Gustav (Priest of Milil)

Gustav was a character from the Heart of Midnight novel. In the Ravenloft game product line, he receives a short mention (but not by name) in Gazetteer I.

Gustav was a priest of Milil that resided in the Temple of Divine Song. He was the first High Priest of the Church of Milil in Harmonia during the rule of Casimir Lukas. Although Gustav was a priest, he had no spellcasting power, as (according to Gustav) Milil had apparently long abandoned Kartakass.

Background

Before meeting Casimir, Gustav was the sole priest at the otherwise abandoned and rundown temple of Milil in Harmonia. After the Red Porch burned down, Casimir Lukas, Thoris, and a number of other orphans arrived on its doorstep. After some persuasion from Casimir, Gustav took in the orphans and instructed them in the music and myths of Milil. Casimir rewarded Gustav for his charity. After Casimir's ascension to power, he delivered a new congregation to the church. Repairs began on the previously derelict church.

After Thoris' discovery of Casimir's wolfish nature, they sought help from Gustav and pleaded to him to perform a ritual to remove the curse of lycanthropy. The ritual seemingly worked, but in actuality failed. (It could not succeed because Casimir was not a werewolf. Rather, he was a wolfwere.) In retaliation for the harsh treatment of the ritual, Casimir struck Gustav with a hard blow (but with no intent to kill) and left him laying on the floor. There the old priest perished much to Thoris' and Casimir's distress.

Following Gustav's demise, he was given a grand funeral that Thoris, the new high priest planned. Casimir delivered oration.

In Gazetteer I, the death of Gustav (referred to only as "the state church's first high priest") is briefly mentioned, described as murder. Casimir's responsibility is not mentioned. (Gustav is referred to as the leader of the Cult of the Ancestral Choir due to the license copyright restrictions forbidding Milil's mention by name.)