Unrestrained in their desire to conquer the Queen of cities, the Godless Franks plotted and schemed to do her injury. Across land they sent armies of hundred to ravage and burn all they found. Their ships plied the waves, destroying all they came into contact with. The Emperor Alexius V, known as Murzulphus because of his eyebrows, rode out to meet them where possible. Spies were captured examining the walls, or washed up on shore after some battle at sea. Other prisoners were taken by the army, and escorted in chains back to Constantinople. To strike fear into the barbarians hearts, Murzulphus had them placed upon the city walls facing the Venetian fleet and Frankish encampment, and there he had them burnt, their screams resounding across the waves.
Angered further by this, the Franks gathered their ships, lashing them together and building mighty towers of wood onboard. Mighty siege engines capable of hurling the largest of stones were built. The leaders met and determined how the spoils of future conquest were to be distributed. From the leaders they voted amongst themselves, and chose Baldwin the Count of Flanders to be the new Emperor. The Marquis Boniface of Montferrat was most displeased, but swore to adhere to the decision. The old Doge of Venice Enrico Dandalo, was to receive numerous gifts, and his city a portion of the city.
Letter 26 between Subject Gesu and Subject Vykos
Vykos, since you failed to heed my words, measures have been taken to ensure that our beloved Symeon is protected.
March 19th 1204
Letter 18 between Subject Pakorianis and Subject Petronnius.
My Lord,
I have had the particular matter of the missing Lascari family members looked into. As far as can be discerned there appears to be no obvious and overt political motive. They do not rank highly enough to have been a target for Assamites or Keltoi murderers. The perpetrators of this crime were kindred though, a pair of them. Yet their specific identities remain unknown. Rumours suggest perhaps it was the work of Alfonzo or even those amongst Magnus’s family. I shall leave the decision on further matters to you.
Pakorianis
March 23rd 1204
Letter from Subject Arbetorious to an unnamed person in Ceoris.
Sires, I write this hastily since I fear the worst for the city and will be unsure as to when fate may next permit me to update you with information. Fletcher has discoveed a nest of Infernal Baali within the city. Perhaps they are connected to The Dreamer. If they can be found and destroyed then the possibilities for our clan here may once again rise. If not, I have secured other possible support.
Arbetorious
March 28th 1204
Letter 13 between Subject Magnus and Subject Ana Comnena.
Ana,
Your recent argument in public no less, with Basileus Caius has disturbed me greatly. Such breeches of protocol and obvious clan unity are not in our interests. I urge you to a rapprochement with him. Your actions have sent tongues wagging like a dogs tail across the Kindred community. Alfonzo knows. I need say no more.
Magnus
March 30th 1204
Items from Venetian Archive: Giovanni 7
Extract from the Journal of Subject Marcus Musa Giovanni
She has certainly hidden herself well, though I fear she is not alone. Time runs short, other plans over which I have no control are at play here. Time to retire.
April 2nd 1204
Letter 8 between Subject Thomas Feroux and Subject Malachite
Malachite, I am no fool, the Triumvirate families may not wish to see it but it is obvious to all. The Dream is ending. I have dispatched almost everything required now, it is time I think that you urged your kinsmen to leave for pastures new. I for one shall head to Dyrrachium. Mnay of my line wish to remain. That is their choice. It is time for you to make yours.
Your friend.
Thomas Feroux
Baron.
April 6th 1204
Letter 1 between Subject Alfonzo and Subject Arbetorious
All is as planned. The Count of Flanders and the Marquis of Montferrat are in accord, though I fear the Marquis is less than satisfied with the outcome. His family has coveted it for sometime and now it has been snatched away from him. Needs must though. The ships and other materials are ready. You have your part to play, and the rewards in the new administration will be most ample for you and your brethren.
Gabirella still remains though, her haven is deserted. I understand that you have ways in which she might be found. Perhaps you might look into it.
Alfonzo
Prince of the Latin Quarter.
April 10th 1204.
Extract from MS Skopje.
And so the horde of barbarous Franks came to the city walls, assailing them with ladders and rocks. Many times they were driven back. Taking council on what to do, they lashed many ships together and built huge towers of wood covered in ox hide on top of them. These they sailed right up to the city walls and after much fighting captured the towers and gates of the city. The city flew into a panic; people ran and sought shelter in the Churches and other holy places. The Franks in their murderous rage against the Greeks stormed through the city, killing all who stood before them. They set fire to houses and church alike, and upon entering those sacred places took from them the holy relics and items. Murzulphus, with what remained of the Imperial army fled northwards. The Franks came to the Hagia Sophia and there upon the throne of the Patriarch placed a prostitute. This Harlot they then proclaimed Empress and carried her about. Thus after three days and nights of violence, the Queen of Cities, the fair Constantinople lay in ruins and a possession of the accursed Franks.
Item from Munich Archive: Cappadocian 1
Journal of Subject Xavier
Her face...
Her screaming...
My fault... all my fault...
Such foolishness. I know not what foul spell that demon-worshipping harpy cast upon me, but I know it plunged my soul into darkness. Still, I cannot live my life by her illusions; if Sarah burns in Hell, then God (in all his infinite and twisted ill humour) is really all that I claim him to be, and infinitely less. But enough of this; Constantinople is under siege! The fleet of Frankish crusaders make war upon the walls of the city, though they have yet to take the chain wall. For three knights, now, the fleet has thrown rocks at the walls, and sent troops against the towers, and still to no avail. Further, Alexia is gone from the city, for all I can tell. I had at first suspected that Marcus had done with her – but it seems that even he seeks to track her down – and in vain. Though I have failed in the technical sense, it would seem that the lady is safe. And I am free of her, when it comes to that.
Chaos and damnations! Elders are fools and murderers, brigands and madmen, one and all! Gregorius the Muse (curse that name and all who bear it!) has spent the passing years driving Michael to madness – that was the source of all of this! Fools and madmen and murderers!!
Very well – at peace, Xavier Hugo. I awoke tonight to a message from none other than Mica Vykos (and curse that mad monk, as well). He bade us go to Gesu and beg him to leave – or to release Symeon, at the least. We ran his petty errand, but it was not to my surprise that Gesu would not be moved – Elders are immutable, made mad and stupid by ages unchanging. Then, we emerged from the Obertus Monastery to find the city aflame: the Franks had broken through the wall. Thence followed and long and painful evening – blood, and chaos, and damnation. The crusaders rode through the streets, raping and burning all that came into their path; several times we came upon the so called 'Holy warriors' engaged in acts of undirected violence and lust. Some looted churches, while from others we had to defend a herd of naked women, who were being chased through the streets. And Khalida – damn that woman, sometimes! – Khalida's clan we caught in the act of amaranth. Talbot thrust his sword through Fredrickson's head, forcing him into torpor.
It was shortly after then when we stumbled upon Gregorius, who had carried with him the pain of a taste of ecstasy given to him by Michael for an eternity; it festered within him, this pain, becoming resentment and eventual, all-consuming hatred. The dream of Constantinople burned to ashes because of him; we left him in the amphitheatre, where he intended to greet the sun and end his suffering. Perhaps he met final death, and perhaps he has found some kind of peace – perhaps not. I hope only that he is not depending on God's mercy for his peace, for he will be disappointed.
And then... well.
We came upon Michael himself, in the church of the Archangel. He truly was insane – speaking of the future, of a dream reborn, of an escape from his state of being. Insanity. And then, Mary – the Baali – was brought into the church by Peter the Humble. We left them, then (though Gaius paused to crush Peter's frail chest), while Michael talked of his love for Mary, of his sorrow for abandoning her. What passed between them, I do not know – and, I suspect, none but Mary shall ever know.
We came to the House of Lamps, by the direction of Malachite, the Nosferatu elder. There, Gabriella offered us safe passage out of the city – in return for the death of Alfonso. Surprise of surprises – Alfonso had orchestrated much of the fall (aided by Albertorius, among others) and declared himself the new Prince. Khalida and Gaius took his life, aided by Tremere magic gained from Fredrickson, in return for my returning him from the sleep.
So much has happened in one night. So many dead – Kindred and Kine! Gilliam is to meet us at the next village, bringing with me my books, my money, and the slaves I rescued from the party. Where next? We have yet to decide.
Items from Venetian Archive: Giovanni 7
Extract from the Journal of Subject Marcus Musa Giovanni
The assault is over. The city lies in ruins but the opportunities are now great, the Ventrue and Toreador are no more and the Tzimice have been shattered. Alfonzo is dead, a pity, he would have been a most useful asset in the new order. That Setitie Khalida Wench and her Tzimice lackey Gaius will no doubt come to harm as Fortuna’s wheel turns. Alexia remains hidden. Her disappearance will prove most troublesome. Never mind, there are now more important things.
April 17th 1204
Letter from Subject Arbetorious to an unnamed person in Ceoris.
My Lord,
Matters have changed alarmingly here in Constantinople. Alfonzo of Venice was but Prince of the city but for a short time after the Crusaders capture of it. He was murdered in his own Elysium by a Setite miscreant known as Khalida, and an abominable Obertus Tzimice called Gaius. They fled the scene rather than face the ire of the assembled Kindred, cowards as they are. I have the great sadness to report that Fletcher was involved in this assassination. He had provided some arcane arrows for the assassin to use against the noble Alfonzo. This action stands clearly in violation of our most esteemed Houses’ goals. I am sure you and the other members of the Council will see to it that he is dealt with according to our laws and customs.
Further to this, I have gained confirmation that Achmet, the Dreamer perished in the flames that ravaged this city, as did many of his foolish circles. There is one less infernalist Slaubri in this world for us to deal with. As for Theresa, she has yet to resurface.
Michael has not been seen and rumours from that stormy night indicate that he may have met final death, along with his city. I shall continue to observe and confirm these reports.
Arbetorious
April 25th 1204
Item from Munich Archive: Cappadocian 1
Journal of Subject Xavier
It was the spring of 1204 when the dream that was Constantinople flickered and died. Michael fell (at the hands of Mary the Black, as far as anyone can tell); Alfonso, usurper-Prince, died under the hands of Gaius the Tzimisce. The five of us (myself, Khleda of the Followers of Set, Alais of the Michaelite Toreador, Fredrickson Fletcher the Tremere, and Gaius of the Obertus Tzimisce) took ship into the river, and to safety.
We picked up Gilliam at a nearby village, and set down to plan. Gaius was insistent that we rescued the books from his monastery, and much as I detested any house of God, even I baulked at the loss of all that knowledge. Thus, we spent several months in hiding with Khleda, travelling out in raiding parties. We went in through the sewers or along the river bed, avoiding guards and our fellow Kindred, and stealing away the knowledge of the Obertus.
In the mid summer of that year, Khleda announced her intention to return to Jerusalem, to meet with Lucius. I had no desire to return to that place, and so I bid my companions farewell for a time, and journeyed to the monastery at Erciyes. It was not the guidance of priests I sought (not that I thought at the time, anyway), but the counsel of my clan's elder, Constancia. Though she was most displeased to hear of my failure with Alexia, she was more content to hear that Giovanni had not succeeded in his plan, either.
It was there, at Erciyes, that I first met Dolphus. A Frank, Dolphus had been a ghoul for almost a century before his master embraced him into the clan of grave robbers. Though he was almost three centuries my elder, I found a Kindred spirit in Dolphus: intelligent, calm, rational, given neither to passion nor a dependence on God. We spent many nights in discussion in the fortress of Erciyes, arguing everything from politics and thanatology to theology and academics.
But no pleasant times can last forever, and I was young and impatient. Though I much enjoyed the company of Dolphus, the life of Erciyes chafed at me – not least the presence of Constancia and others like her. And so, once again, the time came when I would bid goodbye to a companion. I left Dolphus with a means to communicate with me, and left the monastery, heading for the place where my other companions had found themselves – the European domain of Carcassonne.
Extracts from the Journal of Subject Gaius Menas Pelagius of the Obertus
Extract 87-22,
June 12th 1204
It has been some months since I last wrote in this journal, Its not that events have been lacking in interest, in fact I should say that it is more a lacking of motivation to write down what has transpired these last few months. I suppose in a way, by not putting it to paper I could hope that the events that transpired were just an insidious twist to the nightmares of my day sleep, however, I have but to look in the archives of my memory and I clearly see what transpired. But I returned to my books this night, and raised my quill once again, for there is much to chronicle.
What was thought impossible has come to pass: Constantinople fell. It was put to flame and sword by the crusading francs, the horrors that I saw on the streets that day are so numerous that I could not write them all within the limited space of this tome, in my current condition I am used to violence... but this was something else. To say nothing for what was lost in the flames, the destruction of the Monastery of St. John Estudeus and our great library, the buildings and art work consumed in that terrible inferno. Churches were plundered, riches stripped from the walls and pillaged. But worst of all, the fates of so many people in the city. Untold numbers dead by sword or blaze, and that was the least of the crusaders crimes.
The dream is dead, what the clans Toreador, Ventrue and Tzimisce attempted to build in Constantinople is gone, nothing but ash on the wind. And all because of the selfishness and insanity of the elders, of petty human nature, vindictiveness, insanity and most of all greed. Because of the vendettas of individuals like Narses and their puppets Gregorious and Alfonso (there are many others I'm sure), Constantinople and all that it stood for is dead. Because of them dozens of kindred lives, and thousands of khine are dead or worse. And for what? Petty material gain or revenge. But the worst offender of all was Michael, perhaps the madness inflicted upon him by Gregorious was responsible, but I think not. Michael, the Patriarch, the man who made everything in this city; that I have loved from birth, to death and undeath, possible. It was his insane desire to reach apotheosis and become and arch-angel that everything occurred, he admitted to us that he let this all occur and that he had chosen his fate by the hands of Mary the Black, a Baali.
Even now the thought of the events that transpired fills me with a terrible anger, however, now that the fires cooled somewhat I have started to regret my actions on that day. When I strode from the Church I used my powers to collapse Peter the Humbles frail ribcage, right before Kalida laid him out with an axe. I shouldn't have lashed out against the man, yes, it was him who lead Mary to The Patriarch, and through his stupidity the Patriarch is gone. But I feel that maybe we should not have left him to die, he had no way of knowing what would occur, the poor man was an innocent. And while I did not kill him directly, I might has well have done.
Of course I'm getting ahead of myself, I should describe what first occurred that day.
We were brought before Myca Vykos at the Christ Prankator Monastery, Semyon had entreated me some weeks before to hear what Vykos was going to suggest out, and so I attended alongside Xavier the Cappadocians, Alyias of the Michaelite Toreador, Kalida of the Setites and Fredrickson Fletcher the Prince of Doormats (a Tremere Usurper). I waited with some trepidation, I don't always agree with Vykos's philosophical or theological opinions, but he was one of my elders and I have some trust in his judgement. Vykos stated that he believed the dream was coming to an end, that Constantinople was going to fall to the Crusaders, and that he and many other kindred were planning on leaving the city for other places. However, he could not leave the city without his beloved sire Semyon and that Semyon would not leave until his brother Gesu did and of course Gesu would not leave, believing that the monastery would be safe even if the Crusaders breached the walls. As such he tasked us with convincing Gesu to leave or at least convince Semyon to leave, Vykos then made a reference to otherwise he would be forced to take things into his own hands.
We approached the Monestary of St.John Estudeus, however the doors were barred and guarded by a pair of seven foot tall warghouls armed with halberds, who told us that none but those of the Obertus could enter. Our party conversed quickly, and we decided that while it was possible that I could speak to Gesu personally It would be impossible for someone of his order to change his mind, so it would be best if we found another entrance. I entered the Monastery, which despite the panic that had spread throughout the city remained busy in its usual sedate pace as always, which trust me was eerie at the time. After some searching I eventually found Cyricus who had been gathering fresh parchment for the scriptorium. I asked him to find some spare monks robes for about four or so individuals and meet me at the side gate. From there I had the others don robes and led them to the chambers of Gesu, where we had a short if somewhat pointless discussion with our esteemed Elder. While I believe that he was foolish to underestimate the franks, I could understand his position. The City had never fallen before, and his faith that the monastery would be protected by god and remain unmolested by the mortals was absolute. While I wish that I could possess such unshakable faith and conviction, I should hope that in my elder years I will not become so set in my ways that I calcify.
After that failure, we decided that it was time to part ways, it had become increasingly clear to us that Constantinople will fall, the odds were stacked too high against it... and I couldn't help but feel that there was some hand (or hands) that had been working against it this entire time. We gathered in my chambers, Xavier himself remarked that my austere style of living made living in crypts seem comfortable, which I informed him was something of the intention. Besides, after thirty seven odd years of doing so as one of the undead I'd become somewhat numb to such trivial matters as being uncomfortable. After some discussion, we decided that it was best that we follow many of our kin and leave the city while it was still possible, leaving myself and Xavier within the monastery.
< Fragment Resumes>
Since that tumultuous night myself, Kalida, Xavier and the Usurper have remained within the city, our safe passage assured. We have spent our days sleeping within the crypts under the monastery, or within sewers, with Celsus and Zozemus watching over our torpid dreams. Thanks to the gifts of Kalida and Celsus, we are able to walk largely unseen in the streets at night, for there are many kindred who still seek revenge after our slaying of the newly appointed prince Alfonso. Its wrong of me I know, but I still cannot help but smile and feel some sense of satisfaction at remembering how that smug grin of his was wiped from his face the moment Kalida's arrow punched through him or the sickening crunch as I used my gifts to shatter his bones. Unlike say Peter the Humble or other individuals whose lives I have taken directly or otherwise, who I feel remorse and pity over, I feel none for him.
We've spent these few months searching the ruins of the Monastery of St. John Esteudeus and the Library of the forgotten for whatever books we could rescue, from there on we moved to the many other shrines, abbys and monasteries within the city, storing the books in oil cloth in various locations. After we'd exhausted these options we moved to searching Crusader camps, stealing back what we could, or picking them up from black markets. Its nothing compared to what we have lost, but everything we uncover is in its own way a tiny shard of the dream that can be reforged anew, I memorise the contents of each book we recover as best I can, adding it to the growing library in my mind. After the night that the dream was finally broken, and Michael died alongside so many others, I found my faith most shaken and despair clung to me. However, these few months of camaraderie have set me back upon the path, I am still troubled by the death and horror that surrounded us that night and my hope is still a fragile thing, but we carry the dream with us, each in our own way and so long as we live we can build it again. If there's anything in this world we have, its time.
I'm somewhat thankful to Malachite, Baron Veroux and Natalys. Despite how frustrating their efforts seemed at the time, their theft in fact allowed us to save far more than we ever would have during those last few panicked hours. I'm grateful... and I hope that like us they too carry the dream with them. I wonder where Natalys is now? I'm surprised she could even leave Constantinople, given how much she loved it. Perhaps we'll cross paths again sometime in the future?
Back to the matter at hand, after some discussion last night, we've decided that we have done as much as we can here in Constantinople. We've arranged for transport further afield, I believe that Xavier will be travelling to Mount Eresies to study with the members of his clan (I'm somewhat envious of him, his entire clan are brilliant scholars. Where as the majority of what’s left of mine are nothing more than barbaric warlords with pretence to nobility. Alas), The Usurper will be travelling back to Ceoris (the accursed place still stands apparently) and Kalidah has invited me to travel with her to Jerusalem. I'm positively ecstatic about the idea of travelling to the holy city, if I still could I would be getting goose pimples just thinking about it. I have gathered my retainers and followers, once the moon rises tomorrow we begin our journey. It will be sad to leave the city of my birth, my beloved Constantinople, but I cannot bear to see it in its current state, maybe some day in the future I will return to it. But until then, I must walk the pilgrims path.
Extract 88-64
August 7th, 1204
As you may no doubt have noted from the previous entries, my time in Jerusalem has been well spent. I feel my faith flowing through me once again, its as if my heart is wreathed in flame and has begun beating once more. Using what little money I have I'd managed to buy a relic or two here and there, while these are quite probably the work of charlatans, I suppose that’s part of getting into the spirit of the thing. We've had to cut our visit short however, something that Celsus was most upset about, as it seems that our guide Kalidah has encountered some … problems while within the city. She assured me that she had departed to visit a lover from her time in Jerusalem (to have spent such time here seems impossible! You can feel the power of faith blazing here on every street corner, while not as beautiful as Constantinople, its almost as if we are under the gaze of God himself!), however but a night later and a decree citing her banishment and bloodhunt was released. I didn't ask the particulars on the situation, though given the reaction of Mr. Talbot I'm starting to think that these extreme expressions of love are not uncommon for Kalidah. I wonder how Natalys is doing?
Anyway, Kalidah and I have decided to part ways now, as she travels to her clans spiritual centre and I have decided to travel and meet up with the surviving members of the Obertus. My time here has not been wasted, I have garnered many favours from the kindred of the city through the use of my gifts. Largely I accepted boons of goods, coin or works of academia as my stay was short, it appears that Tzimisce are somewhat rare in this part of the world and few of my clan have passed through the area of late. Now me and my followers head towards the Balkans to reunite with Semyon and help in re-establishing ourselves, I'm sure Semyon will be most impressed with what we've managed to rescue. As with Xavier and Fletcher, I gave Kalidah a small gift of some of the books we had rescued to display my gratitude (after I had read them of course), and bid her safety on her journeys, normally I would have said Gods grace, but I'm not sure that that would be welcomed by the Children of Set. We depart in the morning, though I will be safely absconded, upon leaving Constantinople I made sure to gather several urns worth of earth and store them in various wagons, just in case. I have a contact who might be able to provide me some more in an emergency. it will be a long journey to the Balkans and I plan on spending some years there before travelling to meet Alyias.
Extract 88-71
January 2nd 1206
These last two years have been long ones, I have spent the majority of the time in the scriptorium or attending to the health of the locals who require it. It took me some time and much arguing, but finally my colleagues acquiesced on the subject of providing more support and protection to the leity of these lands, as disciples of God we should know better than to express the cruel tendencies of many of the other members of our clan, we are not to be tyrants. I have enough members of the Obertus support the idea within this particular Monastery that it should continue in my absence. Have even managed to get members of the clan in other Monasteries interested in the scheme, if only as part of a ploy to improve our defences against the activities of the more warlike Viovodes of the surrounding territories. To think that we would be squabbling among ourselves even as the Usurpers and the Warlords make war on us. Typical. This is the kind of behaviour that brought beloved Constantinople to its knees, the madness of Elders does not fail to fill me with pity and disgust once more. If not also sorrow... it has been two years, and still my heart is heavy with the thought of the deaths in Constantinople and the horror wrought by Kindred and Mortal pettiness.
I have come to the conclusion that it it not enough merely to rebuild the dream, for there are still those who would destroy it out of spite and jealousy. Part of the rebuilding must be the removal of those who destroyed its previous incarnation, not in the name of petty Vengeance or a skewed sense of Justice, but instead so that this new dream can blossom unhindered. As much as I may hold this up as the ideal, I know that in no small part will this also be out of revenge for the deaths they inflicted on the mortals and my clan. There are many individuals involved in this conspiracy and many of them are powerful in their own ways, but I have centuries to slowly enact my response. Narses and Sir Godwin are two main targets, Narses for his creation and sending of Alfonso and Sir Godwin for his inspiring of the idea in the mortals. I know Natalys would shake her head and despair at my childish desire for revenge, and many days I do so too... but I cannot let them destroy the new dream.
My plan is somewhat simple, I intend to gather my retainers and followers once spring comes, and travel for Carcassone where I heard Alyias is currently dwelling. I have accrued some wealth in the last few years, and alongside my efforts in the scriptorium I have enough copies of books we've lost or rescued to take with me to start anew. My intention is not to build large monasteries like the one I dwell in now, this would be taxing and too prone to failure. Instead, I plan on establishing a series of smaller Abbeys nd orders as we travel, these Abbeys will be dedicated to my interpretations on the Obertus Philosophy and the maintaining of our knowledge, as well as works of charity and aide for the local populace. I intend to create a small community surrounding these abbeys with its holdings and livestock to make a sustainable population, once one abbey is set up, I intend to leave them in the care of my childer and move on to another location and establish a new Abbey. With this process I should create a network of location that can serve to spread the Obertus further than our current concentration. For this task I have gathered a small number of Revenants to start the family, and my current Childer the Slavic nun Anna. We will have to adjust our doctrine to Catholic standards to blend in, though I intend on keeping a private shrine beneath the Abbey for my own practices.
Carcassone will be our first test... I have heard tell of the so called Cathar sect there, and I'm interested to see what I can learn from its doctrine and practices. What little rumour and here-say I've heard suggests that its spiritualistic leanings could be incredibly interesting and bear similarity to that of the Obertus.
