. There really should be an
Archangel of Civics ... but there isn't.
So, Winston has decided to make one. He even has a
candidate in mind - not that she realizes it yet. The
Word inflation from Cities to Civics is logical
enough, and David will almost certainly support the
addition of another reliable vote on the Council, thus
neutralizing the most likely opposition to Blessed
Churchill's project. All he has to do is honestly
convince enough of the right people, and 'public'
opinion will do the rest. Then, Winston can hand over
his current activities to his assistants and go work
for someone who can get the most efficient use out of
his talents. Everybody wins.
Well, yes, this sort of project does require high
amounts of chutzpah, self-assurance and oratory if one
is to have even a faint hope of success.
What's your point?
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