Every story needs its heroes and the world of Mon Dieu Cthulhu! is no different bursting to the brim with dashing protagonists, nefarious villains and fascinating characters. In some ways its an echo of the real-life Napoleonic times when some men rose up through the ranks of the Grand Armee to earn themselves a marshal’s baton.
The real life Peninsular War, where the first few Mon Dieu Cthulhu! books are set, was full of intriguing, exciting and dashing characters like Antoine-Charles-Louis, Comte de Lasalle, the hussar general, “who made Spain tremble”, André Massena, the Sweet child of Victory and of course, Sir Athur Wellesley, who won victories there which eventually paved the way to Waterloo and earned him the title of the Duke of Wellington.
“Heroes” of course is a subjective term: straight up do-gooding heroes are rare in the real world and especially so in Mon Dieu Cthulhu. To be honest, they’re not very exciting to write about either, as it’s the flaws and imperfections of a character which make them more real, more believable and frankly yes, just more interesting.
The best fictional characters are made of multiple shades of grey and since most good storytelling is built on conflict, it’s these heroes’ decisions and dilemmas which keep you reading and captivate you as they grow, learn, and come to life. So, without further ado, let’s meet the cast of Mon Dieu Cthulhu!
Lieutenant Gaston Dubois
The dashing yet occasionally dim hussar is the main narrator and central hero of Mon Dieu Cthulhu, a brave, vain, short, hot-headed soldier whose wits may not be the sharpest but whose heart is always in the right place. As a retired Lieutenant-Colonel, Dubois retells his memoirs to an unnamed journalist recalling his many adventures.Dubois is a courageous and passionate man, a highly skilled swordsman and cunning cavalry commander and tactician who cares deeply about his beloved Empereur, the newly formed French Republic and the values of liberté, égalité, and fraternité .
He yearns to prove his worth in battle as a leader of men and earn the glory, honour and respect he deserves. He can be proud, vain (and inordinately proud of his moustaches and cadenettes), sometimes foolish, and is a hopeless romantic and falls in love at the drop of hat despite his great declared amour for his future bride Odette. Underneath it all though, he is a decent, thoughtful man who cares deeply about his friends, his men and his duty.
When his eyes are opened to the supernatural during the adventure of The Crystal Void it is the first step on a journey which will take him across the epic battles, campaigns and events of the Napoleonic Age. There he will find his true destiny as a champion of mankind during the eternal struggle against the forces of darkness which fuel the wars of the Napoleonic Age.
Sergeant Bastien Sacleaux
Dubois’ counterpoint, companion and foil is the redoubtable sergeant, a hulking, brooding veteran with a battle-scarred visage. Originally a member of the Imperial Guard Cavalry, he was drummed out that elite unit in disgrace, “like Lucifer falling from the heavens”. No one knows why and Sacleaux will not say although it several rumours abound although who knows if any of them are truly true? It is said that enraged, he struck a superior officer, drunk, he shot one of the Empereur’s beloved ‘ounds, or sober he had the audacity to goose the Empress! As Dubois says, “Mon Dieu, what a catalogue of calumny!”
The two men find themselves thrown together during the adventure of the Feast of the Dead and at first they do not get on at all, Dubois constantly bumping heads with his surly sergeant. Slowly though, though trials, battle, and many travails, the pair find an accommodation, which eventually turns to respect, admiration and eventually a deep friendship.
Despite their difference in ranks, the saturnine Sacleaux becomes a loyal, faithful companion to Dubois, a trusted advisor and a friend who accompanies him through many perilous adventures. Sacleaux is an exemplary sergeant and everything one could wish for in an NCO, even though he knows a great deal more than he is letting on.
Felicity Brockenhurst
Mademoiselle Brockenhurst is a beautiful, haughty, glacial young Englishwoman who Dubois first encounters in the adventure of Feast of the Dead. She works as a nurse at the mysterious Monasterio St. Cloud, although she is actually one of Sir Arthur Wellesley’s most renowned spies and assassins.
The French call her La Rosignol, the Nightingale and all manner of wild tales are told of her exploits and accomplishments. It is said she smuggled Trouvier out of the Bastille hidden beneath her skirts, liberated the plans for invading Iberia from a locked strongbox under the Empereur’s bed, and even eliminated the unfortunate General Lanoir through the sheer vigour of her lovemaking!
Raised in India, Brockenhurst had an unconventional childhood, learning survival, combat and diplomatic skills plus the mental discipline required to become a hunter of men and monsters. Despite her tender years, she is a well travelled and sophisticated young woman but somewhat haughty and condescending, even arrogant (especially toward Dubois). Yet when that glacial exterior melts, she is a fierce, passionate lover and friend to Dubois.
If you’d like to learn more about Felicity Brockenhurst (who will undoubtedly merit a separate series of her own one day), you can read The Clockwork Sailor, a bonus free story exclusive to my newsletter subscribers.
Major Seraph
Magician, sorcerer, champion of humanity, the fey, otherworldly Major Seraph is one man who stands against the forces of darkness down the ages. While his origins are obscure, he has appeared throughout history when the need is greatest and mankind requires a defender and champion.
During the Napoleonic Age, Major Seraph appears as one of Sir Arthur Wellesley’s eyes, those daring gallopers who operate behind enemy lines gathering intelligence.
This is just a cover and Seraph’s considerable skills are actually employed against the forces manipulating mankind’s destiny during this most tumultuous period in history. As well as his considerable personal mystical powers, Seraph has always been a skilled talent spotter, finding and recruiting those ordinary individuals whose gifts can help his cause. He is also one of the prime movers in the Order of the Hidden Flame, a secret society dedicated to protecting mankind against the malign menace of the mythos.
While his deeds in the Mon Dieu Cthulhu! universe are legendary, Major Seraph first appeared in his own series, The Seraph Chronicles, comprising The Trellborg Monstrosities, Tomb of the Aeons set during the second world war, plus the original Crystal Void. He also stars in the post-apocalyptic novel Before the Flood which sees mankind hanging on by its fingertips in a drowned world populated by sea demons.
Seraph’s origin story is told in A Morsel For the Water Mother set in the late Bronze Age, and his recruitment into Section E before the second world war is revealed in a brand new 2024 story, A Summoner of Demons, which are both available as free exclusives for newsletter subscribers.
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