Holy Men - Carcassonne Summer 1209

Extract from MS Bilbao

Putting the city of Beziers behind them the army of God proceeded to the city of Narbonne. This city was very old and had been a great centre during the reign of Roman Emperors. Here the Bishop of the city surrendered the city, placing himself and his people into the hands of the Papal Legate Arnald-Amalric. For this city unlike its neighbour at Beziers was populated by good Christians, who despised and would not tolerate the frivolities of the heretics. Those who had attempted to flee from Beziers had come to the walls of the city, only to be turned away. From there they went to Carcassonne. Having secured Narbonne by treaty, the army of God advanced to the city of Carcassonne where that arch-heresiarch the Viscount Raymond-Roger Trencavel held court. The city was placed under siege, great siege engines were constructed and did great damage to the walls and towers.

After a week of fighting news arrived of the approach of the King of Aragon. He had come to settle the disputes between the army of God and the heretic lords of the region. He hosted negotiation between Raymond-Roger and the Papal Legate. There was much arguing, but realizing the impossibility of his position the Viscount surrendered his lands and cities so as to spare all the people who had taken refuge inside. On the 15th of August the army of God entered Carcassonne. There in the Cathedral the mass was heard and the Papal Legate did announce the establishment of an inquisition to root out the heretics hiding amongst the populace.


Proclamation 1 by Subject Esclarmonde the Black.

Having proven himself before the assembled court of his peers, and also in the eyes of the Lord God, Rolande de Chantilly has proven himself worthy as to be named as the champion of Carcasonne. It is with this seal that I do hereby acknowledge his feats and skills in the strength of arms.

Escalrmonde

Queen of Carcassonne

August 4th 1209.


Letter 5 between Subject Luctia of Aragon and Subject Luis Moncada.

Sire, all has gone according to your wishes thus far. I have made preparations for King Pedro to come down from the mountains. The Lords who control those regions had been sufficiently satisfied. The presence of the Tremere continues to worry me. However there is oddly enough an Obertus Tzimice residing in the city. Given the exchanges between them to date I am sure the Tremere will be more than distracted. I have contacted Irenie, all is ready, the pieces will soon be in hand. It would be wise now to contact our brethren in Poitou.

Lucita of Aragon

August 9th 1209


Letter 3 from Subject Esclarmonde the Black to Subject Alexander.

Lord,

I am at a loss as to what to do now. The army of God is before my walls and is actively slaying my citizens. The beasts that lurk within their horde will not spare this city, despite what mortal negotiations will come to. Since I have received no word or succour from you. I have no choice but to place myself beyond your service, according to the customs of our land.

Esclarmonde

Queen of Carcassonne

August 12th 1209



Extract from the Journal of Subject Justinian, from Archive Vienna 3.

Margaritte continues her infatuation. Foolish girl, matters however must continue. I shall have Fletcher acquire the key components for the ritual. Ceoris have provided little help concerning the appearance of the members of House Quaesitor and House Flambeau. They have declared war upon us here. They fear that I have located Mistridge or Doisstep, despite their preventative measures. I shall have to request gargoyles from Florence to sure up the security here.

August 16th 1209.


Letter 1 between Subject Gullieme and Subject Thomas of Dover.

I know not what exactly your association with the Usurpers may be, but I suggest in the future you treat your correspondences with them with greater care. If I have managed to intercept them then I can assure you Paul has already been through them and informed Victor or Marianne of their contents. You must proceed with caution.

Gullieme

Auguts 18th 1209


Letter 1 between Subject Anatole and Subject Ambrosious

The pit of damnation awaits you and all of your kind my friend. Repent of this lifestyle now while God upon high permits, and save your soul from the oblivion that awaits it!

August 22nd 1209

Letter 6 between Subject Luctia of Aragon and Subject Luis Moncada.

Sire, matters move with apace here. The Tremere Regent, Justinian has disappeared and rumours suggest murder. It is true that the Usurpers are currently engaged in a conflict with mortal hedge wizards, and they lay in ambush outside Elysium. I know not how this matter will effect your plans. The offer has been made to Esclarmonde, and she was not alone in the reception of that offer. The other items have been acquired. The Cappadocian Irenie was quite compliant in that respect. I shall continue on course as you have commanded.

Lucita of Aragon

August 26th 1209

Letter 1 from Subject Henri D’Evreux to Subject Unknown.

My Lord,

The Army of God has entered the city. An inquisition has begun. All the pieces are now in place. Simon de Montfort has come forward as the best candidate. The presence of this Dominc Guzman may be troubling. He is possessed of a faith that I have never found before. He was capable of making many of the Toreador and Brujah flee Elysium by his mere presence. Esclarmonde reigns and he support base is strong. How long that continues to last is known only to the Divine.

August 29th 1209


Letter 1 between Subject Rolande and Subject Esclarmonde the Black.

Majesty, most serene queen and Domina of Carcassonne,

I urge you with all the greatest respects and the admiration that I humbly hold for you to resist the perfidious and serpentine words of the scoundrel Armand de Bayonne. The Order of Bitter Ashes are nothing more than thieves who would steal what rightfully belongs to us. This can not be allowed to pass. I for one shall stand before him and deny him as our lord and saviour Christ denied Satan.

Rolande de Chantilly,

Champion of Carcassonne

September 1st 1209.


Extract from MS Bilbao

Finding the arch heresiarch Raymond Roger unsuitable to continue his rule of the people and city of Carcassonne, the assembled lords and prelates gathered to choose a new viscount, who could help restore the word of God to the people of the county. There was some debate then chose the Earl of Leicester Simon de Montfort as the new Viscount. There was much rejoicing amongst the army of God. Lord de Montfort immediately took over the Viscounts palace and the citadel of the city garrisoning his men there.

The King of Aragon then took his leave and returned to his own land. The Cathars of the city were hunted down and brought before the holy office of the inquisition. Many confessed to their crimes and were convinced to rejoin the true faith having been made aware of their errors. Others continued to reject the teachings of Jesus Christ; those who fell into this latter group were arrested and held by the inquisition until they repented. Those who would not were handed over to Lord de Montfort to be punished as the law demands. Those magnates who had erred in the way of Christ or who had harboured and aided Cathars were also stripped of their titles and their lands were given to good Christian lords.


Proclamation 2 by Subject Esclarmonde the Black.

For breaching the peace of my realm and subverting the right of the Prince in the laws concerning the destruction of our kind, I Esclarmonde, Queen of Carcassonne sentence Gaius the Monk and Khalidah of the Setites to the following punishments.

I. Khalidah is to be stripped and publicly horse whipped through the streets of the city.
II. She is to call upon the Lord for his intervention and forgiveness for her transgressions.
III. She is then to attend the Cathedral and receive mass and communion in both kinds from a man of faith.
IV. At no time is she to reveal her true nature to the Kine during these punishments.
V. Gaius for his crime is to be blinded and quartered outside the city walls.
VI. He may not return to the city for one whole day, but is to survive in those wild place here abouts. If God permits that he should live then he may return within the city and take up residence once more.
VII. Any who should intervene to help or hinder him will themselves receive a similar fate. For it is in the hands of God to judge such matters.

Esclarmonde

Queen of Carcassonne.

September 5th 1209.


Letter 2 from Subject Henri D’Evreux to Subject Unknown.

My Lord,

The office of the inquisition has begun rounding up Cathars and other undesirables from the city and its lands. Though some risk is present for our kind, I believe that many of the Cainites here are sufficiently suited to avoiding detection in their actions, or failing that capable of disarming the lackies of the Bishop. Some ruffians and neonates were caught in their web of investigations. I will of course take the appropriate actions concerning such matters. The King of Aragon has departed these lands, but his Lasombra overseers still remain. Matters continue, Esclarmonde is no longer secure in her seat of power.

Henri D’Evreux

September 8th 1209



Letter 7 between Subject Luctia of Aragon and Subject Luis Moncada.


Sire,

All stands ready, the King returns to his lands across the mountains. All matters here are now complete. I await the arrival of our craftsmen to complete the works started here.

Lucita of Aragon.

September 13th1209



Letter 2 between Subject Gullieme and Subject Thomas of Dover.


It seems that the Poitivens and vassals of Alexander have out done you Sir. They now possess all the lands and titles which I thought you coveted in the name of John Lackland. You now have a task greater than any faced by Heracles before you.

Gullieme

September 17th 1209


Fragmentary Extract from inquisition records. Currently Located in Madrid Archive 2.

Individuals brought before the office of the inquisition this night……..Gaius a monk, convert from the Greek heresy, recently arrived in these parts from Constantinople…….Fletcher, accused of sodomy and witchcraft…….also in Constantinople……..Alais Trencavel……..suspected of Heretical associations as per her relative the Viscount………Kalidah……horse whipped for licentiousness………orgiastic behaviour in a House of God………….Osias…….a Jew in hiding……protector of the Synogogue………..Xavier……gravedigger…..sodomite and defiler of the dead…..necromancy………….Held in cells below the Cathedral overnight…..put to the question…….Denial of charges…Nothing to confess….A conspiracy….all present in Jerusalem or Constantinople….continued questioning revealed nothing….minor rivalries and animosities….Xavier a scholar, presenting himself as a dullard….further investigation required.

September 22nd 1209.

Extract from MS Bilbao

Violence against the will of God was rampant throughout the land. Heretic Lords, unwilling to part with their territories fought against the Army of God and those magnates who were to replace them in their lordships. Many knights having now served their time began to return to homes, their oaths to God fulfilled. Many Cathars attempted to flee before the soldiers of Christ and the inquisitors, but were soon captured and brought before his divine justice. Autumn came to the land and so the season for campaigning came to a close. With no other way to strike back as the inquisition or the soldiers of the lord, the perfidious Cathars and their protectors used poison and other murderous techniques upon those doing the work of the Lord. As punishment for this treachery the arch Heresiarch, the former Viscount, fell ill and did not recover. Struck low by the hand of the Lord, he died and proceeded straight to eternal damnation.


Proclamation 1 by Subject Helene la Juste.

In the name of Prince Alexander of Paris and Matriarch Saliana, I Helene invested with the authority of the Grande Court do hereby place Esclarmonde, Queen of the Court of Love in Carcassonne and Toulouse under arrest. She may not remove from here demesne in the vicinity of Carcassonne, under penalty of Blood Hunt by the other Courts of Love, except to answer charges brought against her in Paris. Likewise any who assist her in such matters will face a similar fate. Esclarmonde is charged with treason and the held responsible for the deaths of many a cainite, whom she had murdered by members of Clan Assamite. She is also accused of supporting known Heretics and attempting to subvert the rule of law in the County of Toulouse to the crown of Aragon. This decree is to take effect immediately.

Helene la Juste

September 26th 1209

Proclamation 3 by Subject Esclarmonde the Black.

Having been abandoned by my liege lord in a time of peril, having received no aid or assistance from him, when beset on all sides by enemies, who once I thought friend, I do here announce that my service to the Grande Court in Paris forfeit. In addition I do here by proclaim the Blood Hunt upon Helene la Juste, and any other agent working for Saliana Matriarch of Paris, who does not announce themselves in advance of entering our demesne.

Esclarmonde

Queen of Carcassonne.

September 28th 1209.

Proclamation 4 by Subject Esclarmonde the Black.

For breaching the peace of my realm and subverting the right of the Prince in the laws concerning the destruction of our kind, I Esclarmonde, Queen of Carcassonne sentence the wandering mendicant Anatole to the following punishment.

I. Anatole for his crime is to be blinded and quartered outside the city walls.
II. He may not return to the city for one whole day, but is to survive in those wild place here abouts. If God permits that he should live then he may return within the city and take up residence once more.
III. Any who should intervene to help or hinder him will themselves receive a similar fate. For it is in the hands of God to judge such matters.

Esclarmonde

Queen of Carcassonne.

October 3rd 1209.


Letter 3 from Subject Henri D’Evreux to Subject Unknown.

My Lord,

Matters have gone as you predicted, Esclarmonde is now isolated and trapped here in Carcassonne. She will not be able to interfere in forthcoming matters. I shall attend here as you have bidden me to ensure here enforced stay remains.

Henri D’Evreux

October 9th 1209

Letter between Subject Gaius Mena Pelagius and Subject Celsus Obertus

Summer 1209

Most Esteemed Sire,
As was ordered I have succeeded in establishing a Abbey for us in Carcassonne, however in the several months since my previous report there has been a major shift in the political situation, though my knowledge of the politics of the Court of Love and Cainite politics in their infinite complexity is relatively limited I am informed that Esclamond the Black has been accused of hiring Assamite assassins to eliminate several of her enemies within Carcassone and abroad, it is believed by one of my companions that the documents in question had been cunningly forged by some means so that even under the enhanced talents available to our clan and the Toreador their falsehood would not be revealed. It is suspected by this same individual that this is part of a scheme to further the influence of the Court of Shadows, which would explain the presence of Lucita of Aragon, as well as part of some form of manoeuvrings by several of Esclamonds enemies.
Despite the further complication of the political situation, and the removal of several important kindred at the hands of the Assamites, the Abbey remains safe as we have chosen to remain politically neutral and it should from here on in continue to grow without my personal tending. However there is a potential threat represented by the Inquisition due to accusations of licentiousness, which I believe may have originated from individuals within the populace controlled by the Usurpers. I have undergone questioning and trials, and while I have been found innocent so far I will probably be watched in future. However I suggest that any of our brethren who travel here should be careful not to arouse suspicion, and to keep their actions discreet for the foreseeable future.
The situation of the Usurpers remains somewhat troubling, they are currently suffering somewhat after the destruction of their regent by my fang, reducing their numbers to his apprentice and an individual you will remember from Constantinople, The fabled Prince of Doormats. I believe after the current incident that the erstwhile prince will be leaving Carcassone for safer locals, Cyricus has observed that they are engaged in packing and preparing. Justinians apprentice remains under the care of Esclamonde, weakened though she is, and it is not safe for me to act against her, though I have made sure to step up the process of encouraging infestations within their chantry in a hope of destroying their access to blasphemous magic and hopefully drawing them to the attentions of the Inquisition, this time I have focused on mice and pigeons, I'm also hoping that I can encourage a flock or two of local corvids to use the building as their resting place, in particular I have been attempting to teach them to form blasphemous symbols, though the complicated designs are beyond their minds. As for further undermining the Usurpers within the city, I have been making overtures to several individuals who have no love of the Usurpers and I'm hoping that I can ferment an alliance between them and the Obertus Abbey in hopes of keeping the Tremere weak or driving them from the city all together.
I have further status reports on the progress of our bloodline, the Revenant family remains small currently, but we are already beginning to see progress with the youngest members of the new generation, which means that hopefully in a decade or two their numbers should be bolstered sufficiently. The herds have also been well maintained, in particular through the caring for the poor and the needy within Carcassonne, a process that has been far more effective with the influx of refugees. All the preparations are complete, I believe that it will be ready to be left under the care of your grandchilder, and hopefully if all fares well her own childer.
Do not worry yourself on the state of my soul, you have taught me well and since my lapse in judgement I have been increasingly vigilant and gone through the proper rites of starvation and repentance, though I fear the nightmares have intensified, as each morning I awake to find that my flesh has boiled into demonic forms or even twisted into the face of the Usurper himself.
I await further instructions,
your childer,
Gaius Menas Pelagius

Dear Gaius,
We have gathered to discuss your next order, and it has been decided that due to your lapse of judgement (may god have mercy on your soul) and the excellent progress made by your abbey that it is best that you should move on to look for another site to set up another Obertus safehouse and repository of knowledge. It has yet to be decided where this next abbey should be placed, however in the mean time we feel it best that you should remain travelling in the mean time as an itinerant monk. Take with you only enough Herd and Followers to establish a new Abbey, as well as some of the Revenants that have been entrusted to you, Anna is to remain in charge of the Abbey, while some here worry that she is far too young for such a responsibility I have faith in your teachings and her ability. Given the situation with the Usurpers, we will most likely be dispatching one or two more of our number to the Abbey alongside their various retainers to reinforce our foot hold.
As for the state of your soul, remember what our Lord Dracon and Gesu have taught us, remember what the scriptures have taught us and the lessons that I instilled in you and you will remain upon the right path. Despite the doubts that some among our number have of you, you have proved to be as dedicated to the cause and perhaps more effective than many of the supposedly more pious members of our number. Remember your Faith and remain strong.
Your Sire,
Celsus Obertus