Brother Gratianus is a thrall to Athaniel. He is a Hagiography of a Sinner-Saint for infernalists.
Overview[]
May the Angel of Storms watch over his flock now and forever.
The Lord gifted Brother Gratianus with unusual talent for painting. Brother Gratianus praised God and all His angels through his brush, creating beautiful depictions of Heaven for the lowly creatures of Earth. Gratianus rejected all worldly pleasures and joined the Franciscan order, so that he might continue to praise God free from the sins of flesh and mortal wealth. So, pleased with Gratianus's worship, the Lord sent unto him the angel Athaniel of Storms to bless him and make him the instrument of divine work.
The angel Athaniel appeared to Gratianus in all the terrible splendor of Heaven and planted His holy kiss upon Brother Gratianus's brow. Then Gratianus awakened to his own divine spirit and raised his brush again in praise of the angel, who brought all the colors of Heaven and Earth to be his palette. Gratianus painted the angel and His prophet Genevria, and Heaven rejoiced in the wonder of Gratianus's art. Through his icons, mortals saw the light of immortal glory and flocked to the rightful worship of Athaniel.
The angel knew He must test His servant, and so He told Gratianus to leave His sight. Gratianus despaired, for he wished never to depart from his master's side, but he obeyed without protest. This pleased the angel, who sent His beloved artist to spread the word of His glory and greatness to other misguided Brothers and Sisters. Through this, Gratianus was spared the wrath of the false servants of God, who descended upon the monastery to spread deceit and doubt, as Satan appeared to Christ in the desert to tempt Him with disbelief. The power of the angel was strong, and even when the heretics burned His prophet Genevria for her unwavering faith, the angel watched over her. Though her mortal body burned, her spirit ascended into the storm clouds, and as the rain fell at least upon the smoldering ashes, all knew that she resided with Athaniel in Heaven.
Athaniel spared His servant Gratianus to be His mortal hands on Earth, and though Gratianus, too, wished to stand beside his master eternally, he continued his worldly work as the angel wished. The new monastery was filled with unbelievers who had turned their backs on the truth of their faith, believing only the flawed book the false Church laid before them as proof. There Gratianus received another test to his faith in the guise of woman, for woman is the original tempter; but the pleasures of the flesh could not sway him from his faith. He denied the woman's advances and forgave her lust, showing her the mercy of the Angel of Storms rather the expelling her from the monastery as the other monks demanded. Through Gratianus' gift of blessed art, he brough the sinful woman into the rightful veneration of the angel Athaniel.
A veritable living saint, Gratianus has inspired the inhabitants of the monastery of Holy St. Ignatius to rescind their fallacious beliefs and to revere the true angel Athaniel.
Misplaced Passion[]
The angel Gratianus believes he worships is truly the demon Athaniel, freed from the abyss by the misguided demonologist Octinellus, whose body Athaniel quickly possessed. Gratianus is Athaniel's second thrall since taking a mortal host, enthralled shortly after the inspiring but ill-fated Sister Genevria. When Athaniel enthralled Gratianus, he invested him with a unique Arcana allowing Gratianus to create relics. Gratianus uses his Arcana to imbue his beautiful religious icons with the power to draw worshippers to Athaniel's cult.
When Athaniel's pseudo-angelic cult came to the attention of the shadow Inquisition, Athaniel chose to spare the obliging Gratianus rather than the more innovative Genevria, whose zealous worship of Athaniel was largely responsible for the Church's concern. Athaniel sent Gratianus to the Holy St. Ignatius monastery nearby to establish a second cell of Athaniel's cult. Gratianus woos converts with remarkable success, though he lacks the leadership skills and public presence that made Genevria such a successful, and ultimately self-destructive, prophet.
A monk at Holy St. Ignatius wrote the Passion of Brother Gratianus after viewing one of Gratianus's inspirational icons. The manuscript is often copied, and is a favorite of members of Athaniel's two cult cells. Proselytes of the cult also distribute the document in other monasteries, though additional cells have yet to form, possibly due to Athaniel's hesitancy to enthrall additional servants or appear before his cult in person. He communicates with Gratianus exclusively through their mental link, as his host body works to resist the ravages of Torment.
References[]
- DA: Devil's Due, p. 8-9, 11, 139-140