The Abbot is the priest of Helix, destined Grand Master of the Order of the Scar of the Sun, who guided and equipped the company later known as Los Condenados (“the Condemned”) and was murdered by them in his own church.
| Type | Character |
| Chronicle | NOV |
| Seat | Church of Helix |
| Spanish entry | El Abad (Los Condenados) |
Description
Tonsured, of a count’s bearing, in white robes muddied at the hem, with rings of power, lavender oil and a great Sun symbol on his chest. Some records give his name, very quietly, as Miguel; the valley knew him as the Abbot.
History
- Arrival. His retinue left north when ash fell on Ritornello; some say a dragon attacked it, others that the mists swallowed it. Fifteen years late, he reappeared untouched in the half-ruined church of Stejara, declaring himself lost in time. He was to become Grand Master of the Order, corrupted atop Ardis Vala, and be crowned in the old cities. A shadow-shaped thing had followed him for years.
- Liberation. He broke at a stroke the compulsion that Bellaca had laid on those returning from the Sunless Citadel.
- Patron. He sent the company to the Barrowmaze for the Tablets of Chaos (“go and mine”), gave them a mace of disruption, governed by raven (“come back with the tablets or don’t come back”), sent his halberdiers the inquisitor brothers (turned by a lesser demon), and gave potions, the ring of the last worthy pope and his own pallium.
- The Bell. At the funeral of Silas he showed his painting of Caladan, lord of panthers and of the two keys, and commissioned the Bell of the Apocalypse: “Corten el badajo” (“Cut the clapper”).
- The ride. When the company was drained and horseless at the watchtower of the claw, he rode alone at night to fetch them. Meanwhile the Seekers entered the barrows without him and were all devoured. “I do not regret going to save you… but when I went there, I was not here.”
- Death. Back in Helix he heard the truth of the pact and pronounced them excommunicate, proto-assassins of the Pope, emissaries of the devil. Behind closed doors his protégés killed him together, with Vicar Otar, to leave no witness; the church went dark.
- Afterward. His corpse was publicly desecrated in the arena of Arden Vul as bait for Pope Alejandro Sixto, his spiritual brother. The Custodes came out, the guard split, and the second egg reached the Well of Light — serving Belial. His killers now march through Hell as Los Condenados.