Confession of a Sinner

Backstory: The Shadows of the Abbey of the Holy Cross

The Founding of the Abbey

The Abbey of the Holy Cross was built in the 12th century atop the Black Cliff—a jagged precipice battered by the leaden waves of the North Sea. The location was no accident: legend tells of a vision of a cross in a fiery sky that appeared here, prompting the local bishop to order the monastery's construction in honor of the miracle.

The first monks were ascetics and mystics, seeking solitude for prayer and penance. But over time, the abbey became known not only for its piety but also for its secrets.

Dark Times: Father Heinrich and the "Codex of Truth"

In 1723, Father Heinrich von Eisenhardt became the abbot—a scholarly theologian who believed the Church must be free from corruption. He imposed strict rules, banned the sale of indulgences, and began investigating abuses by local clergy.

But he had a secret: hidden in the abbey’s library was the "Codex of Truth"—an ancient manuscript documenting the sins of high-ranking clergy over the past 200 years. Father Heinrich planned to send it to the Papal See.

The Conspiracy and Execution

The local Bishop Dietrich, fearing exposure, accused Father Heinrich of heresy and conspiracy with the devil. The abbot was arrested, tortured, and sentenced to burn at the stake.

Chained before his execution, Father Heinrich cursed his executioners:

"Every fifty years, the truth shall demand a sacrifice. Those who hide it shall lose their tongues and clutch a cross that will not save them!"

His last words were recorded in the abbey’s chronicle, but later, the page was torn out.

The Curse Fulfilled

Since then, every 50 years, a murder occurs in the abbey:

• 1773 – Father Ludwig, the librarian, was strangled. Found in the confessional, tongue cut out, clutching a rusted cross.
• 1823 – Brother Friedrich, the abbot’s assistant, was stabbed. Same method.
• 1873 – Father Gottfried was drowned in holy water.
• 1923 – Bishop Albert, visiting the abbey, was thrown from the bell tower.
• 1973 – Brother Erich was walled alive in the catacombs.

Each victim had hidden something:

• Father Ludwig sold sacred relics.
• Brother Friedrich forged wills.
• Bishop Albert knew of abuse in the Church and stayed silent.

Now, it is 2023. And once again, the bell tolls…

Additional Atmospheric Details

1. Mysterious Symbols

The abbey’s walls bear faded frescoes of an angel with a sword and a devil whispering to a monk. On the night before a murder, monks report seeing a hooded shadow prowling the halls.

2. "Bleeding Walls"

In the underground crypt where Father Heinrich is buried, a red stain seeps from the stones. Scientists call it fungus, but the faithful believe it’s the curse’s mark.

3. The Forbidden Confessional

The one where bodies are found is called "The Penitent Soul". Some claim that if you press your ear to its door, you’ll hear a whisper in Latin:

"Mendacium revelabit"—

"The lie shall be revealed."

4. The Bell "Silence"

A cracked bell hangs in the belfry, ringing on its own before each murder. The monks believe it’s possessed by Father Heinrich’s spirit.

Connection to the Modern Murder

The current abbot, Father Matthias, recently found a fragment of the "Codex of Truth" in a hidden niche. It read:

"He who wears the mask of a saint but harbors greed in his heart shall be a mute witness to his own demise."

Now, he lies dead… his tongue cut out.

Key Suspects

• Father Matthias – The late abbot. Cold, calculating. Hid documents from the abbey’s archives.
• Brother Luca – A young monk with a scandalous past (suspected of stealing church funds). Disappears at night.
• Sister Agatha – The only woman in the abbey, the librarian. Knows all the old legends. Rumored to be Father Heinrich’s descendant.
• Victor Langen – A historian researching the abbey’s archives. Obsessed with the curse.
• Dr. Emil Gross – The local physician who examined the victims 50 years ago. Now elderly, but still visits the abbey.

The Hook: A New Murder – "The Voice of Truth"

At dawn, Brother Luca opens the carved oak door of "The Penitent Soul" confessional. Inside—Father Matthias, frozen in a grotesque parody of prayer.

The Scene:

• Face – Locked in a rictus of terror, eyes wide.
• Mouth – Filled with blood, tongue precisely removed (later revealed to be a surgical cut).
• Hands – Clutching a blackened iron cross (like those used in 17th-century exorcisms).
• Wall – Above the body, in blood mixed with wine (symbolizing the Last Supper), the words:

"VERITAS REVELABITUR"

(“The truth shall be revealed.”)

Initial Reactions:

• Brother Luca collapses to his knees—he heard footsteps at night but was too afraid to investigate.
• Sister Agatha pales, whispering: "He knew too much..."
• Dr. Gross (who, coincidentally, was already at the abbey) examines the body but refuses to estimate time of death.

The Investigator Arrives

Six hours later, Inspector Karl Weiss arrives—a cynical man in a worn trench coat, cigarette perpetually dangling from his lips. He doesn’t believe in ghosts, but he does believe in human cruelty.

His First Observations:

• The killing is ritualistic, yet too precise—as if rehearsed.
• No signs of struggle—Father Matthias knew his killer or was drugged.
• The cross isn’t just symbolic—it’s a clue. On its back: engraved numbers—"XII - III - MCCCC".

Evidence & Suspects (Expanded)

1. The Manuscript in Father Matthias’ Cell

• Found under his mattress, wrapped in a piece of an old cassock.
• A copy of Father Heinrich’s execution record, with added notes:
• "The Codex did not burn. Seek it in stone."
• "Langen knows. But he is on their side."
• The margins bear Father Matthias’ handwriting, but the last note is in different ink (possibly the killer’s).

2. The Missing Chronicle Page

• Page 73 is torn from the abbey’s records—the very page detailing the 1823 murder.
• Sister Agatha denies taking it, but:
• Her fingers are stained with ink (she claims from copying psalms).
• A scrap of parchment with the letter "L" is found in her room (for "Langen"?).

3. The Bloody Knife Under Brother Luca’s Bed

• The blade is antique, engraved with "Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam" (“For the Greater Glory of God”).
• Brother Luca swears it’s not his:
• "That’s the relic-keeper’s knife! It’s used to unseal holy artifacts!"
• Yet the hilt bears a snake-shaped scratch—just like the one in his secret diary.

4. Dr. Gross’ Secret

• In 1973, he ruled Brother Erich’s death as a "heart attack"—though the victim’s fingers were all broken.
• His medical bag contains:
• A vial of ether (could have subdued Father Matthias).
• A 1973 letter: "Dietrich, we must finish what we started." (Bishop Dietrich died in 1980.)

5. Victor Langen in the Archives

• Caught at 3:15 AM with a map of the abbey, marking a sealed tunnel beneath the altar.
• His notebook reads:
• "The cross is the key. XII-III-MCCCC—not a date, but a code."
• "Agatha lies. She is not his descendant."

Unanswered Questions

• Why did the killer leave the cross? Is it a clue?
• Who wrote "VERITAS REVELABITUR"—the killer, or Father Matthias with his dying breath?
• If Dr. Gross was involved 50 years ago—why wait until now?

Paths for Investigation

• Decipher the code on the cross (XII-III-MCCCC).
• Find the "Codex of Truth"—likely hidden in the crypt or behind the altar.
• Verify the monks’ identities—are they all who they claim to be?

Development: Secrets Unraveled

As the investigation deepens:

• Father Matthias had uncovered that the "curse" was a series of ritual killings, not supernatural.
• Brother Luca was caught forging relics and feared exposure.
• Sister Agatha truly is Father Heinrich’s descendant—and seeks vengeance.
• Dr. Gross falsified the 1973 autopsy to hide the real cause of death.
• Victor Langen is descended from Heinrich’s executioner—and came to destroy evidence.