Toulouse, 1080

Prosperity. Raynaud de Xaintrailles saw signs of it emerging everywhere in the city. It seemed as if the entire country was emerging from a dark age of sorts, and this southern city, the capital of Aquitaine, was no exception. All of the rich farmland surrounding Toulouse, all of the crops entering the city, all of it would naturally bring people. These people, no longer being farmers, would of course have to find something else to occupy their time, some other means of satisfying theirs and their families' basic needs.

And so the process of growth went. More crops came in and got sold, prompting a greater population in Toulouse itself. This city expansion caused even more demand, which was summarily filled. Money and people kept flowing in. Prince Louis's headquarters was getting larger.

However, Raynaud mulled to himself, was this necessarily a good thing? All of the signs of growth and prosperity were there, yes, and barring a total breakdown in French military discipline and a successful enemy sack, there was no reason to doubt that Toulouse would eventually grow into a true jewel - for a while. Unfortunately for all of Toulouse's inhabitants, the amount of illicit activities increased as the city blossomed, as it is bound to do in any growing area. Whorehouses were the most common, of course, but there was also an alarming amount of small taverns springing up as well as what Raynaud was sure were houses of gambling. None of this was helped out by the fact that surrounding them was wine country, perhaps the finest in the world. While still a more sophisticated drink than that terrifying ale that the English and German swine swore by across France's borders, wine still contained alcohol, and alcohol was the vintage of Satan.

Raynaud prowled around at night, searching for the military training facility that Prince Louis had mentioned to him, sword in hand, taking in the sights. He was not impressed. Candlelight burned in some of the windows, the silhouettes of men and women made out through them, standingand moving around. In one window, Raynaud was fairly certain he spotted a man and a woman engaging in an act that, while designed to produce children, was certainly initiated for reasons of simply pleasure. Disgusted, he turned away and continued walking.

Christ did not die for this, he thought to himself. He makes the ultimate sacrifice for us, and this is how we repay him? By continuing to form and create communities that are in danger of being as wicked and twisted as Sodom? Outside, two men began shouting at each other, having an argument that should have been trivial but was no doubt escalated by the presence of alcohol. These men should be inside, praying, Raynaud thought. Prince Louis's men are doing a good job of keeping this city in relatively good order, but it is not enough. The Lord's patience is far greater than that of us mortals, but even He has His limits.

Yes, if things were not to turn around, Raynaud knew what was in store. The Apocalypse of John made that quite clear.

Sinning is nothing more than a disease, a disease of the heart. Christ and the correct way of living is the cure. Like any other disease, sinning too is contagious. If you lock a group of sinners in a room together for several hours, when the time comes to lock them out you will have a group a terrible sinners. Such is simply the way of things. He would have to petition Prince Louis to build more churches, that was certain.

Unfortunately, for some people, Christ was not enough to cure the disease. Whether through apathy or atheism, they still failed to believe. For these people... he fingered his sword for a long while. Sometimes in order to save the tree you must cut off a few branches.

Eventually, Raynaud found the military training facility and practiced his swordplay long into the night.