Stories Thread

[Ituralde]

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

A coop story between Ignoramus and Ituralde

Constantinople 1225:

Pavlos Chrysovergos enters the private audience chamber of Ioannis Komnenos and makes a small formal bow. His face, as always set in a grim expression he stares fixedly at a point slightly above the head of the Komnenodoukai.

"Caesar, my lord! Thank you for granting me this audience."

"Ah, Pavlos! Just the man I wanted to see. We have many things to discuss."

Pavlos remains standing in front of the Caesar.

"I'm glad you see it that way my lord! I have served you loyally in the past and followed your command and advice without question. I am grateful for the confidence you have put in me and I will do my best to lead the Komnenodoukai once you follow your father on the throne."

Pavlos hesitates a moment before continuing.

"But I bloody well see the tensions in the Senate and I fear your ascension to Basileus may not go as smooth as your father's. May I ask what your plans are for the future?"

Glancing quickly around the room, Ioannis leans forward before he speaks.

"I must be careful in what I say. While I doubt not that we are secure here, should word get out..."

Straightening himself, Ioannis leans back into his seat and continues.

"The Order have refused reconciliation. I had attempted mediation with Ksanthopoulos, but he was too arrogant or too proud to take it. Adding the disloyalty of the Order and the continuous insults hurled at me by its members, I am not kindly disposed towards them. If they do not change their ways, then I fear we may be plunged into civil war."

The short man nods slowly.

"What if Ksanthopoulos becomes Megas?"

"When I first swore loyalty to you I aksed for an army to conquer Sinop. That was my goal and you honoured my ambition and made me not only ruler of Pontus but of Armenia and Georgia as well. I make no secret of my desire. I despise what happened at Manzikert and that's why I have kept myself from the dealings in the Senate. I tried to bloody escape it, but here I stand at the center of the struggle. I will not abandon the outskirts of Rome to have it overrun by heathens again."

"I am a loyal man and thankful for what you have done, but with Ksanthopolous as Megas and Civil War. The Empire has to persevere!"

Smiling, Ioannis looked keenly at Pavlos.

"Indeed. But like it or not, as the future leader of the Komnenodoukai, you will not be able to avoid politics. I, myself, am not overly fond of politics. My mind is not as sharp as my father's, and I will sorely miss his wisdom. But I will not tolerate disrespect or disloyalty. Such actions caused the catastrophe that followed the murder of Basileus Maurice, and we still haven't fully recovered from that blow over 500 years ago. Surely you must see that if the Order continue to undermine my future authority and that of the Komnenoi family then they must be brought to account. To do otherwise would invite disaster."

"I agree, my lord. With everything you said. The letters of ek Lesvou ask for retaliation and the slander of Laskaris is not much better. Should their lords tolerate their actions further I fear there's no bloody alternative. I am your loyal servant and I will do my best to avoid Civil War. If I fail, I will follow your command, as always!"

Standing up, Ioannis accompanies Pavlos out of the room.

[Kagemusha]

Somewhere between Constantinopol and Sinop 1225

Tender summer breeze from Black Sea touched the cliffs and waved the dry bushes that grew between the large cliffs. The same breeze threw small sparkles from a campfire of Ioannis Kantakouzinos and his small retainer band. As Ioannis turned his eyes to the sky. He could see the thousands and yet thousands lights up in the sky and the large harvest moon, which shone is ghastly light on the black waves of the Black Sea.

Others were soundly asleep as it was his watch. When moving with his close men, Ioannis had always shared the hardships with his men. Eating the same, drinking the same, sleeping like the others did, under the bare sky. These men had became his brothers, while there was not a question who the leader was, Ioannis treated his men as equals and did not allow any luxuries to himself.

There Kantakouzinos sat and watched the fire as it created dancing shadows on his face thinking about the past and the future.

He thought about the past years.The wild dreams of the young man he once was. The despair that almost swallowed him at one point. The same despair in the end had made him want to die and it had been that wish of death that had brought him back to life. To a different life. To a life where serving had replaced ambition, maybe not entirely, but mostly. To a life where he had found out that he was not alone fighting the world, but together with others fighting for a cause. A cause which was defending the Empire, against all outside and also internal enemies.

Ioannis understood that life had not made him the most pleasant of men, nor that his hands were not clean of blood of the innocents. He knew that many of his fellow senators saw him as a madman or a man of villaneous character, but he also knew that if it was needed to be a villain or to drown the enemies of the empire into pools of their own blood. He would not feel bad about it. If the Empire needed terrible men in order for it to prosper, he was ready to sacrifice the last inch of goodness from his character for the Empire.

Ioannis also thought about a woman and not just about any woman. He was thinking about the a princess. Thinking about Anna. He had never stopped loving the princess, who had discarded him from her feelings probably a long time a go. She had married and given birth to many children to another man. But Ioannis did not feel hate towards her or her husband for it. He still held the green cloth, now stained in blood and old dirt, but still Ioannis kept it next to his heart at all times. It was as if the cloth had started to personify everything good that was left in him and also about the longing he felt for a woman that he never could have. Soon enough he should have to marry himself and give a heir to the Kantakouzinos family.

That was one last task he should full fill, before he would even bit more free from his oblications, but in the end Ioannis understood that his oblications would never end, until death would free him from his duties. Once he would have children he would have to protect them as he had to protect the Empire and the Royal family, from anything which would dare to threaten it.

After hours of lonely thoughts, Kantakouzinos woke up from his thoughts and lifted his eyes from the fire. There on the opposite side of the campfire, he regocniced familiar features. Hector his shield bearer and right hand man had already woke up and said to his master.

"Sire. There are still few hours before the sun comes up. Take your rest, it is my turn to guard the camp."

Ioannis smiled to Hector and lied down on his blanket, while the scarred veteran added some more firewood to the fire. Lying there under the stars on the shore of the Black Sea, Comes Kantakouzinos slept, slept and dreamed about the past and about the future.

[OverKnight]

This is a coop story between myself and YourLordandConqueror and is set after this post in the Magnaura.


Constatinople, 1125

Aleksios held his torch aloft, casting a dim light about the Catacombs. It revealed mouldering bones stacked in alcoves along the narrow passage. Pools of sewage were at his feet, staining the soft leather of his shoes sewn with purple thread. Aleksios coughed, he was too old to be crawling around in the muck like this, but not old enough to join the denizens of this place.

Behind the Basileus, Harald Sigurdsson, his Varangian captain, grunted, "My lord, couldn't this have been left to a messenger or one of your sons? It could be a trap. The person who contacted you is hardly trustworthy."

Aleksios shook his head, "A calculated risk, it seems the Patriarch has more than a few informants, the less people who know about this meeting, the better."

They made their way further into the Catacombs, finally emerging into an open area where several tunnels met. A few faint rays of sunlight poured through a small iron grate twenty feet above them. A rat, startled by their arrival, skittered away into the looming darkness.

The Varangian surveyed the scene, hand on the hilt of his sword, "I do not like this at all, my lord."

The Basileus sighed, "Neither do I, but I hope the enemy of my enemy is a friend."

As if in answer, torch light could be seen approaching down one of the tunnels.

The torchlight grew brighter, and soon from the tunnel opposite of the Basileus a figure appeared dressed in red and white, his face obscured by both a hood and a scarf of red. "I see you summoned up the courage to come see me." The man made no move, and simply stood underneath the archway of the tunnel.

The Basileus replied quietly, "A man who hides his face speaks of courage? No, it is necessity that has brought me here. This meeting was bought in blood, Iakovos was nearly killed bringing me information on the Organization. I've heard bits and pieces from him and others. Rumors that at least some of your fraternity are working for the Patriarch."

Aleksios stepped forward, "I need to know more. I need the blanks filled in. I hope you can help with that."

The man shifts his weight. "Of course I can...I am sorry to hear that you decided to involve my brother in this though. And please, refrain from implicating me in the Organizations actions, a "fraternity" I no longer control of."

"What do you wish to know?"

Aleksios replied, "Ah, you must be Aleksander, a pleasure to meet you. I am sorry your brother was hurt, but I had to cast a wide net to get even a few scraps of information.

"I know your former colleague Symeon now runs the Organization and that he is most likely involved with the Patriarch. It seems they are both plotting to set up a Theocracy in the Empire.

"I also know that the persecution of Christians in Egypt, the event that the Patriarch used to launch the Crusade, is highly suspicious. My agent investigating this has also encountered resistance from the Organization in Egypt; they were trying to curtail his investigation and I have lost contact with him. This leads me to suspect that the Patriarch is using the Organization to cover his tracks, indicating his involvement, somehow, with the pogrom. The Patriarch may be using Vissarionas ek Leskvou, conveniently placed in Cairo before hand, as a plant or a patsy as well. My guess is that the Patriarch plans to use the Crusade to stoke religious fervor in the Empire and pave the way for a power grab. He has already shown he will not accept his demotion."

The Basileus produced a sheath of papers, some stained with blood.

"I also have two out of three reports on the Organization provided by Iakovos. The first is a roster of agents, the third is incomplete but troubling and the second was intercepted and is now missing."

Aleksios handed the papers to Aleksander.

"As I said, I need the blanks filled in. I need evidence to implicate the Patriarch in all this. I need the information from the second report and what is misssing from the third."

Aleksander pulls away his disguise. "Not much point in this is there?" He shakes his black hair loose and looks at the papers handed to him. First he chuckles while looking at the first paper, but frowns when reading the third.

"I see...well, allow me to put into clearer terms for you. The first is incomplete, he lacks information on several agents. The third, it is simple enough, let me fill in the blanks...you have well over 150 Organization members within your military, most in at least mid-range command positions. You also have 5 informants, one in the Hippodrome, one in the Magnaura, one in the Varangian Guard, one among the Senators, and the final is in the Imperial treasury. Another part, the torn part, was to indicate how to contact me...which you did. The last part deals with Symeons attempt to subvert my attempt to form House Korakas, which he managed extremely well. As to the last part, it is merely a suggestion to put one of your own men inside the House to help curtail the Organization from influencing policy in the Empire."

Aleksander stares right back at Aleksios with his piercing blue eyes. "If you want information on the Patriarch though, lets make a deal. My father always told me that if your good at something, never do it for free."

The Basileus returned the younger man's gaze.

"I doubt patriotism would be enough. . .what about vengeance against those who have wronged you? The men who have hunted you. If the Patriarch goes down, so will those who propped him up. Symeon and his cohorts will be the hunted ones then.

"What else could I grant you?"

Aleksander breaks into laughter. "You seem to think I am a rather simple man. I want a future for my brother and his family, I want a secure future for my forming House, and the Caesar off the throne or at least well enough opposed, not "vengeance"...I've had my fill of "vengeance" to last me a life time. Such an offer is quite hollow, both idealistically and realistically."

Aleksios's eyes narrowed, "Your House? I had an inkling Iakovos was trying to form one, but is he just a proxy?"

His voice become quiet, "And why do you wish that my son not inherit the Throne?"

Aleksander chuckled. "Iakovos is to devoted to Makedonios to even think of such things, and he is to attached to Adana to leave the Order. It was I, upon the suggestion of Methodios, that formed House Korakas. I have been responsible for all it's dealings, I am the one who met with the senators as Nomikos to seal what deals were needed. I formed the House, based on the same principles I had hoped for in the Organization."

"As to your son, its really simple, do you want a full-scale rebellion on your hands? Your sons domestic policies are, how should I say it? Antagonistic? Entropic? Not received well? Symeon is currently using your son Ioannis as his platform to recruit Organization members and gather support. If Ioannis assumes power, one wonders what power Symeon will gain as well. Almost anyone else, especially someone like Makedonios or Kalameteros, would simply rip the power and proverbial rug out from under Symeon."

Aleksios's face darkened.

"Ioannis is my son, even if I wanted someone else to inherit, it would be an invitation to Civil War. Primogeniture may not be as strong of a tradition as in the West, but it is recognised."

The Basileus shook his head, "I am amazed you would speak treason to me so openly. However, that is in the future, I believe we could help each other if we focused on the present. Symeon and the Patriarch need to be removed. I need evidence so I can finally rid myself of that troublesome Priest. What can you provide and what is the price?"

Alexander returns the stare. "I stated my price. I do not need the Caesar removed, only checked, if anything I do for you is to have any meaning. I made my House specifically to do so, with the basis of allying to whatever House opposed the Caesar if he grew to willful and alienated the Senators. Right now, that is what he has done, and if they people, the nobles, are given an alternative, such as the Patriarch, when there is no other way, they will take the Patriarch, inviting civil war as Symeon has planned!"

Aleksander breathes deeply to calm himself. "Please, your majesty, I only want whats best for the Empire. If the nobles even have the illusion that the Caesar is in check, they will not side with the Patriarch, and the threat to the Empire will be nipped, at least for now."

Aleksios turned away and took a few paces back towards Harald. Over his shoulder, he spoke in a constricted whisper, "Besides these generalities you mentioned, what do you want specifically? And what can you offer in return?"

Aleksander sighed resignedly. "I can offer information on what the Patriarchs and Symeons plans are, how they intend to implement them, how to take them both with minimal loss, how to round up the very last Organization members...I can even offer the very words each spoke..."

Aleksander pulled out the a tube which contained several scrolls and documents. "I want to insure the survivability of the Empire, I want my brother to have the life I could not share with him or give him, I want Aegyptus, Illyria, and Thrakia for my House...and I want my pain to end."

Aleksios glanced down at the tube and then back up, "I can offer you an Imperial Pardon for whatever you have done, however none of those territories are mine to give, unfortunately. I could promise not to interfere if oaths are broken, but I can't vouch for how the existing Houses will react to such a transformation."

Aleksander's grip loosens as his eyes grow downcast. "What good would a pardon do a man like me? I am hated, scorned, and derided by all Imperial citizens. A pardon would mean nothing...I have lost whatever good I created on promises from a man I trusted. All I want is to create a House that will bring balance to the Empire...and I intended it to be imprinted on their minds when they had to care for both ends of the Empire for their well being...now, it is almost gone...Kosmas is dead, the Patriarch is trying to force Hypatios upon us, we may lose Alexandria to the bloated House of Asteri, the Order scorns us because we want Cairo to cement our domain...I am a broken man Aleksios, and how I have longed for Death, but have refused it because my duty to fix my wrongs has kept me."

Aleksios stepped forward again, "What can I say? I cannot assuage your pain or turn back time. I need your help with the Patriarch, what do you want from me?"

Aleksander seems to loose focus, but then he looks up at Aleksios with a fire in his eyes. "Do something for the children of my brother...keep them safe, give them a future. That's all I ask really...is to repay my brother for what I have put him through." Aleksander hands Aleksios the scroll, but holds onto it tightly. "Do what you will with me...but do everything you can for my brother and his children. He deserves it." Aleksander loosens his grip on the scroll.

Aleksios took the scroll, "I swear upon my soul that I will protect them. Once I am gone, that duty will fall to Apionnas Vringas. If it is possible, I will pass it as well to one of my sons. . ."

A pained look crossed his face.

". . .Though I'm not sure if Ioannis will listen, perhaps Andronikos or Isaakios will. Is that satisfactory?"

Aleksander smiled cheerfully and his voice was humorous. "Please, unless the Caesar changes his attitude, don't ask him...it is acceptable." Aleksander takes a moment to look up through the grating before looking back at Aleksios. "I have spent most of my life in darkness, first as a Turkish slave, then as a rogue. I think it's finally time I stepped back into the light...and hope there is something there for me."

The Basileus nodded a bit grimly, "The past is unchangeable, the future is. . .uncertain, all we can do is to do our best now and hope it is enough. Thank you Aleksander, I hope you can find a measure of Grace."

Aleksander simply nodded. You do not mind if I simply make my presence known among the senators, do you?"

Aleksios replied, "As you wish, but don't get knifed by anyone. I may need your testimony to implicate the Patriarch. You brother is on the mend, you might want to visit him. Good day, Aleksander."

He turned, and flanked by Harald, slowly made his way back to the surface.


Aleksios's return to the Magnaura.

[OverKnight]

Constantinople, 1125

Synods, it seemed, were almost as long winded and filled with rancor as Senate Sessions. The assembled clergy brought their own views and opinions to it. While the language was more esoteric and ecclesiastical than in the Magnaura, division and strife were no less evident, particularly with the exclusion of Nicholas III from the Synod. It was unorthodox, but the recent Patriarchal "reinterpretation" of Canon Law, throwing into doubt the last 500 years of Church policy, had already roiled the waters.

Candidates for the newly open seat of the Patriarchate of Constantinople were interviewed. Their views on many issues sought by the assembled Priests. The first question asked by the Basileus, however, was always the same:

"What is your opinion on the primacy of the Patriarch of Constantinople within the hierarchy of the Church?"

All in all, the Synod went on for a long time.

[AussieGiant]

Cairo, 1124
The Saracen's Story

A dimly lit room with no direct light saw the battered and bruised figure of Apionnas Vringas strapped into a chair. Stripped bare from the waste up, his hands were tied behind his back, his head hung low, blood dripping from his chin.

"I'll ask you one more time, and if you don't give me an answer I'll be forced to let my friend here work on you some more!!"

The hooded figure standing above Apionnas grabbed him by the hair and yanked his head back viciously.

"Why, are, you, here??!!"

Silence.

"Who are you working for and where are your agents!?"

Silence.

Suddenly the man’s accomplice lashed out with a heavy rope tied into a series of large knots. One knot connected directly with and open wound running along Apionnas’s rib cage. The only response was a hiss of pain from between clenched teeth.

A moment passed while all three men waited for the pain to subside.

Finally Apionnas spoke.

"I'm here because I need to be here."

Both torturers blinked through their masks. It was the first time the captive has spoken in days. In a fit of spite at the glib answer the man held his head back and punched Apionnas directly in the eye.

"Well well well. He talks. Finally the Saracen has something to say."

The man holding the corded rope stood back and surveyed the scene.

"What did he just say?" he asked his accomplice.

"I think he said he is here to stir up trouble?"

The small look of confusion by the man holding the rope was replaced quickly by an understanding of what his colleague was trying to do.

"Exactly," he replied, "that's what I heard him say as well. It's seems the Senator here is making a visit to Egypt and especially Cairo to stir up trouble."

The man stood above Apionnas continued the story. "Absolutely, he seems to have admitted that he's here to undermine the Crusade." In feigned horror he added, "What a shocking thing to do. Especially for an Orthodox Christian and member of the Byzantine nobility. I'm sure the Patriarch would be highly unamused."

Apionnas shook his head at the game being played by his two captives.

"You aren't going to succeed, you know."

[GeneralHankerchief]

Cairo, 1124
The Agents' Argument

Confidential report
To: His Eminence Patriarch of Constantinople Nicholas III
From: Orthodox Task Force Brave Eagle, Cairo Branch
Re: Saracen Infiltrator

FOR THE EYES OF THE PATRIARCH ONLY. EXTRA MEASURES HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO ENSURE SECURE DELIVERY.

Your Eminence,

Saracen suspect was positively identified as Magnaura Senator Apionnas Vringas, of the House of None, and MIA for some period of time. Target was marked and observed for some time, with observers making careful note of his activities. Objective: unknown, but he was conversing with several known persons of mistrust.

Eventually Task Force Brave Eagle came to the conclusion that Target was notifying key persons about the incoming Crusade and several potential battle strategies to be used by the Greek generals. Agents made their move and intercepted Target before he made contact with another potential informant. His possessions were seized and Target was taken to interrogation to confirm agents' suspicions.

After several days of questioning the Senator was unresponsive until one night when directly questioned on why he was present in Cairo. Vringas answered using the following exact quote: "I'm here because I need to be here."

Fed up with the lack of answers, the interrogators switched tactics and attempted more persuasive methods to get the Senator to talk.

Agents then voiced the suspicions of Task Force Brave Eagle as to why Vringas was present in Cairo, especially a former Mohammedan to gauge his reaction. Suspect only responded with the phrase: "You aren't going to succeed, you know."

The interrogation continues. The important thing is that the infiltrator has been detained and the Crusade has not been betrayed, at least for now. Additional updates will be provided when additional progress has been made.

[AussieGiant]

Cairo, 1125

The Mansuriyya Commander stared intently at his Amir, waiting for any sign that might indicate the attack should begin. He quickly glanced back at the building that was clearly visible from their concealed vantage point.

While staring at the nondescript structure now ringed by some of his best troops, he thought back to the events over the past months.

He should have met Christian Hardy on numerous occasions, the process of cross checking information as part of the investigation was also a passive alarm of sorts. If either party did not show it meant something was wrong and the standing assumption was the entire relationship was in jeopardy.

That day had come and past, and after informing his Amir of the situation, the majority of the regiment was quietly tasked with find the ex-officer and ensuring his survival. It seemed the Infidel had some influence with the Amir and perhaps others.

At some point while recalling these thoughts of the past few months he quietly heard his Amir give the order to proceed.

The commander raised his arm, the lookout across the street saw the sign. A few moments later the company burst into action.

******************

The sounds of violent struggle and sword play reached down into the basement where Apionnas was bound tightly to a chair.

He waited, tension building in his body as the sounds of fighting drew closer.

Suddenly the door burst open, the familiar hooded form of one of his captors lurched into the room, blood running from a a deep wound to his arm, a wicked looking knife in his other hand. Realising his assailant had nothing but murder on his mind Apionnas began struggling in his chair, his bonds where viciously tight but that did not stop him from frantically trying to put distance between himself and the hooded man at the other end of the room.

The chair tipped, the world tilted, his head cracked against the flag stone a mist of red and purple descended. He realised consciousness was fading and with it any chance of survival.

He felt the cold tip of steel against his throat.

The next feeling would be the warm gush of blood across his chest.

The knife bit deeply, the blood began to pour...darkness.