The fourth crusade at our gates

Maybe soon a sight outside our walls.

The armada, The Fourth Crusade, is on its way. We have just got the message that the sails of the first ships are seen at the horizon. About 30.000 soldiers is heading this way to take Constantinople.

It was one month ago we got the message about an armada gathering outside Venice. The pope had declared the crusade. Some forces made them change dirction from Cairo to this town. We now know that the Lasomba lies behind that. We also know that Inconnu as a whole has joined in.

I got the proposal just a day after the message about the armada. I was asked to join Inconnu and as reward get a position in the town after the take over.

A few of us gathered at the chantry and we started planning on how to meet the coming days. After a couple of days discussions, research and talking with important persons, we found that the best action would be to meet the armada as they stormed our battlements. We would try recruiting as many friends and loyals as we could. Simon had contacts all around and he will have about 40 elite soldiers at hand for himself. Olov have been talking with the werewolf society. They are not amused by the army heading this way. So we settled a truce at least until the end of fighting. They will take care of any army heading toward us on land and outside our walls. I have studied the drainage and sewer tunnels under Constantinople for many days searching for ways in and out under the city defences. The sewers have drainages out in the harbour. Some badly defended by rusty bars.

Ive studied in Taggelitos library searching for information about The Inconnu and when there also about Golconda. I´m more and more reluctant to see Inconnu as a good force. The sad thing an attack is the only way to shake Mikael awakened out of torpor. In the long run the way of healing Constantinople. When they give the signal I will let them in. Until then I will battle the foe as everyone else in my own way. My knowledge about the underground connections will help me set up a form of guerilla warfare if the enemy breaks thru the walls. A couple of smaller forces can be led from unbattled parts of the city walls in to central spots battling the foe there all the time being one stap ahead. I will also do my best to help the wounded and the dying. Maybe this is the time for me to find my path to salvation.

At fire

And so I must tell you about an embarrassing thing happening to me. One day when we studied in the big library of Taggelito I forgot the time. I was so deep into my findings I didn´t see the sun rising. The others had gone to sleep when I managed to drag myself outside. That really hurt. I started to run for my haven. I know the sun don´t hurt me as much as the others, but when the sun started to burn my body I got into rötschreck and panicked. I headed for an ally to find shelter. there I found a door that I tried to break thru. Didn´t work so well. Must have been of iron. I bounced out in the ally again. Another door. I opened it and found me surrounded by a huge family. Children, elderly and what must have been the head of it. I screamed for help and the father took me into a room away from sun. But I must have panicked again as next time I came into conscious I stood at marketplace in the open burning. At the last moment I saw a well and with the last of my energy I threw myself into it to get out of the sun. Down there I bid my time until next night.

Strangely I was soon recovered. When I entered the chantry they had all heard about “The burning jew”. That I must have been possessed by something or maybe that I am a demon. If they only knew. I told them all that thirty minutes in the sun just feels bad. Only problem now is I wake up every day finding my wounds being back. I can make them go away by spending blood but that doesn´t work every day. I would soon drain out if I tried.

Bael also had his encounter with the sun as he flew out over the see a little to far out. He was watching for the ships. The sun wounded him quite bad ut he´s doing ok.

Now we are waiting for the battle. Not fun at all. I really hate death.