Master Builder Manole

Master Builder Manole is a zmeu and a servant of the Red Death. In life he was a master architect and builder but so was he full of pride. Such was his prideful dedication to his craft that the Red Death manipulated him into becoming its servant by playing to his hubris. In the year of 1517 and the town of Curtea de Arges, Prince Neagoe Basarab commanded Manole to build a great church.. Manole swore its completion at any cost.

According to The Tale of the Master Builder, one of the walls of the Church collapsed midway through the construction. Local custom demanded the sacrifice of a living human being to rebuild a collapsed wall to prevent further mishaps. Lots were drawn, but Manole's enemies rigged the lottery such that Manole's wife was the person to become entombed within the rebuilt wall. Manole's wife accepted her fate, and Manole build the wall around her. Upon completion, he Prince demanded that Manole himself remain on the roof as an additional sacrifice. Manole constructed a pair of wings from the roof shingles and jumped off, plummeting to his death.

Through a pact with the Red Death, the Master Builder lives on as an immortal servant of the Red Death as a zmeu, a spirit bound in flesh. He wanders from town to town under the guise of a traveling builder. He uses his charm ability to beguile women and use their money to construct his projects before sealing them inside for all eternity.

Recently, a Brasov native named Hannah Singer captured Manole's attention with her performance of the Ballad of the Master Builder. Manole may travel to that town soon. Manole is often credited with the creation of the Citadel of the Djinn in the town of Deva, but this is untrue.

More on this person at at Wikipedia

Stats

Zmeu, 5 HD; Neutral Evil]