>>5574081>>5574090>>5574132>>5574233>>5574333>>5574369>Ask for the grave digger’s keys.>Tell the grave digger to call the beast off.>Stand behind the grave digger so he acts as a meat shield“Your keys–hand them over.” Your voice is a low hiss in the night. You keep the groundskeeper between yourself and the beast, but you can’t imagine a hobbled, bent-back undertaker much an obstacle. “And call off the beast, right now..!”
“Right away, my lady.” The cultist’s voice is drowsy, tongue slurry as he hands you the keys. The keyfob is quite the collection: could prove useful if you make it out alive. The cultist swings around, shovel in hand as he trudges back to the church door and shouts. “BEAST! Away, away! We’ve no need of–”
A thunderous flash of steel explodes out from the church like a bullet, a deafening snap of metal against flesh cracking from the dark. A length of chain splits the air in half–catching the sexton by the head, iron links coiling about him like a snake. A shriek as he is ript into a church. Then slow, heavy steps.
The darkness of the church door breaks before the beast, a mountain of black fur and steel manacles. The chains about his ankles, wrists, and neck trace serpentine patterns in the snow. The fresh blood that drips from his claws patters the ground. The criss-cross scars look through you into the dark.
You remain silent. The beast does not seem to see you yet, its nose twitching and ears curling back as it sniffs at the air.
>Beat a very, very quiet retreat.>Order the invalid to attack him.>Attempt reasoning(?).>Try to use your runic magic to control it.>Write-In. 