Keildrithe hears the accusations made by Brother Abel's restless shade, then sees Brother Bernardino run in his own direction. The undead had to be destroyed, and Bernardino was going to play a key role in banishing it... whether he wanted to or not. I always thought there was something off about him... Time to make him pay...
The bard takes a step back from the door, ready to catch the fleeing monk by surprise and hopefully take him down.
As Brother Bernardino opens the back door, Keildrithe kicks his legs out from under him and blocks the passage. He then draws his sword, and points it at the man's neck. "CONFESS YOUR SINS, YOU HYPOCRITE!" he screams furiously, his face turning a deep crimson. "WHAT DID YOU DO TO BROTHER ABEL? TO GUGLIEMO? WHY?! SPEAK UP NOW, OR WE'LL LET BROTHER ABEL'S RESTLESS SPIRIT FEAST ON YOUR UNCLEAN SOUL!"
Laithe’s jaws close over the dead thing’s arm, his teeth punching through the cold, leathery skin. Abel looks down at the wolf with his blazing eyes, seemingly little affected by the injury, and Laithe has to wonder whether wolf’s teeth are the best weapon with which to fight such a thing …
As the monks continue to either cower in fear, run away or hide, Keildrithe, taking Bernadino by surprise, trips the monk and shouts at his to confess. The old monk has the wind knocked out of him by Keildrithe’s sudden assault, and lies on the ground, gasping for air.
Brother Abel hisses at Laithe and slashes at the wolf’s throat with first one sharp clawed hand, then the other. Laithe steps aside from the first attack – straight into the second. The sharp claws penetrate the wolf’s thick fur and deep into the flesh beneath Laithe manages to pull away before the fingers close around his neck.
Abel then seems to lose interest in Laithe and steps away, his eyes fixed firmly on where Bernadino lies on the floor under Keildrithe’s blade.
Laithe’s jaws close over the dead thing’s arm, his teeth punching through the cold, leathery skin. Abel looks down at the wolf with his blazing eyes, seemingly little affected by the injury, and Laithe has to wonder whether wolf’s teeth are the best weapon with which to fight such a thing …
Brother Abel hisses at Laithe and slashes at the wolf’s throat with first one sharp clawed hand, then the other. Laithe steps aside from the first attack – straight into the second. The sharp claws penetrate the wolf’s thick fur and deep into the flesh beneath Laithe manages to pull away before the fingers close around his neck.
Nicholai watches the approach of the not-quite dead Abel with something akin to fascination. Under the total all-consuming urge to panic, he wonders what happened to turn this poor monk into such an undead monster. If he could only catch his breath, if he could only think!,...
Kajetan is still so scared he has not even realised he has wet him self yet.
While Kajetan continues to gibber in fear, Bernadino tries to shuffle away from the point of Keildrithe’s sword. “It was an accident,” he mumbles. “We never meant … and I did nothing to Gugliemo. Please, help me – save me from that.” He points a quivering hand at the menacing undead form of Brother Abel as he continues to back away and tries to stand.
“Bernadino, what have you done?” breathes the abbot, still in shock. “What do you have to confess?” The old man then turns to look at the advancing form of Abel, his monks robes smeared with clay. “Brother Abel, do not do this, remember who you were, you were amongst the best of us!”
Seeing how little Laithes attack seemed to damage the creature, Alton shivers once again in fear. Shaking his head he starts to move towards Abels obvious target, Bernadino. He brandishes his long tooth dagger, but doesn't feel the usual sense of security when holding the blade.
Keildrithe kicks the blubbering monk back down to the ground as he tries to rise .
"What did you do, Bernardino? What did you do, hypocrite? This is your last chance -- your confession might be our only hope of banishing Brother Abel's shade, and only hope to save your soul. NOW CONFESS, AND BEG FORGIVENESS OF BROTHER ABEL-- AND MAYBE YOUR SOUL WON'T BE DAMNED TO HELL!" The bard almost seems to delight in tormenting Brother Bernardino, as if the monk had some perpetrated some personal offence against him.
Keildrithe shivers as he sees the thing that was Brother Abel draw near -- too close for comfort. He himself contemplates running away, but with a supreme effort of will, manages to hold his ground before the whimpering Bernardino...
Keildrithe kicks the blubbering monk back down to the ground as he tries to rise .
Some where in the back of Kajetan's mind a little voice starts screaming for him to move, to act, to do some thing, anything. The voice grows louder and suddenly Kajetan realises it is him that is screaming. With a primal yell of his own Kajetan calls on his powers and training to cast Chill Touch.
Can I make some knowledge rolls to see if I know what particular form of Undead this is?
Knowledge (Arcana): +15 (+5 Int, 4 ranks, +3 class skill, +3 Skill Focus Feat)
Knowledge (Planes) : +12 (+5 Int, 4 ranks, +3 class skill)
Knowledge (Religion) : +12 (+5 Int, 4 ranks, +3 class skill)
Kajetan manages to shake off the fear he feels at least enough to cast a spell, although fear still clouds his mind somewhat.
Kajetan:
Mothman:
I had assumed it was silver or some other DR when Laithes Magic bite had not done full damage, but I am wondering now if it was a hangover from old 3rd addition.
Kaj:
White-hot fire explodes through Laithe-wolf's shoulder as the claws of the creature tear and rip at his flesh with terrible strength. He is thrown off his feet to one side for a moment, but scrabbles to get his legs under him once more. Grey fur matted with blood, he leaps in at Abel once more, determined to prevent any more deaths.
Keildrithe stands firm before Bernardino, but also prepares to defend him from Abel's shade. "Abel... please, wait," pleads the bard. "I believe you have been wronged in a terrible way by Bernardino. If he confesses... do you promise to leave all unharmed, including Bernardino? Will you tell us why you killed Gugliemo?"
He wishes he could wait longer for an answer, but watching the undead come closer to his prize (and himself!), Keildrithe begins to recite an ode that he hopes will calm the frayed nerves of his companions and free their minds from Abel's cloud of fear, while also inspiring Bernardino to confess at last...
Free your soul and let if fly
Be true before the powers of light
Reveal your secrets openly
Unveil the mystery
Spiral path leads through the maze
Down into the underworld below
Cleansing fire lead the way
Abel is just an angel led astray
We are not worthy in his black and blazing yes
We gather secret demons in the mirror every day
The bridge of darkness casts a shadow on us all
And all our sins we give to you this day
Others wait their turn, their lives were meant to last
Use yours wisely as the light is fading fast
Free your soul and let it fly
Before it's caught and then too late to try...
Laithe leaps at Brother Abel’s rotting form again, his teeth finding purchase in the dead man’s calf.
As Keildrithe’s voice rings out, the spell of the dead man’s scream is broken. Most of those monks who have not yet fled now do so, either running out the side door into the cloister or hiding around the perimeter of the church. Only the abbot, the stout Brother Horation, Novice Plutarch, and of course the prone Brother Bernadino remain where they are.
Bernadino licks his lips nervously, his fearful eyes darting between Keildrithe, the point of his sword, and the approaching would-be murderer.
“Listen to the man Bernadino, confess your sins!” calls the abbot. “It may be your only chance to save yourself, body and soul.” The abbot then turns to Abel. “Brother Abel, I beg of you, change this course,” he pleads.
Undead Abel ignores Laithe’s attack, Keildrithe’s address and Anselm’s plea, keeping his dead eyes firmly fixed on Bernadino as he drags himself slowly forward despite Laithe’s weight holding him back – the wolf’s claws slip and skid on the stone floor.
Now Abel does glance back at Laithe, as the wolf is slowing him down. He swipes at Laithe’s head with one clawed hand, drawing bloody lines between the wolf’s ears , forcing Laithe to release his grip. He then strides forward towards Bernadino.
Kajetan suddenly feeling a lot braver as the bards words wash over him, he casts another spell, as he does a ghostly glove forms over his hand, he removes it and throws it into the air, where it floats and bobs beside him. The dark glow encompassing his other hand suddenly appears dripping from the spectral hands fingers.
Kajetan winces as part of his life force detaches and powers the ghostly hand.
As Abel bears down on him, one claw-fingered hand outstretched and hate blazing in his eyes, Bernadino breaks down, sobbing in fear. “Forgive me!” he shrieks, looking first at Abel, then at Keildrithe, then at the abbot. “I did not mean for this to happen. Abel came to me, saying that he had been granted visions directly from Father Arton. I could not believe it – why should this boy, barely more than a novice, be granted visions and not I, I who have served the church so faithfully for so many years? I thought that he was lying, but he spoke with such fervour … I admit I was jealous. I told him that if he did not confess to his lies I would punish him, but he would not change his story. I ordered Brother Gugliemo and Brother Edmund to help me. We took Abel to the slaughterhouse at night and I whipped him. I didn’t mean to kill him, I swear it! But something took over me, and I kept lashing him and then – he was dead. We threw his body off the roof to make it appear as a suicide …”
“You have confessed, thus your soul is saved,” intones Brother Abel through rotting vocal chords. “Now you must complete your penance.” He continues to reach for Bernadino.
Nicholai visibly shudders as Keildrithe's chant fills his ears and soul with warmth, releasing the icy grip of fear from his heart. He turns, taking in the tableau before him as Bernadino cries his confession.
“You have confessed, thus your soul is saved,” intones Brother Abel through rotting vocal chords. “Now you must complete your penance.” He continues to reach for Bernadino.
"Hold, Brother Abel." Nicholai calls out, clearly but calmly.
"You have fulfilled your purpose. You have revealed your killer, and he has confessed. His Penance is not yours to decide. You have already slain the other two involved, although they were not the ones who killed you. And you have taken the life, of another, who was innocent of any wrongdoing." Nicholai says calmly, his voice only catching once at the thought of his slain companion.
"Brother Abel. Vengeance is NOT penance. Lay no more deaths on your soul. Return to your well-deserved rest. Let go of the hatred. Please."
Nicholai slowly raises one hand towards Abel. His face is set in stone, but his voice sounds, sad.
"If you do not, I will be forced to use the power granted to me to strike you down. Please, Brother,..."
Brother Abel turns his head (a rather chilling sight, with his broken neck lolling listlessly) to look at Nicolai, apparently noticing the man for the first time (now that he has stood from his former cowering position). The dead man’s gaze fixes on Nicolai, even as his hand continues to reach for Bernadino ... and then suddenly, amazingly, the wild eyed look of hate on the creature’s face fades. Its mouth falls open, revealing worm-eaten gums, and the reaching hand stops and trembles ...
Could Nicolai’s words be getting through to him?
“Yes, that is it Brother Abel, listen to this wise man,” murmurs the abbot, stepping forward hesitantly. “Let go of this hatred ...”
Alton fights the urge to take a step back from brother Abels animiated corpse, but takes heart in the Keildrithes song and holds firm and steals himself to strike at the creature. Seeing the words of his companions seemingly halt the expected strike on Bernadino halts Altons strike as well, and he adds his words, wondering while he does so if this undead thing can really be reasoned with.
'Abel, Bernadino's sins are confessed and he will be dealt a penance much harder for him to bear than the simple release of death. By killing him you will let him escape punishment, not deliver it to him. Let him face the accusing stares of the rest of your order. Don't give him the chance to be considered a martyr who died at the hands of an evil creature.
You say Arton has spoken to you. Tell us the message he gave to you rather than sullying the words of God through more bloodshed.
Abel doesn’t respond to Alton, or even acknowledge him, just continues to stare dully at Nicolai ... but neither does he attack.
Laithe-wolf staggers back to his feet a second time, bleeding openly from the wound on his shoulder and the new one across his head. Unsure if he will survive another such strike, he none-the-less prepares to charge in again. Seeing Abel pause though, he wills a transformation back into his human form and quietly calls on the favour of Ehlonna to ease some of his pain.
He then follows Abel, ready to try and restrain Abel if he resumes hostilities.