Church Document L8B2020
A chronicle of the hunt in which Sir Ludwig succumbed to the beastly scourge, made up of the statements given by those that witnessed him that cursed night. Document has been placed under Perigee level restriction at the request of the Vicar herself. No copying is to be made of this document or distribution of the information within under penalty of excommunication.
Statement from Black Church Hunter Marek:
"T'was a trying night to begin with, even afore we lost the good saint. Plague ridden peasants roamed about, killin', sawin', and burnin'. Really getting into the swing of things. Me and my partner Darryl weren't involved with none of that though, we'd got word there was a blood drunk fella in the square by the great bridge, some confederate of the League we was told. Now, it's never a pleasure to kill a fellow hunter, unlike a beast, but what needs be done needs doing, so off we went.
Funny thing is, on the way over to our quarry, we came upon a pack o' Holy Blades, all in a tizzy. Now me and Darryl knew our churchly duties differed from the Blades, but we could smell something amiss, you understand I'm sure. So we followed 'em up Cathedral Ward a way's and came across the whole sickly ordeal. Blood all about, corpses, screechin', rippin', tearin'. A whole band of the Blades as well as a crow feathered fought 'im and the odds still looked in the beasts favour. Not my proudest hour that was, I kept away from the thing. Call me craven if you would, I've never lain eyes on a beast like it, doubt I shall again.
Ol' Darryl certainly shan't, seeing as it crushed 'im flat against the cobbles."
Statement from Kirk, a Candler:
"Yes, it was dreadful. My son, Eli, has always been an admirer of the gallant Holy Blades, Sir Ludwig in particular. As any good father would I raised him to respect the Church. So, on nights of the hunt, after we light our censers, I allow him to watch Ludwig and his brave companions venture out on the hunt from our window, as well as their triumphant return brandishing the emblem.
On that particular night I was tired and wished to be abed, but I allowed Eli to stay up and await the good Hunter's return. He's eleven years of age now after all and what harm could befall him inside the house with incense lit? It was his screaming that awoke me, guttural, animalistic. I initially believed it to be some minor beast. I ran to our landing to see him stock still, now silent and peering out the window. The milky, bloodshot eye of a beast returned his gaze. The eye itself was near in size to a man's head, the entire beast the height of the building we stood in, equine, unsightly. Apparently it had made its way up from Central Yharnam. It was only the deft throw of some Hunter's projectile that drew its focus away from us, striking it in the neck. We hid in the cellar after that. Still do on Hunting nights. Eli hasn't voiced a single word since.
I would later see the aftermath of this beast's arrival. A multitude of noble Hunter's crushed, eviscerated, dead in the street and of course the corpse of the accursed beast itself. I fear I will ever have the stain of that sight upon my eyes. Gods help us."
Statement from Bradley, a Hunter of the League:
"I saw him earlier that night. He looked skittish, off-kilter. Like he had lost something. Still slew beast left, right and centre though. It was a grim hunt that night, I lost sight of him amongst the chaos of it all nearly as soon as I saw him. I can still see that blade of his when I close my eyes, shimmering blue cutting beasts like butter. Majestic."
Statement from Lucille, of the Holy Blades:
"Master Ludwig was the best of us, no matter what slander or detractions are slung his way. He was brave, he was strong and he was kind to us. To all of us. It is because of the calibre of man Ludwig was that I fear for our race. For the noblest among our rank to degenerate into such a horrifying creature. If any of our species deserved to ascend to the stars it was he, if any deserved to dream it was he. For what did he spend his life on the hunt? For what did we love him? Is our courage fruitless? Are the Gods so apathetic?"
Statement from Eileen, the Crow:
"Truth be told, I had suspicions of Ludwig for a long time. It was the manner in which he carried himself, I've a good eye for such things. Still, I too know what it is to be pressed into service. Pity things went the way they did."
It should be noted that Eileen is said to have been the one to strike the decisive blow on the beast that was once Ludwig.
Statement from Vicar Amelia
"Ludwig and I spoke of our religion oft. We were both devastated by the loss of good Laurence and shared a mutual fervour to continue his legacy. Naturally that Ludwig should share the same fate as Laurence pains me greatly, but it does not dissuade me from the pursuit of divine communion. Ludwig would be pleased that we continue the good work of the Church, of this I am certain.
However for the sake of knowledge and the possibility that it should help the Choir in their experiments, I will reveal now what Ludwig and I discussed in private.
Ludwig was once a Tomb Prospector and had seen many secrets of old Pthumeru in the vast catacombs beneath Yharnam. Of the exact details, I am uncertain as this was all before my admittance to the Church, but I do know that it was within the chalice dungeons he found his holy moonlight sword.
It was a beautiful thing, serene blue and divinely incandescent, Ludwig believed the sword to be an artefact of the Gods a holy medium of moonlight. I find myself obliged to agree, as Ludwig was honest to a fault and often claimed that the sword spoke to him, guided him with sprites of pure light and embolden his spirit in battle. He beloved this guidance, was blindly faithful to it and followed without fear. Perhaps on that shaded night he lost that one glimmer of hope bequeathed to him and could see naught for the darkness of its absence. I pity him greatly, greatly indeed.
On the night of Ludwig's fall, the Holy Moonlight Sword that was his steadfast companion disappeared. It is the current belief of the Choir that the blade was indeed an arbiter of the Great Ones, manipulating Ludwig through subtle visual and audible hallucinations. The pertinent question is such, to what Great One was the sword in service of and for what purpose was Ludwig chosen? Was it pure chance that Ludwig be bound to the swords will, or does some unknown crooked hand guide its intent? Further research must be done on this subject. The corpse of Ludwig was transported to the Research Hall for extended examination before disposal.
The case of Ludwig stands as a firm reminder, that a man cannot be a god. Corruption is our father and we must cleanse our beastly nature with eyes if we are to manifest this grand vision of ours.
Oculi stultorum,
Cleric Diederick, Choir Intelligence
