A Review of Recent Events

When we last left our hero…

Hello darlings,

Thank you all once again for all your kindness and patience during this unplanned hiatus; and, of course, for helping so beautifully with the pledge drive. You’ve all been marvelous. The alchemy of your generosity, akin to the elixir of eternal life, has charged my pen with rapturous fervor.

What a nerve-racking place to have left off! I’m dreadfully sorry to have kept everyone in suspense for this long, with Victor (née Father) Ardelian dramatically separated from Lord Vane and no hope in sight.

If you want to do any rereading to refresh yourself (or catching-up, for those who have fallen off,) this week is a perfect time to fit it in. What Manner of Man will return with Chapter 21 next Friday, September 8th.

In the meantime, I thought it might be good to provide a quick recap of where we are, a “last week on What Manner of Man,” if you will.

I hope you find this little cheat sheet helpful!

Previously, on What Manner of Man…

• After months of Father Ardelian living in Lord Vane’s manor home, Lord Vane attempted to engage him in a dark ritual deep in a system of caves beneath Whithern Hall.

• This ritual should have ended with Father Ardelian’s death, but Lord Vane found himself unable to complete the act.

• Since then, Lord Vane’s mental and physical state has been rapidly deteriorating as a vampiric lust gains ascendance over him.

• He has begun to feed off the villagers of St Silvan’s Head, resulting in at least two deaths.

• As a result of his transformation, Lord Vane has ceased to perform most of his usual pursuits, and his boat was wrecked the one time he attempted to sail.

• In desperation, he asked Father Ardelian to perform an exorcism on him, though he did not believe it would work.

• Father Ardelian’s clifftop attempt to exorcise Lord Vane did not go well. In fact, the ritual had no effect on him at all. Something else, however — something clearly unrelated to Father Ardelian’s crucifix and Christian beliefs — had a potent, mysterious effect.

• In a moment of high emotion, Father Ardelian and Lord Vane kissed, right before Lord Vane sunk his fangs into Father Ardelian’s neck. In a general upheaval of nature, the cliff crumbled away beneath them and Father Ardelian lost consciousness.

• When Father Ardelian next awoke, now doubting his Christian faith, he was in Danny and Sylvia’s cottage in St Silvan’s Head. Danny had found him passed out on a beach.

• Now safe, Father Ardelian questioned them as to various things he had seen and experienced at Whithern Hall.

• Sylvia decribed her belief about Lord Vane — that he is an ancient creature born from some act of great betrayal and wrongful death, who must feast on the blood of the living.

• She further speculated that the ritual which Lord Vane performed on Father Ardelian in the cavern beneath Whithern Hall — a creative take on more classic human sacrifice — was an attempt to stave off the hunger for another century.

• And, finally, that if Father Ardelian were to sacrifice himself, it might end the bloodshed and violence which have descended on the island of Swallow’s Rest.

To my cherished patrons — you are unspeakably magnificent, your generosity is unmatched, your hair is immaculately coiffed. I extend to you the sincerest gratitude from the depths of my ink-stained heart.

Yours in boundless appreciation,

St John