Brother Thomas / Malphus
Status
Major NPC Threat - Mad monk terrorizing villages
Overview
Brother Thomas is a Benedictine monk who has completely lost his sanity. Believing he successfully summoned a demon named Malphus (or Infernus) to destroy the Moors who raided his monastery 50 years ago, Thomas has actually become the monster himself. In his madness, he performs heinous acts on nearby villages while believing he IS the demon he summoned.
History
Before the Fall
- Benedictine monk at Monasterio del Santo Reino
- Lived a peaceful, devout life tending gardens and studying scripture
- Corresponded warmly with friends about daily monastery life
- Respected the teachings of Saint Benedict
The Raid
Approximately 50 years ago (around 844 AD), Moorish raiders attacked the monastery:
- Thomas watched his brothers slaughtered before his eyes
- He was the only survivor, forced to witness the ransacking
- The monastery was burned and destroyed
- This trauma shattered his faith and sanity
The Summoning
Months after the raid, in desperation and despair:
- Found an ancient, forbidden tome in the monastery library
- Performed dark rituals to summon a demon of ruin/destruction
- Named the demon "Infernus" (also referred to as "Malphus")
- Made a bargain to use the demon's power to destroy the Moors
- The demon appeared to him - "a fearsome creature, with eyes that burn with fire and a voice like the howling of the damned"
Loss of Control
According to Thomas's final journal entry:
- The demon "Infernus" grew wild and uncontrollable
- It stopped listening to his commands
- Continued to wreak havoc without direction or purpose
- Thomas believed he had failed Christ and his brothers
- Expected he would not survive the consequences
The Truth
In reality, there was no demon. Thomas's shattered mind created the entity. He himself has been the one performing the "heinous acts" while believing he is possessed or controlled by Malphus/Infernus. The demon is a manifestation of his madness and trauma.
Current Behavior
The Monster
When "Malphus" emerges, Thomas:
- Speaks in biblical verses and fancy, archaic language
- Is crazed and enraged
- Terrorizes nearby villages
- Believes he is the demon executing vengeance
- Has no awareness that HE is committing the atrocities
Pattern
Thomas has been active for approximately 50 years since the monastery's destruction, suggesting either:
- He ages slowly due to whatever madness/supernatural element affects him
- The timeline of his activities is compressed
- He has only recently begun his attacks
- His madness has warped his perception of time
Location
Still haunts the ruins of Monasterio del Santo Reino, emerging periodically to attack settlements.
Campaign Implications
Brother Thomas represents a tragic figure - a devout man driven to madness and monstrosity by trauma. The party may:
- Need to stop his attacks on villages
- Discover the truth about his condition
- Face moral questions about justice vs. mercy for a broken mind
- Explore the ruins to find his journals and uncover his story
Journal Entries
Thomas's journals remain in the monastery ruins, documenting his descent:
- Peaceful Letter to Friend - Before the raid
- Raid Journal Entry - The massacre and survival
- Summoning Journal Entry - The desperate ritual
- Final Entry - Realizing loss of control
Connections