Obadiah av Salerno Well dressed
During my last months I´ve earnt some money.
I bought this dress for the colder months. The style is germanic. The hat have a particular long pin and is made of calf skin tainted with golddust.
I think this will work as presentation dress at lusher gatherings.
As we where on our way to leave the Ventrue feast we all got invitations to the Silk Road establishment. The name give you a feeling of something smooth, oriental and mystical. The reality is quite something else. I´ve met a lot of horrific things, and knowing I´m becoming one myself, I believe this is the worst so far.
It´s always nice to get an invitation. So we all walked the streets until we stood in fron of a heavy bronce door. From the outside it looked closed but as we closed in the door flung open and a narrow eyed kindred scanned us and let us in.
The bottom floor functioned as a taverna. Lightly clad women met us and made clear they where here for us. A bartender saluted us. The first thing that hit me was the strange smell of something musky and sweet. Like camfer or honey. Not much. Not even sure the other refelekted over it. It became more concentrated the closer we came the stairs up to second floor. The man who let us in bid us follow him one floor up.
I didn´t wish to surrender to the God of Opium
He told us that up there we could get all that our desires wished. Men, women, children, animals… The humanity that is still left in me made me feel sick. And as the narcotic odours thickened I walked down again. I now understood that the smell was of opium and other drugs noone realy wish to get i contact with. I hadn´t realised that I had already become poisoned at the Ventrue happening as I drank the blood of one infested with false happieness. That feeling had followed me since and now became more clear. The others stayed. I´m not sure what they did. I know Gabriel must have felt as in heaven.
Down in the taverna I found Olav, one of the kindreds I helped getting to Malachai, after our adventure in the Tremere chantry. We had been talking some during the latest half year. I wellcomed his still inocent face. We sat down and let a couple of ladies join us for some small talk. I still feel uneasy paying for it, but as we just talk I can feel them relaxing some. What horror have they not met? And how short may their lives not be? I wished I could set them all free.
The group soon joined us. Rupert had a hard time understanding the fact that Olav was without eyes and still alive. Olav has a ghoul who follow him around being his eyes. But maybe he´s got another ways of finding his way. I can sometimes feel like I don´t need my eyes. My hearing and smelling are so enhanced I can nearly orient just with those two sences. My tactile sence is also sensibilicised som much that I can feel small vibrations of people walking around me in a dark room. Maybe I can learn how to enhance them even further.
Anyhow. I introduced Olav to the others. A gangrel in their midst made at least the tremere guys feel unruly.
The stay came to an end. I don´t wish to return.
The animals at the amphitheatre already had the mark of death in their faces long before starting to fight.
When we walked home some of us passed an amphitheatre. Some sort of animal fighting was going on.
I heard the name Barons gangrel shouted at a dog and Obertus cats being spat at a flock of cats. The poor dog died as the cats flew over him and made him look like minced meat. I wonder who The Baron and Obertus are?
I returned to my haven. This night my dreams didn´t give me a rest.
Chrysotriklinos, The Golden Reception Hall (At arkeo3d.com)
We arrived at The Golden Reception Hall, the bathhouse Chrysotriklinos, early one night. The invitation had been sent to all of us in the group and we gathered outside before entering. well inside we got presented to Grand old ventrue Cajus, the family scion of. That is one of the most impressive royal looking leaders I´ve met. A true emperor. Pity he´s got no empire to rule over.
The bathhouse was filled with ventrues, toreadors, some lasombras and the Cappadocian known as Alexia. The toreadors walked around all looking like greek statues. A little to perfekt for my taste.
I told myself this is one chance to make connections, so I took of my clothes and jumped into the pools. Wrapped in a towel I mingled around. There where Gregory the Wondermaker with a strange light playing around his body in prismatic colors. And over there where Gregorius, a well reputed theater actor who later would perform. He was quite roman looking with a sad look in his eyes, but with a carisma that made me look twice.
I couldn´t get rid of the vision of two eyes watching at us from somewhere but it could have to do with all the new impressions. My mind was simply overhelmed by it all.
My fellow comrades joined the bath too. Gabriel with his shiny, angelic look, even overshone the other toreadors who now got close to extatic looking at him. Bael didn´t wish to get into the water so we left him as doorguard. Tagelito didn´t join either. Guess he would have dissolved in the liquid. I wish I could do something about that corpselike face.
Polo as in India. We did something similar.
A voice bid us welcome out at the field close to the house. There should be a performance in the art of polo. You sit on a horse, have a long club with which you are supposed to hit a ball and get it into a goal. That couldn´t be to hard, if one could just get up the horse and swing the club.
Simon went out first. He´s a skilled horse rider and maybe could use the art of swinging a sword onto heads in battle on swinging a club onto a ball at ground. Now that didn´t work that well. It was a hit but no goal. We didn´t say something tod offend him, but it was a poor result. His head wasn´t that straight looking after this.
I tried next. I can ride and I can sweep with a stick at things in the grass riding. Off we went, me and my horse, and I shoutet out as I tried to hit the small thing at the ground. And I got a hit. I realy did manage at least as good as Simon. No goal, but I´m impressed even achieving a hit. Nice.
Next was Gabriel. From the beginning I saw he realy didn´t want to get on the horse. It did disturb his angelic look some. There was nothing saving his day when he tried to hit the ball, started to wiggle in the saddle, hitting the ground and the flew of the beast right onto his face in the dirt. The silence of the croud said it all. But with the head held high he walked of the field. It was hard not tol laugh. A sad sight.
Even worse. Now Bael wished to try. He´s a monster. The horse, poor bastard, looked dwarfish under him. With a grin from his teethfilled mouth he lashed the horse and off he flew. The speed became greater, the stick in his hand looked weak enough to snap in his hand and he swung it with extreme force. The ball sounded like iron when he hit it and to the surprise of the folks looking he scored a goal. The monster outmaneuvered all of us. The fiels sheered. Rupert looked some proud. His pet had excelled in finesse. Something he´s not noted for.
Next big event was the banquette. Everyone now clad in the best of clothing joined in a great hall. I thought there should be long tables filled with delichious food of all kinds. But this was a pure vampire feast. All around walked humans, talking to eachother, clearly druged. As we entered I immediatley got invitation from a couple of humans. The showed me their arms and told me to drink. That was weird. I couldn´t be unpolite but felt embarrased, so I took one of them into a corner to stay out of sight. I couldn´t resist. So I did bite, sucked some blood and then had a snack out of her arm. I tried to mend it but it didn´t work quite that good. I had to wrap a part of my cloth around that wound and then put her at rest in that corner as nothing had happened. Sadly I didn´t get that much blood.
Bael and even more Rupert got into an embarrasing situation also. As Bael started feeding he couldn´t resist getting into frency. He started biting in everything around. Took humans from the other guests and when someone tried to hinder him he became even worse. The humans flew all around and most od the kindreds stepped away. Rupert tried with all of his power to make Bael obey. The disaster was complete. Then Rupert made it and just for a moment bael where out of frency and clear in the head enough to see what had happened and to fly out of a window to get away. Poor Rupert stood there and everyone felt his shame radiating from him. He later apologized to the invitors, the Ventrue.
I mingled around during the evening, started to talk with some people and soon came into talk about politics. It was interesting and I believe I had something to say about the matter of state of Constantinople. Six months is a long time. Enough to get to see the red thread thru whats happening in the city.
Later we diskussed individuals we had walked into during our stay in town. I told the others about the bastard Abetorius who had made som many horrifying things. They all agreed the chantrymaster was a prick. But I told them he could be forced to change his ways.
I´m not used to mingle. Especially not with so many high society folks. I´m not used to get into parties at all. But I managed. Just started to look at them as potential patients with flaws like everyone else. Just a little special. That´s it.
Gregorius performing
Then it was time for a performance by Gregorius. Gabriel had waited for this the whole evening. What happened was that just before it all started gabriel got to sleep, or something, not waking up until just after the show was over. He was inconsolable. Wonder what happened there.
Later I got a message from Malachite, asking me to join him at his place. He wished to discuss medical matters. Sounded interesting. I told the messenger I was delighted to meet with his master. I saw Petronius, Mikels child, talk to Rupert and they both looked close. I know this party was a success in most ways as we had now all got in many ways accepted, if not liked, as part of the town. At the end of the night we heard rumours about someone or something called Lupin that had arrived to town. Wonder what that is? A flower?
Next I have to tell you about what happened next. Later that night. But that´ll wait until tomorrow.
1198 is closing in. Six months have gone by since I arrived at Constantinople. The two most important things that´s happened is that I met a merchant that is now one of my better friends in this town.
My friend Asmund the tradesman
It started with me hearing a rumour about a well known merchant, a master of trade in mirrors, gold and spices, being very sick and without cure. I understood this was the chance of my life.
One evening after sundawn I visited his house asking him to give me a chance for free. I told him I was newly arrived from medical studies in Salerno. Maybe some of the new knowledge might treat his illness. So I did an exam, gave him my diagnosis, and prescribed some medical treatments. And I left asking him to send after me late at evening the following days if he needed me. I didn´t hear from him the next week but the came a message telling me a miracle must have happened.
Asmund was up and going. The illness was gone and he had energy for two. He claimed I had saved his life and told me he would now personaly spread the word. He helped me find permanent livingquarters.
And this is the second most important thing that´ve happened is that I now had room enough to set up a practice with a small laboratory. The word is spreading so I´ve got a good income from this. And my friend is giving me a small but steady stream of donations. I got a stable economy. Wish my parents could see me now. I´ll write them a letter. Hope they won´t travel here. That would be a sad thing happening.
Maybe there´s something vigorating with my blood? (Blood on Cloak by mohzart)
I´ve started breeding rats in my lab to get fastfood. I save the best to breed on and have now got some with color changing from solid greyish brown to pale yellow and iron grey. They are now ridden from sickness and safe to harvest. I´ve started to experimenting with some drinking my blood to see what´s happening to them. Maybe there is a change. I believe there is something vigorating in my blood. This is exciting.
Another interesting thing that´ve happened during this half a year is that I have had a lot of contact with the young Gangrel named Olov that we saved in the Tremere chantry. Malachite did help him and the young Nosferatu Raymond I sent there. I get more and more impressed by this Malachite who thanked me for helping his clansman. I hope to do his acquintance soon again. I do not have any debts to him anymore.
Lately I´ve had this feeling something or someone is stalking me. I get the feeling there´s a precense lurking behind me. Maybe it´s in my imagination, but I believe there´s more to it.
And my dreams is getting more and more advanced.
I´m learning a lot about the city. By night I walk along the streets and talk to those I meet. The city is fascinating. A rich history, grand architecture and a lot of more or less mad rulers.
The ruler of today, Alexios III of the Angelic family, has his tint of madness also. He blinded his younger brother Isaac, the former emperor, and put himself at the throne. Now Alexios spends his money on the nobles to calm them down after his crime. The commons also need a share to not riot as they once did in favour of Isaac against the emperor Alexios I Komnenos before him.
Lucky his wife Euphrosyne is such a cunning knower of people. She rules the money shrine behind her husbands back. But even though the wife does what she can to mend the holes in the money pocket the ruler now got a very bad economical situation.
Alexios and Euphrosyne
I´ve heard Alexios once was in the court of the muslim Saladin enjoying his hospitality. I wonder if these connections are still valid?
Anyhow. I´ve made my mind up to make my way into the court. Maybe I can get the tools to clean the world of sickness and despair there.
We got 24h to catch an artifact from the chantry of clan Tremere. The artifact, the Phylacterty of Recorded Memory, is made up of a piece of granit bound with two golden threads. It stores the former owners memories so that a new owner can access those.
After a lot of debating and turning plans around we settled with storming the chantry right on. One risky part was tha Rupert realy didn´t wish to do this against the clan of his. The others then became conspicious about wether he would backstab us by telling Abetorius about our plans. We had to trust him. We relied on him to take down all magical defenses agains undead. And we needed Bael that is under his mastership. He would do that and stay away when the attack started. That way his risks would be less than ours but he would still be able to help us and share the victory. That deal was ok. And we got a go from the Michaelites. They would not interfere in our plans.
After feeding and recovering strength we stood outside the Tremere chantry, a small palace. First we found that the magic defenses at the main gate wasn´t taken down. That worried us much. Then someone attacked us from the roof. Abetorius himself stood up there. He hit Bael who got into frency following him. Now there was no turning round. We all jumped up the top of the palace at started following him. The roof was full of holes as if done after a big fight. We found one gaping wound in the roof and jumped in.
Bael have one gift to feel directions to other kindreds in a building. He soon told us in which rooms there was people. We took on what supposedly was Abetorius personal chamber. Before someone had told all to open the door gently Bael kicked it in and we had to run in.
Two gigantic stone dogs met us in fierce battle. And as that wasn´t enough a gargoyle launched an attack on us stabbing with a spear. Tagelito kept watching our backs outside the room. Simon took down the gargoyle with a mighty swordblow after I had tried to stun the creature without success. The two stone dogs where soon taken down.
We searched on and came into a huge room with a green slimy ound in the centre. One body hang chained on two crossing stones. And two persons started shooting at us with crossbows from the other side of the room. I got hit by an arrow but it just bumped of me. It all happened so quick I rely don´t remember who took the first shooter down. All I know is that I ran as fast as I could over to the second one and paralysed him with my touch. How marvelous isn´t this new power of mine. That poor bastard became a small snack for some of us. Enhancing my speed costs blood. So I needed that energy.
We released the chained man, who told us one more kindred was locked in in one of the cages in the room. We helped that one out too. They told us their names and that they where new to the city. One was a gangrel and one a nosferatu by the way. We told them to stay in the room as the rest of the house wasn´t secured.
Now there should be but one left. Abertorius. We found him in a laboratory under ground enclosed in a magical circle. William soon understood shooting arrows didn´t work that good. Some sort of protection surrounded the tremere. We tried different ways of reaching Abertorius without luck, and first we didn´t dare rushing inside the circle. In the room where two gouls that charged us, but something held them at bay. They couldn´t reach us. They dided screeming. I think Simon cleft one and Bael made a nice pile of minced meat at the florr out of one. The magician started throwing fire at us. Some got injured and we got desperate. Simon the Brave then threw himself thru the firewall around Abertorius and pushed him out of the circle. Now that we could hold him down the plan neared the end when William took the soul out of Abertorius. I didn´t see the last part as a diableie is such a sad thing. Fills me with sorrow.
I went over to the two released prisoners and told them that it was safe to go. They gave me their names and we told each other where we could meet later. I also told the nosferatu where to find his own kind.
When the diablerie was over the plan came to an end.
William where to take over Abertorius place with the help of Rupert who know the art of flesh sculpting. The artifact held by Abertorius had the memories of him so William would get a good start acting like him.
In the underground room where also two holy artifacts. We let them be there as noone dared to touch them. I found two bloodstones of which I kept one for myself. I hope to use it in my coming missions.
Now we have established a base of power in the city. Next move? I don´t know about the group, but I must have a laboratory and a hospital for research. Maybe Abertorius Secundus can help me out.
Nothing wrong with feeding on rats. It works. And that´s ok when theres no good hunting ground for humans.
I´ve calculated that about 20 rats equals one human. But draining a human that much will probably kill her. And that I won´t do. Problem with rats is it takes time catching them. Sneaky little bastards. I´m thinking of setting up a lab with rats as heard. A good snack bar.
But eventually I´ll have to find better ways of hunting. Human blood is of better taste and quality. But how to minimalise the suffering, to not make the prey getting hurt?
Tonight I met the woman of my life. How mysterious. How wonderful.
It all started with me getting together with our band again. They told me about a fight in the sewers against some strange spectral dogs. Later they met up with Theresa Kymena. William hade read her and told us she was the rouge Tremere we where looking for. We where supposed to take care of her at once, but by not doing that we would have a lot to answere for in from of Tremere later. I agreed by the choice the others did then.
We also got information about a Ventrue helena that had gone against Belisarius. Probably planning to make a coupe against him together with some turkish Gangrels. We believe she´s a generation six or seven. But we are leaving her for now.
When we came together this night we had some time to hunt before walking down the gutters again. I dried some rats, Simon hunted at Gabriels pleasure house and the rest fed the way they usually do. Bael found a cow.
Then on we went. Down the sewers we walked thru tunnels of mud, stone and bricks. In the end of a tunnel we found a door. We opened it, and now it started to become very weird.
We found ourselfes standing on a path thru a field with green grass. The sun shining at us, surrounded by a beautiful landscape. And we didn´t die. The sun didn´t heart us at all. It even made us look more human, more alive.
I tried to find out if this was all an illusion. So I picked up a fist sized stone and read it. It was a miracle. This one stone contained the knowledge of libraries. Didn´t tell much about the reality but it took the breath out of me. As we walked along I tried to find out more about this artifact and so I must have missed a lot. So the others say.
We came in front of a gateway. As someone tried to go thru we where under attack. William cloked us, I was told. Bael and Simon started defending us. I didn´t know we where cloked so I managed to uncloke myself by just waving the torch I held in hand and got attacked. Bael took down two of the attackers. Simon one. These creatures looked like slimmer versions of gargoyles. Trying to hit us with stone clubs. Realy barbarian.
On the other side of the gate we walked along the pathway and soon came to a fork. Two ways to choose between. Now we had a divine interuption. A flaming bush talked to us. It told us to chosse wisely between the three choices we had. We could go back, and then forget all about this day. We could follow his path to the right and try reach Golconda. I´m still trying to figure out what that is. Or we could choose the left path and still leave the life behind, but not in search of Golconda.
We found out by questions that the speeker was noone else but Achmed, a follower of Saulot, a Salubri. I was sure he must be one with Jahwe so I chose the right path. Of course. Theresa Kymena came and joined me. So I understood my choice was the right one. And now I met her for real for the first time in my life. She´s a goddess. How strange those markings in her skin. She´s the girl in my dreams.
This choice of path divided our group. Noone wished to go back, but Rupert with his gargoyle Bael and Tagelito choosed to take the left path. But as we walked down our different paths we soon found ourself standing in the same great hall. A giant library.
A huge figure in a black cloak seemed to hover above the ground holding a huge book. He opened the book and we had to ask him questions about what we wished to find here. Most of us wished to get knowledge about the powers we have. Some in the group where directed to books including knowledge. But instead of answering my wishes I was made sure I had knowledge waiting for me. And so he stuck a book in my hands I had to study.
And now I know who I am and that just give me more questions. I found some hidden powers including the knowledge how to use them. That would later save the day for me. I also had time to talk with Teresa again in the library. What a wonderful day.
I also understand Tremere won´t find our choice of path that wonderful. William is a little nervous about this. I guess Rupert also have his doubts. I know now I must find allies of my own outside our band as everyone else has (except Bael, poor bastard, who is but a dog of Ruperts).
We walked out of the library and in to the normal reality. Found a place to sleep in and soon another day came by.
I´m a little bit ashamed. Suddenly I realise my knowledge in etiquette is poor. Things just doesn´t work like they did in Salerno. Yesternight I made a fool of myself, and I didn´t see it coming.
Two nights ago I had to hunt, and as it had gone so bad before I took to hunt rats again. But this time I must have got realy bad blood. My belly started to give away loud noices, and from both ends came burps and… You know! Embarrasing. Even more embarrasing was the fact that we all had to meet with the city prefect Belisarius oc clanVentrue. Simon was happy as he would now have an opportunity to establish himself in town and set up businnes.
We arrived at the palace where Belisarius ruled. Led in thru great korridors flanked with soldiers we soon arrived in a huge hall. Belisarius where awaiting us. On the way I had nearly smashed an ancient urn of some kind, but that was just a minor incident.
We all introduced ourself. Problem was all my body sounds that interupted all time. And when my turn came to tell the prefect who I am I stood up, laid my hand on his sholder and called him friend, like I have always done with people I admire. Belisarius didn´t return the gesture and by the look of Williams face I must have done something wrong. Maybe a little to best friend style to fit the situation. I´ve now been told to treat all these leaders as kings until they say something else. So I didn´t impress much. But Abetorius told us a lot about the power structures in the city. Most important the fact that clans didn´t matter as much as families, congregations of different clans. We also learnt about the triad that had ruled the city since beginning. Three ancient vampires of which one seem to have vanished, one maybe gone mad and one maybe still in town. Next meeting went bether.
Abetorius seemed a little bit more relaxed, even though his clan don´t have any fixed status in town. During a couple of hours we learnt to know eachother. He told us about clan Tremeres situation in town. For the moment they where on hunt after two persons. The most important is a Salubri. I´ve been told they are souleaters and realy bad stuff. The other is a Tremere gone rough, Teresia Cyrene. We all promised help Abetorius in the hunt. And so I and Bael went down the sewers to talk with Malachai, if possible.
Bael the Gargoyle. Drawing: Isak Stenberg
What happened next was that we met a man with a torch in one hand and a sabre in the other. A big crucifix hanging around his neck. He called us a lot of bad names and started to threaten us. Bael that had sworn to defend me attacked. But as he got hit with the torch he screemed like a little girl and fled. So I stood there not sure what to do. Then cam to my mind the idea of drawing my knife and use it. In the fight that followed I gave the hunter some bad injuries. He tried to stab me but I must have gone impenetrable during this last year. And when I saw the end of the battle, Bael reappeared, rushing pass me and tearing the por guy apart in small peices. Those nasty claws worked well as butcher knifes.
It´s night six. Another three nights have passed by. I had earlier made a deal with Simon von Richthausen to exchange knowledge. I would start teaching him some greek and he would help me learn some self defence. So we have done. Worked out pretty well. I now know how to use a knife and he can do some more but spell his name in greek.
Our gargoyle, whos name is Bael by the way, showed he had some brain. He seems to be some sort of language master. So he taught some of the others greek too. That ugly stoneface is smart. He´s silent but I´ve underestimated him. Bether watch out.
I also had the possibility to sharpen my hunting skills, but I can still do with some more before feeling completely filled up.
In a couple of days we will meet first the military prefect of Constantinople Belisarius and after that the envoy of clan Tremere Abetorius. I´m excited as these two will be the first realy old ones I´ve met. I think.
Oh. And I´ve made my first contact with our rabbi in town. Now I just await the message about what status I will have here. Can´t do much before I know. Wouldn´t like to upset any vampire groups like the Malachai gang. I guess there are more.
