Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers Graphic Novel

Sins of the Fathers prologue graphic novel included with Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers.

Plot
The story starts with the village elders of Charleston standing around the sixth victim of a series of brutal murders.

While they talk about the devil being at work, Gunter Ritter, Schattenjäger from Germany, approaches them. He is greeted coldly by Mayor Crodwell, then turns to examine the corpse; informing the elders that it is indeed witchcraft involved.

A young black woman approaches the scene. She is called Eliza by the Mayor and asked what she is doing there. Eliza is Crodwells slave and has a letter for Gunter from his family.

As Gunter and Eliza look at each other, they both feel a kind of recognition. Something akin to love at first sight.

Gunter writes his father a letter, informing him about his arrival and his intention to question local slaves and requesting more information about murders in St. Dominique were similar marking were found as those around the bodies in Charleston.

During a visit to the Mayors house, Gunter finds Eliza alone and asks for a glass of water. They start to talk and Gunter asks about Eliza. She tells him her real name is Tetelo and she had been sold to the west indies after her african tribe had been attacked by white slavers. When her owner died Crodwell bought her and took her to Charleston. When asked if he treats her good, she replies with "Are you mad? "

Crodwell returns home and Gunter leaves.

The next day, while investigating at a tavern about the victims that all have been sailors, Gunter meets Tetelo and greets her by her real name. She reprimands him for it, reminding him that she is called Eliza and a slave. They both could get into trouble. He apologises and tells her that he doesn't know slaves and the formalities. She tells him, since he isn't her master, she doesn't have to tolerate is "attention" and to leave her alone.

Later that night, Tetelo come to rooms where Gunter is staying, asking about his homeland (that has no slaves) and Gunter tells her about the Ritters and his role as Schattenjäger. He also shows her the family Talisman, before confessing his desire for her. Tetelo calls those feelings "Zinstgi" - the unwanted; a desire between two people that has a meaning in the great plan of the universe. Then she states that he would not have come to her, to fulfill his desires. He replies that he didn't wish to be like the others.

Tetelo is pleased by his answer and starts to undress for him, saying it is good this way, because she could make her own choice like this. They sleep with each other.

Some weeks later, Mayor Crodwell and Gunter talk about the ritual killing. Gunter knows by then that the magic is african and has a plan to catch the witch. He will pretend to be a sailor from the west indies, let himself get caught... and then expose the witch.

The plan works. The witch is about to plunge a dagger into Gunters heart when the blade touches his talisman. The magic of the talisman wakes the witch from her trance and she recognises Gunter. She takes off her leopard mask and reveals herself to be Tetelo. Gunters men attack the coven, killing many, but Gunter tells Tetelo to flee.

Later, after the remainder of the witchcoven has been imprisoned, Gunter goes to Tetelo to demand answers. She tells him about how her father tried to save her tribe from a terrible draught. He prayed to all the loa for help. Finally, Ogoun Badagris answered and in return for rain he demanded Tetelo as a human sacrifice. Her father tried to trick the Loa by transfering Tetelos soul into the body of a different girl and killing her, but the Loa could not be fooled. He send the white men to destroy the tribe.

The ritual killings of Charleston were the price Tetelo and her people had to pay to get back in favour with Ogoun Badagirs. Gunter blames her for letting him love her although she knew she was the one he was hunting. She replies by saying she had no choice in the matter. She didn't want to love him either, but she does. And they both could find a way to work together.

Gunter sends Tetelo away, saying he had to think about what to do. Tetelo tells him pleadingly not to betray her.

Meanwhile, Crodwell interrogates the caught members of the coven and recognises one of the slaves as a friend of Tetelo. He guesses that his slave is in fact the leader and takes his men to capture her.

Tetelo is conducting a small ritual in her little shack and calls the spirit of her father to tell him she will stop serving the old Loa and plans to start a new life with Gunter. Her father's loa tells her, that Gunter will betray her, but she refuses to believe him.

At the same time, Gunter is praying for a sign. A snake appears and he throws a dagger at it without thinking. But it turns out that is was no snake but a white bird. Before he can think about what this sign means, a servant comes to tell him that Tetelo has been captured without any resistance and brought to the marketplace to be burned at the stake.

He goes to the marketplace and gets confronted by Crodwell about his dealings with "the witch". Instead of owning up to his feelings and being true to Tetelo, he tells Crodwell that he was just interrogating her and if he wants to burn her with her secrets then to do it fast.

Gunter turns to leaves while Tetelo calls his name.

Utterly betrayed and left alone, Tetelo starts to pray to her old gods, begging Ogoun Badagris and Damballah to destroy the entire village and everyone in it. The onlookers just laugh and mock her.

Her screams of pain, betrayal and humiliation combined with the sight of the growd and the pyre push Gunter to feel so guilty that he uses the talisman to help Tetelo.

The combination of the talismans power and the power of Tetelo's old gods rip the sky open and lightning strikes with deadly force. The slaves are freed and slaughter their masters. In the end, Gunter is the only one left alive.

Tetelo, now "her father"s daughter", demands he look at her. She blames him, accusing him of betraying her. He didn't save her; his guilt did... and his talisman. She tells him that she would have left everything for him had he been true to her. Then she takes the talisman from him and leaves him with a cold

"Goodbye, witch-hunter."

Characters

 * Gunter Ritter - Schattenjäger
 * Eliza/Tetelo - Slavegirl and leader of the coven
 * Mayor Crodwell - Tetelo's owner

Info

 * Written by Jane Jensen
 * Art Director: Nathan Gams
 * Illustrations by Terese Nielsen