Original Bowman

The First Bowman and the inspiration/ideal of the Bowman Clan. Considered the first of the Masked Vigilantes, becoming active in the 1860's.

History
Born Brian O'kearn, his first name was in honor of the ancient High King Brian Boru, eldest of 5 children.

His family immigrated to America when he was a young man of 13. Shortly after his arrival his younger sister Caitlín. He became an extremely devout brother, wanting his young sister to have the best this new land can offer. As he grew up he became dissolution with America as he saw the corruption and hate that permiated society. This did not stop him from working every job he could get a hold of. All his hard work was to give money to pay for his young sister's schooling. In the free time, he had he practiced archery, his favored sport back from his young days in Ireland.

One night however his Sister was raped and killed on her way home from a lesson. The man who committed it was a local business owner who had long lusted after the young Irish lass. His wealth and status caused the police to not investigate saying they did not want to bother waisting to investigate the death of what was most likely just a street whore. This infuriated Brian, who was already growing disillusioned with what he saw after coming back from the civil war.

He made himself a mask, and went out to hunt not only the perpetrator but the officer who had refused to investigate. He was not kind in either man, torturing both before killing them. When he finished he felt hollow, but saw the horror on the streets and began to move to fight it, but along his own sence of morals and not the law that he saw as nothing but a corrupt tool to protect the rich. As a philosopher said, "The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread."

He would target those who abused the poor and corrupt police as his top priorities, theives and such were of little interest to him for the most part. He was more likely to hunt a pimp who pressed woman than a man who stole a watch from a rich man.

He would however also start moving with strange and weird parts of the world his masked identity and growing urban legend status allowed him. Including battle briefly with the agents of ClockWork for the Raven's Host or against an incursion by the Void Emperor.

Legacy
He trained his Nephew but never really told him why. However, after his death, the young man found his journals. Reading this he became inspired and started the Bowman Clan. Since then the family has fought for his values, even if the methods and such have changed greatly.

Beyond his family, his influence cannot really be calculated. As the first Masked Vigilante, he inspired others who wanted to do such work but did not want their name known for whatever reason. Since then the number active in the world has exploded to the multitudes running around today, from idiots in the street to truly great heroes of legend.

He has become thus one of the single most influential people in history that nearly no one knows the name of.