Final Absolution

Love to Power

With a shuddering breath, she mounts the rifle to her shoulder, knowing that without this decision, her lover will die at the hands of the thing that they had sworn to fight. It wasn't an easy decision to make, one she prayed to Dern about as she took the steadying breaths, begging him to somehow change the situation, saving them from the situation that should never have been. With a final breath, her heartbeat calmed, she made the final choice, saving him from the hell that awaited him.

A shining light shot from the end of the rifle, passing through her lover and into the Vampire that held him, moments away from ending his mortal life and bringing him into the darkness of hell. The wounds that had moments before been dripping blood slowly clotted and healed, while the Vampire behind him crumpled to the floor. The rifle fell from her shoulder in amazement, confusion blooming across her face as her lover slowly picked himself up from the floor.

A warm touch landed on her shoulder, the only indication that her prayers had been answered. The sunlight that had burst from her rifle was indeed the hand of Dern, answering a prayer in a moment of desperation from one of his devoted Clerics. As the warmth faded, a subtle shimmer settled over the rifle, sealing its fate as a weapon of destiny, one that would forever be used to hunt the Vampires that this family hated above all else.

— Excerpt from the Myth of Final Absolution as kept by House Machellard

The Final Absolution is the most well-known myth associated with House Machellard, a family of Clerics who have dedicated their lives to fighting the blight that Vampires inflict on the world. It is believed that this story explains the origins of the relic rifle known as Absolution, which is passed from generation to generation throughout the family, most often to the oldest woman.

Summary

House Machellard has been known as a family of Vampire-hunting Clerics since they first appeared in the Human Empire. Worshipping Dern, this family harnesses the divine powers granted to them, along with Firearms, to fight Vampires that prey on the innocent. Before the time period of this myth, all weapons used by House Machellard were considered mundane, lacking magical abilities.
With the first telling of Final Absolution, House Machellard came into possession of a divine relic, an item blessed by the power of a god. While the story told in the myth may not fully be true, the relic as defined exists, known as Absolution, and is a weapon that can both injure or heal someone based upon the intentions of the wielder.

Spread

This myth is specifically related to House Machellard, but is widely known by those who live in the areas around the family's home. Some other areas of the Human Empire have heard the myth, especially in more recent times, as the family has worked with Alexander Cross and the Starlit Academy to expand their Vampire-hunting prowess.

Cultural Reception

Absolution is a legendary item held amongst House Machellard, and the myth that comes with it is something that is well-known to all members of the family, as well as other Clerics in the order that they are part of. The woman and her lover are seen as heroes, but the key takeaway is that the love held by the woman, for both her lover and deity, is what saved them both.

House Machellard Crest

House Machellard Crest by Crest via Armoria, created by RiverFang

House Machellard is historically known as part of an order of Clerics who hunt Vampires, but they have also served as priests and other religious figures of Dern.

Related Ethnicities

• Human Culture

Related Locations

• Great Plains

Related Organizations

• House Machellard

Related Items

• Absolution