| Great | - | Perception  |
| Good | - | Connections  , Education , Fisticuffs  , Performance  , Stealth |
| Poor | - | Fencing , Physique |
Samuel Paige
| Name: | Samuel Paige | Occupation: | Journalist | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of Birth: | New York | Current Residence: | No fixed residence. Travels with the stories. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Appearance: | Slight of build and bespectacled. Young, clean-shaven and with afresh, innocent face. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Childhood: | Privileged member of New York society, brought up by a succession of nannies and governesses. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Education: | Private boarding school, Degree in Journalism and Modern Political History at Harvard. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Virtue: | Assures the confidentiality of his sources. | Vice: | A tendency to ask too-probing questions. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Style: | Confident and understated. | Personality: | Inquisitive, slightly rebellious. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Likes: | Honesty and openness. | Dislikes: | Being kept in the dark. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Most valued principle: | Independence | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Most treasured possession: | A page from the New York Times (9th August 1870) containing his first published article. (Which appeared on page 7.) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Most valued person: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nemesis: | Though not a true enemy, the gentleman thief known as 'The Phantom'. | Alliances: | New Europan Press Association. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Romantic Life: | None that he is willing to talk about. He isn't that type of journalist. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Social Goal: | To 'make it in society' on his own terms rather than through his family connections. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Professional Goal: | To establish his reputation as a creditable crime journalist by learning the identity of 'The Phantom'. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Romantic Goal: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abilities: |
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| Action most regretted: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Proudest moment: | Seeing his name on a byline for the first time. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hits : | 4 | Damage Taken: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The Memoirs of Samuel Paige
Born in New York. Father a high-ranking member of the Freemasons; mother a wealthy socialite in the city's Fifth Avenue society. Early life was much as you might expect: I saw little of my parents, busy creatures that they were, and was brought up by a succession of nannies and governesses. Then it was private boarding school, wealth and privilege, the debuts and levees, Newport in the summer, private schools and Ivy League. Graduated from high school and went on to read Journalism and Modern Political History at Harvard.
Through my father's influence I could have found employment in any newspaper office in the United States, but I wasn't yet ready to settle into a regular working life. I suspect deep down that I just wanted to rebel against the rigid mores of New York society, but couldn't admit it at the time - even to myself. Rather, I told myself that I wanted to maintain my independence for a while longer. I had it in mind to visit the old country, do the grand tour, spend some time in New Europa. It was not a decision that went down well with my father. While he paid for my ticket (first class) on the transatlantic steamer, his generosity stretched no further. If I was to survive in New Europa, it would be on my own initiative. Perhaps in doing this he hoped to punish me for disappointing him; or it may have been his idea of letting me learn the realities of the world outside Masonic society for myself.
It wasn't difficult for me to find employment. I made a few visits to the press clubs in major cities (where they take one's word that one is a journalist without requesting to see a Press Association card which I did not possess at the time). A few preliminary articles on the New Europan social scene, and I was soon earning a retainer as a stringer for the New York Times.
I believe my breakthrough was the story on the theft of Lady Wentworth's diamonds, a copy of which I still keep in my pocket book. Though he has never been caught, ad I do not even know his name, I was fortunate that the burglar chose to write to me describing how he had accomplished such a feat despite the best efforts of the Bayernese police to guard the jewels. His account of the night, detailing how he hung suspended and motionless above the heads of the guards as they patrolled the hotel strongroom tallied with the evidence police later found at the scene, that I could not doubt his story. In my article, I portrayed him as a gallant gentleman thief taking on the theft as a challenge to his skills rather than for pure monetary gain, and the image appealed to my readers. My American readers have started calling him 'The Phantom', though this nickname has not yet been used on this side of the Atlantean Ocean. Since then, I have recorded his exploits in Paris (the now famous theft of the Topkapi exhibit at the Louvre), Constantinople, Rome (scene of the infamous theft of a valuable manuscript from the Vatican library), Monte Carlo (where Lady Astor lost her pearls), Madrid and Vienna; but am still no closer to learning his identity.
One might assume that, with its First Amendment rights, the press corps in the United States has a great deal of freedom; but this is sadly not the case. The Freemasons control what is and is not published very effectively. I know exactly how they work, what my own father had expected of me. In New Europa I have the freedom to write what I will, without undue fear of repercussions; and if the American journals will not publish my stories then the New Europan papers will.
Proud as I am of being born in the United States of America, a nation that shall surely one day be the greatest of the world powers, I do enjoy life in New Europa. It is less pressured and more colourful. History and heritage is evident in every sight and every city. And though the balls and salons of New York might be more lavish and costly, they lack the spontaneity and joie de vivre of such gatherings in New Europa.
Following the movements of the New Europan scene in my quest for The Phantom has brought me into regular contact with many members of the social set. That is how I know our host, Sir Sebastian, who I have met many times in my travels, and who has always expressed an interest in my work. Indeed, he has regularly given me leads to other stories, and seems to have an excellent grasp of the political events and social happenings throughout the continent. Though it is not a crime story, reporting on the work of an archaeological dig team making such an unusual discovery will make an interesting article.