Aaron McConnell

Aaron via "The Last Crusaders" (Kim DeMulder)

The first Templar knighted under Simon. Aaron spent nearly a decade in the Templar Order before he was killed by the Anti-Templar founder Brad Modeen. Aaron gave the NW6 information on Brad's weakness after his death. He became a Templar Martyr not long after, the Saint of Vengeance.

## History

### Pre-Campaign

Aaron's life before the Last War and Judgement Day are largely unknown.

#### Near Boise

Sometime after the ghost rock bombs dropped, Aaron had taken up residence in a survivor settlement named Near Boise. In 2084, Near Boise was facing an unusual problem: some of its residents would get a greenish tint to their eyes and soon after commit some horrible deed, unbeknownst to the person committing it. These people would often push those in a vulnerable position into danger, resulting in the target's death. Once the green was gone, the perpetrator was none the wiser at what had occurred. The settlement's resident junker, Doc Young, made plans for a tracker to trace whatever had possessed these people so it could be confronted. He needed resources from Boise to build the machine. Sheriff Murray, the town's leader, decided to create a scavenging team to head into the city ruins. He chose to lead it himself, taking along Doc, and the two witnesses to these events, Jo Wales and Aaron McConnell.

#### Meeting Simon

The group ran into trouble while searching the rubble, when hostile mutants swarmed the group. The Sheriff was soon downed by a pipe in his chest, and Doc Young by a blow to the head. Aaron and Jo tried their best to defend their injured allies, but their enemies closed in. That's when Simon, newly armed with his sword and tabard, came out of the old Freemason's lodge. He immediately started hacking up the territorial mutants, and healed up Sheriff Murray's wound, good as new. Awed at Simon's abilities, he was asked to help in the group's current quest to track down the source of the possessions, which he accepted.

#### Hell's Canyon

After Doc was able to build his device and get a signal, Aaron was sent off by the sheriff along with Jo, Doc, and Simon to find the source. The group set off north into the forests of Idaho, where they faced walking dead and other horrors the horsemen set out to wander. During their journey, the group came across a mysterious old woman, Granny Butterworth, who warned Simon of a choice he'd have to make, that someone would die if he made the wrong one, and he had a long, important road ahead of him. She warned of what lay in their destination, Hell's Canyon: a powerful demon. The party set off from the woman's home shaken.

They made it into Hell's Canyon soon after, forced to face groups of walking dead, some former soldiers, some former survivalists. All kept their deadliest skills from their former life. Aaron took a wound to his guts during the fighting, but was healed by Simon, and they pressed on. Doc Young's device led them to a cave in the northern area of the canyon, where they were confronted by a group of living survivalists and the demon that had taken hold of them. They entered a standoff, waiting for the first move, before the demon started reaching into the groups' minds. Simon made the next move, charging forward toward the creature, where he was confronted by the syker survivalist. The two locked in combat as Aaron and the others joined the fray.

Aaron and his companions took out two of the demon's thralls before Doc Young took a bullet to the throat. He fell, and Jo and Aaron started to run out of luck. Simon fought off their attackers, and turned to confront the demon itself. Jo yelled for Simon to heal Doc, but he was too focused on their target to listen, and advanced on the creature. The demon spoke its name name as Simon swung at it with his sword—Baphomet—and its body shattered into pieces. Simon stood in there, looking at the shards, before he was pulled back to reality. He ran back to Doc Young, and attempted to heal him, but Simon wasn't fast enough. Doc died from blood loss soon after.

#### The Beginning of the Templars

The group headed back to Near Boise after Baphomet's defeat, dealing with the same threats they'd found on their way there. As soon as they returned, Aaron told the settlement of what happened, especially of Simon's deeds. The group was greeted as heroes, though Simon was given the warmest welcome. During the celebrations, Aaron suggested officially naming Near Boise Simon's Rock, and it was done.

With Simon's Rock in good hands, Simon was set to head out and help others in need. Aaron had been awed by Simon's deeds on their journey together, and begged Simon to let him come with. Aaron told Simon he'd be his "squire". Simon agreed, and the two set off into the wastes, traveling for a year. During that time, Aaron trained with Simon, earning himself a tabard for his dedication to Simon's cause. When they returned to Simon's Rock, with new recruits in tow and Simon vowing to create the Templar order as its leader, they were celebrated. Aaron went with Simon the next day to start rebuilding Boise, along with other residents of Simon's Rock and Templar trainees. He trained with Simon and his fellow recruits over time, becoming the first Templar after Simon to use lay on hands and heal. He earned his sword and became the first knighted Templar.

#### Jenna Dean

During Aaron's travels, he spent some time in Washington state hunting wendigos. After he killed one of the creatures, he had visions of a woman in furs by a large white wolf. He somehow knew her name was Jenna Dean. A few days later, he encountered a white-furred wendigo that was significantly stronger than the other he'd encountered. The creature killed his hunter companions, and heavily wounded Aaron. As he lay at the creature's mercy, a spectral white wolf appeared over him and lunged at the wendigo. The two fought viciously, at a standstill until Aaron limped over and managed to plunge his sword into the wendigo's shoulder. The wolf disappeared, and the wendigo perished. Unbeknownst to Aaron at the time, killing the first wendigo had earned him the favor of the Jenna Dean, who became known as a Templar Martyr.

### Arc 9: The Goat, the Witch, and the Warden

In early May of 2096, Brad Modeen, the founder of the Anti-Templar movement, increased his activity around Boise. He actively began attacking caravans near the Templar's base, turning their attention to him. Aaron took it upon himself to deal with the threat. After Brad attacked another caravan group, killed some, and took others hostage, Aaron made his move. Between the night of May 8th and the early morning of May 10th, Aaron went alone to Sam's Orchard, Idaho. He cut his way past Brad's bikers and made it to his tent, challenging the man to a one-on-one duel.

Brad agreed, and the two engaged in melee combat. Aaron seemed to have the clear upper hand, and stabbed Brad through the heart with his sword, but it wasn't the killing blow he'd thought it'd be. Brad simply laughed, pulled out the blade, and used it to stab Aaron in the guts. Brad dragged Aaron and a Doomsayer named Barbara—one who'd been guarding the caravan—to the trees farther in the orchard, near the road. Both were hung, and Aaron succumbed to asphyxiation. Barbara, however, was able to balance on a branch for some time, only slipping when the NW6 arrived on the scene midday of May 10th.

Toussaint was able to catch the woman, and the group got her down from her makeshift gallows. With a little help, she was able to use her Doomsayer powers to contact Aaron's spirit, allowing the group to speak to him. He told them what Brad had whispered to him before his hanging: he could only be killed by the sword of the first Anti-Templar. He then told them he wished to rest, and Addie bade him goodbye, promising to finish what he started.

A short while before the NW6 returned to Boise, in the early morning of May 11th, Simon was visited by Aaron in a vision. Aaron had become one of the Martyrs, and in killing Brad, Addie had also gained his blessing. A day later, Aaron's body was burned in Boise, along with another couple Templars who were killed by Brad, in a public ceremony.