Abbot Graves is a priest at the Chapel of Ishap in Betrayal at Krondor. He first appears in Chapter 2 of the game and Chapter 5 of the novelization, Krondor: The Betrayal.
Overview
Chapter 1
The attendant priest, a boy of around fourteen summers, gawks at the visitors and nervously explains that the Abbot was last seen hurrying into town and it is not known when he will be back.
Chapter 2
Graves welcomes the party and is pleased at James's story that his "young charge" Owyn Beleforte could not leave the city without visiting the famous school. He asks whether Owyn wishes to enroll or is visiting from the Academy of Magicians at Stardock, and Owyn explains his father's refusal to let him study magic. Graves concurs that no study is wasted, even if magicians appear to produce fewer visible results than students of other disciplines, and mentions the lecturing instructors the Abbaye sometimes receives from Stardock. When it is clear that Owyn will not be enrolled, he offers James an opportunity to attend a guest lecture on tactics by Guy du Bas-Tyra. If they can afford a 20-sovereign Lecture Ticket, he directs them to the Lecture Hall near Queen's Row; if not, he lets them know that the opportunity will probably still be available later. If they visit after buying the ticket, he greets them affably but must leave to attend to some students.
Chapter 3
The party consults Graves about the murders in Romney. While he has no insight on the Brass Spyglass, he has seen Silver Spiders in books, catalogued as magical poisoning devices. He describes them as rare and prohibitively expensive, stating that the poisoner would need access to significant funding and connections with Kesh, where such devices are made.
If the party is not carrying a Lecture Ticket, he asks if they are interested in a lecture by Baron Troville, and can sell them a ticket for 20 sovereigns either at the time or if they come back before ending Chapter 3. If they still have the Lecture Ticket from the previous chapter, Graves describes the an occurrance at the lecture they missed, but assures them their ticket is still good for another tactical lecture, explaining that Troville is lending the Abbaye his services while awaiting reinforcements from Darkmoor and will be discussing his battles against the moredhel. Once again, he has student business to attend to if they return after buying a ticket or attending the lecture.
Chapter 6
In the Thieves' Highway, Kat can tell the party what she learned from Abbot Graves about the true nature of the Idol of Lassur, information uncovered by Graves during his labors transcribing texts from Stardock.
When the party visits Malac's Cross, Graves tries to brush them off by claiming that they have picked an inconvenient time for a visit, but Owyn confronts him with the rumors that he is to blame for the terrifying Pantathian attacks on the city. Advised not to flee lest the townspeople turn him over to the Pantathians, Graves protests that this would be a death sentence and breaks down, accepting Owyn's offer of help in exchange for explanations and assistance.
Graves explains that as a spineless, unscrupulous Abbaye Brother committed solely to selfish personal gain, he framed his abbot for the theft of a sum from the order's coffers, thus rising to his current position. Blackmailed by the Crawler, who had discovered his deed, he secretly arranged for magical tutors from Stardock to unknowingly train the Crawler's agents along with the Abbaye's noble students. After four years, Pug learned the truth, withdrew his tutors, and stripped the Abbaye of its magical texts. The Crawler then demanded a magical artifact, which Graves refused, forfeiting his life. Graves tried to defend himself, but the noble youths taught by Pug's advisers were overmatched by the Pantathians.
He asks the party to help him leave Malac's Cross without further casualties by bearing a message to Mitchel Waylander, refusing to provide any further information on the Crawler's plans without a means of escape. He assures Owyn that the townspeople know nothing of his criminal acts and would allow the Pantathians to kill him simply to protect themselves, asking that the party consider their actions in this light or not to bother coming back.
If they return with Mitchel's note, they find Graves shuffling warily, his eyes like those of a beaten dog. He is thankful for their help, considering his downfall a fitting end for his ill-begotten tenure as Abbot. However, he assures the party that the Crawler was not after the Book of Macros, which he has never heard of despite transcribing many books from Macros's library after the sorcerer left Midkemia. Instead, the Crawler was searching for the Guarda Revanche, reputedly lost near Malac's Cross in the distant past; Graves believes the sword to be mythical. As to Macros, Graves knows only what was recorded in historical commentaries of the Riftwar by Pug and Tomas Megarson, who spent some time traveling with Macros. He explains Tomas's position as Warlord and Consort in Elvandar, providing the party with a tenuous but viable lead, and they bid him farewell, wishing him luck in his escape to Kesh.
If they return to the Abbaye afterwards, they are again told that the Abbot was last seen hurrying into town and it is not known when he will be back.
Krondor: The Betrayal
In the novelization, Abbot Ethan Graves first appears when the party travels to Malac's Cross on their way from Krondor to Romney, finding themselves in an abandoned inn being converted into an abbey. He is a large man with a short beard shot with grey. He jovially calls James "Jimmy, you scoundrel," sends a brother over to Yancy's stable to provide three horses for the party, and explains to Owyn that his friendship with James goes back "to darker days when I was another man." Clarifying that his exclusive loyalty is to the Temple of Ishap, though he holds Prince Arutha in high regard, he asks them to tell him if their mission concerns the Temple. James promises to do so and asks if all is well. Graves tells him to see for himself, and the party leaves to view the work being done by the Brothers of Ishap to raise their new abbey near Malac's Dragon.[1]
Upon returning to the abbey building, Graves lets the party know that Guy du Bas-Tyra is in town, and they ride into Malac's Cross to meet with him. Among other topics of discussion, Guy mentions "that thug Graves," whom James remarks was one of the Mockers' better bashers in the rough days before hearing the call of religion. They return to the abbey after attending Guy's lecture, and Graves lets them know that the next two monthly lectures would be given by Duke Armond de Sevigny and Baldwin de la Troville respectively and that they can bed down under the tables for the night. As they prepare to rest, James asks Graves why Rillanon picked him to lead the new abbey, and as the two discuss the rough village forming south of Sethanon and the question of loyalty among certain nobles, Graves admits that he is not sure he is equal to the task ahead, mentioning old ties not easily broken. James, surprised to find uncertainty in Graves, reassures him, but ponders his words as night falls.[2]
He is acquainted with Kat, and the two flee to Kesh together.
Trivia
- If the party tries to teleport away from the Chapel in Chapter 6 before helping Graves to escape, they are told that teleportation services are unavailable due to the current Pantathian situation, and to ask the Abbot if they wish to know more.