Bio

Date of Birth: 12/9/1849

Raised in Atlanta during the 1850s, Eric Brooks was the son of a doctor. Though he received a very basic medical education through helping in his father’s practice, he was instead called by God to shepherd the faithful through this life.

Following seminary school, Brooks took a posting as the preacher of St Raphael – a small, predominantly Catholic settlement in the Colorado territory. Though originally populated almost entirely by Catholic families, the town experienced a sudden growth with the discovery of gold in the nearby mountains. With the influx of miners came an increase in sin. The miners would get rowdy every night, and show up weekly for confession. Not truly repentant, they would ask forgiveness their sins just to receive a clean slate – ensuring entry into Heaven should something unfortunate happen in the mines.

A few years of these “empty” confessions ground Brooks down. He found himself simply going through the motions, saying the words, but no longer truly believing as he once did. Eventually, he requested a replacement for St Raphael’s flock and embarked on a pilgrimage of the West, which continues to this day.

Throughout his travels, he has studied several other religions, including Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, and the beliefs of the Apache people. He has come to view individual faith as more important than any particular ritual or religion – it’s not important what you believe, but that you believe.

Though his own faith is on shaky ground, Brooks recognizes that, regardless of his personal faith, his vow of obedience compels him to perform the Catholic sacraments when requested. He has been wearing the clothes and collar of the priesthood for so long, that he no longer feels entirely comfortable in layman’s clothing.