The persona Victor let out of the box for the latter half of the 19th century was the "Crusader", though he technically emerged before the historical Crusades took place. He did eventually fight, not with crusaders but against them, during a time when he called himself Salih. It was with a keen (and eerily precocious) sense of irony that Victor bestowed him with his epithet.

One may wonder why this valiant "defender of the faith" would feel at home as a grubby gunslinger, but the lawless and violence-ridden American frontier proved ideal for his hard and uncompromising personality. It isn't belief that motivates him, but a strong sense of right and wrong and an unbending moral code that leaves wiggle room for no one.

No one but himself. Naturally, what does not bend must eventually break.

The "flip side" of the Crusader is vindictiveness, hypocrisy and moral turpitude. He may begin his lifetimes by defending the weak and stealing from the rich to give to the poor, but he always devolves into settling petty scores and stealing because he can. When the only one who can judge you is God—and He maintains silence on your case—everything degenerates into might-makes-right.

He did uniquely prove his value by being the one to finally attract the Maker. He wanted to punish the wombat right then and there, but relented at the last moment when Victor reminded him that the Beast Who Speaks promised them much greater rewards than mere revenge, as long as they stuck to the plan.

Until then, there are plenty of wrongs that need righting—and plenty of scores that need settling.

Artistic freedom piece by  ElviraRecrud