Hugo Rune.'s page

Hugo grew up in a regular Irish-Catholic house in the suburbs of Boston. Hailing from Needham district of the sprawl, his parents were active supporters of the IHA (Irish Humanist Army) up to the time of Hugo’s birth. The first meta-human in the family, Hugo’s parents were not sure what to do with him. While they loved their son, they just could not fit his birth to their political ideology. In an attempt to balance their love/hate feelings, they sent the youth to a catholic boarding school on the other side of the city and visited rarely.
Hugo’s youth was a lonely one, where he was usually the odd child out. It would have been a completely isolated existence had it not been for his natural charisma and general likeability. While many just saw him as an “ELF”, other who could see beyond his race grew to enjoy the boys company. Girls especially found him charming, and many times he had to talk quickly to keep himself from a beating by jealous boyfriends. The schools Rector was also impressed by the quiet, handsome boy, but not for his social skills, but rather his magical ones. By the time he was 13, Hugo was exhibiting signs of magical activity. By 15 he had master some basic control, and with the help of the schools Master of Magical Theory, he was quite advanced by the time he was ready to graduate. While Hugo had dreams of going to MIT&T, the Rector had other ideas, and after contacting his superiors in the church, secured a place for the boy to be taught by the clergy, possibly becoming a member of the Order of St. Sylvester.
Hugo travelled to Philadelphia where he spent a year gaining the basic of magical theory. Once he had master these elementary skills, he moved on to more advanced teachings. While in the seminary for magical acolytes he was introduced to a fellow student who seemed very interested in him. She was not only beautiful, but talented and well trained in magic. The two grew very close, and as the year came to a close she suggested he come with her to Italy to finish his final year. Having no real attachments to the UCAS, Hugo agreed and soon was living in a small seminary just outside the gates of the Vatican. His studies advanced in leaps and bounds as he was taught by some of the best practitioners of the Art in all Christendom. It was during those first few months that he became aware of being watched and followed. On the 31 of October, while coming home from a late class a group of hooded thugs attacked him. Before he could call for help, or even get a spell readied, he was out cold. Waking a few hours later he discovered he was seated on a wooden chair in a stone chamber. Bright light were directed at him, and he could scarcely see the robed figures seated in a semi-circle before him. With their voices masked they ask him several complex questions about magical theory, history and spell creation. Being able to answer them all he was finally asked about political allegiance and religious tendencies. Again, he must have answered correctly, for the bright lights were dimmed and he was offered wine and bread. He was surprised when the cloaked figure that served him removed their cowl and revealed themselves to be one of his school mates. Soon he was surrounded by members of the upper class. They explained that he had been watched for many years, and was now being offered a chance to join the secret order of the Tacet Fratribus or The Silent Brothers, in English. Thrilled to be included in a secret society, Hugo agreed and after a short ceremony received the Brotherhood name of Silvanus Carolinus.
Over the next 4 years, Silvanus Carolinus worked in the shadows to forward the goals of the Tacet Fratribus. As a low level member he rarely knew what most of these goals were, but the sense of belonging was so strong his loyalty was unswerving….until that fateful day he stumbled upon plans that rocked his belief in the Brotherhood. Having finished the latest mission for the Brotherhood, Hugo has gone to the order’s library to do some research. While in the furthest corner of the building he fell asleep. Waking to the darkness of night, he started to rise, when he saw a light coming down the stacks towards him. Unsure of who or what it might be, he hid and observed several of the senior brothers pass by and disappear through a hidden door. Thinking quickly, Hugo caught the door before it could close and quietly crept into the hidden chamber. Once inside the Brothers sat at a large carved table and started the meeting with a prayer, but not one Hugo had ever heard. It seemed to be a direct benediction to the angel Dumah. The group spoke of the retrieval of an item known as “The Finger of St. Dominus”, the first disciple of Dumah. With this magical item, the group planned on having their most powerful brother break into the Vatican’s secret vaults and steal many forbidden and dangerous artifacts.
Shaken by this revelation, Hugo went directly to the head of security for the Vatican Police. The Swiss guard who heard his accusation took down all the information, then as she got up to leave the interrogation room Hugo recognized a ring on his finger…a talisman of the Silent Brotherhood. Once the guard had left, Hugo used his magic to exit the police station and slowly work his way back into the city proper. He could not go back to his apartments in the order’s compound, but he did still have access to some of the safehouses used by the Tacet Fratribus, and he made for one of these. As luck would have it, at that very moment the group who were sent to retrieve the Finger of St. Dominus were also arriving at the old garage. A group of Shadowrunners who had completed the run met the confused Hugo and gave him their package, thinking he was their connection. As soon as he realized what he had he ran!
With only the few positions he was carrying, and the money he looted from the safehouse, Hugo made for the airport, but stopped when he saw his pictured flashed on a number of trid screens. According to the story, he had broken into an off-site storage area of the Vatican and stole an important item, killing 2 guards in the process. The Vatican was offering a reward on information leading to his arrest and the return of the stolen artifact. Not knowing what to do, the fugitive made his way to the seaside where he hired on to a fishing trolley heading for Spain. From there he stowed away on a supercargo hauler which dock, in all places, Boston.
A year since the incident, and the Brotherhood is still hunting him. The Vatican has a bounty on his head and he dare not trust anyone with his secret. He has fallen between the cracks of society into the shadow world and now makes his money as a mercenary, but always keeping his eyes open for any sign of the Tacet Fratribus.