Dark Ages Vampire - Bloodlines

Game Master Dennis Harry

A long journey aboard a ship has left me missing my homeland. Though those with me make for good company. Aodhan is Robert the Bruce's Diplomat to Venice, and likewise a Lord as well. He also is fond of speaking Gaelic, even when what he is commenting upon is not secretive, nor needs be hidden from those listening. Donnach Dunsirn and Luag are his bodyguards though not Scottish nobility.

Monday March 2, 1309
Our arrival at the docks was supposed to include an entourage that would take us directly to the Doge’s Palace. That did not happen an Aodhan expressed his thoughts most plainly upon the situation….
I did attempt to remind him that the hour was late and we were blown off course by a great storm during the last leg of the Journey.
A smaller boat conveyed us to The Way of Kings Inn.
The same night we did walk in the city an were accosted for our movements by unmarked men claiming the authority of the Doge. Like curs they are more bark than bite or as Donnach observed of them….. "I don't know what we seek here, these Italians have no stomach for real combat, its all fancy games with them. We should all be back taking it to the English if you ask me".
It was Donnach who questioned "Don't you find it strange that these men represent the Doge but wear no affiliated symbols?"

Tuesday March 3, 1309
The unmarked men in the night led to an escort of men wearing plainly the Doge’s crest that lead us to the Doge’s Palace.
The Doge’s palace was under construction and a hotbed of activity. We waited hours in a small chamber with only a small measure of service, the serving wench was friendly enough.
We met not the Doge, instead a man named Ducat informed us of the current situation in the city…
The Doge and the Pope seem at odds over some issue, and some families have blood feuds in the streets, with hired assassins as well…
At the castle a man wearing a cross seemed familiar, only later did I recognize his countance he did recruit my cousin into the Knights Templar….

A messenger came and arranged a meeting for me at the Greetings Inn…
The man was of course Brian Stack an Irishman who immigrated to the Highlands. When you were young he recruited your cousin Conner into the Knights Templar. He speaks Gaelic …

Monday March 2, 1309
Our arrival at the docks was supposed to include an entourage that would take us directly to the Doge’s Palace. That did not happen an Aodhan expressed his thoughts most plainly upon the situation….
I did attempt to remind him that the hour was late and we were blown off course by a great storm during the last leg of the Journey.
A smaller boat conveyed us to The Way of Kings Inn.
The same night we did walk in the city an were accosted for our movements by unmarked men claiming the authority of the Doge. Like curs they are more bark than bite or as Donnach observed of them….. "I don't know what we seek here, these Italians have no stomach for real combat, its all fancy games with them. We should all be back taking it to the English if you ask me".
It was Donnach who questioned "Don't you find it strange that these men represent the Doge but wear no affiliated symbols?"

Tuesday March 3, 1309
The unmarked men in the night led to an escort of men wearing plainly the Doge’s crest that lead us to the Doge’s Palace.
The Doge’s palace was under construction and a hotbed of activity. We waited hours in a small chamber with only a small measure of service, the serving wench was friendly enough.
We met not the Doge, instead a man named Ducat informed us of the current situation in the city…
The Doge and the Pope seem at odds over some issue, and some families have blood feuds in the streets, with hired assassins as well…
At the castle a man wearing a cross seemed familiar, only later did I recognize his countance he did recruit my cousin into the Knights Templar….

A messenger came and arranged a meeting for me at the Greetings Inn…
The man was of course Brian Stack an Irishman who immigrated to the Highlands. When you were young he recruited your cousin Conner into the Knights Templar. He speaks Gaelic …

In gaelic, "Aye. It may be hard to tell who needs whose help more. Let me explain to you the situation in the city so you will understand your own woes better. Then I will tell you mine for therein is the intersection of interests that can be mutual beneficial to us both. The Doge several few months ago agreed to aid an Italian City State in the north to "take back" a Princeship fro a rival family member. The Pope objected to Venice sending land armies to this city and has demanded that the armies return to Venice. The Doge has refused the demand. In return the Pope has threatened to excommunicate all Venetians from the Church. As I am sure you know this threat is no small matter and would give Venice's many enemies ample opportunity to strike back at their hated foe".
Brian takes a chug on his ale, "This is why your pleas fall on deaf ears. The city is split in half, the Doge's foes want the Doge to pull the land forces back ratehr then risk the ire of the Pope. The Doge sees it as weakness to pull out simply because the Holy See has demended it. He also sees the Pope as a greedy land grabber who wants to send in Vatican forces to "prop up" this regime. The Doge takes great risks here refusing the Pope, especially as the Pope has a long standing feud against the city which stems from his time as a Cardinal. If you can find a way to solve that problem I am sure the Doge will look upon you and your entourage favorably".
Brian sucks down the rest of his ale and finishes, "Luckily or unluckily, I have a way for you to help the Doge in this time of crisis. My superior in the Knights Templar has sent me here to root out Vatican radicals in the city known as the Inquisition. These fanatics see withcraft at every turn or at least they claim to. Generally though they use their inquisition powers to strip families of wealth. Those who support them by rooting out heretics and witches are looked upon favorably and often inherit most if not all of the wealth of the accused. A rash of such rampant nepotism was stamped out of Venice fifteen years ago. It left a stain on the reputation of the church in Venice and the Pope was forced to pull back all Inquisition forces from the city never to return. The fact that they are here now is a direct contradiction to the Papal Bull issued at that time. If you can prove these Inquisitors are here, the Doge can infer that the Pope acted out of turn and sent them here as a strike force of assassins against him! This will give the Doge some room to negotiate a solution with the Pope as the Pope will be seen to be in the wrong for such an action. It may not seem evident at first glance but if other Christian leaders think of the Pope's Inquisition as a force of assassins looking to strip the powerful of their titles it will force the Pope to backpeddle. After all he must rely on the help of such leaders to give the excommunication some teeth. Are you up for this challenge?"
In Gaelic, "I am grateful for your help. I must warn you though that the agent I was working with previously has disappeared. I have not heard from him in days. He was following a lead on a warehouse which housed goods which belong to the Inquisition. This man was a member of the Doge's security force he told them he was taking a trip out of town which is why they have not realized he has disappeared yet. I suspect they may have fund him snooping and had him killed though his body has not turned up. The warehouse is owned by a man named Dominic Cappelli. That is the best I have at the moment but I will see what my contacts can drudge up now that I have your help.
You will never see that man again, I never use the same messenger twice. From now on if you get a message that somoene claims is from me ask the following question, "The cup must pass but to who?" The answer is "to the Order of the Third Eye". If that is not the answer given the person is a spy and I have been compromised

That same night I went to the wharehouse…..Cappelli Wares
Federico of Venice, the watchman on duty and pipeweed farmer extrodinare..
Enjoyed a long conversation and pipeweed…..
I was fortunate in that a recent intruder had been killed in the wharehouse.

Wednesday March 4, 1309
A long day of nothing, a brief meeting with Federico and arranged to meet with him again at the wharehouse of Cappelli.
Federico’s parcel of land is truly too small for a business farm, but we consider leasing or purchasing adjacent lands from the neighbors…

The intruder had been killed prying open a crate, the body was taken to a doctor (who was the owners brother)…The crate caretakers one wore a very expensive cross…

Thursday March 5, 1309
A long boat ride to the mainland to see Federico’s farm
After a fifteen minute walk you arrive at the plot and it is small though well grown with pipeweed. The area right nearby is vast with nothing in site though clearly the patch has spread beyond Federico's plot. All in all his plot is about a quarter acre though it is surrounded by acres and acres of empty land.
The Giovanni family…….The eldest brother is Amborgino Giovanni (a recluse), the middle brother Claudius Giovanni (away traveling difficult to contact), The youngest brother Pietro Giovanni (runs the family business)
Merchants of death with rumored ties to the Knight Templar

The Giovonni family business….slick cobblestones and head up a set of elegant stairs to a very well appointed building, it seems the undertaker business is quite good.

At the door of the Giovonni family met a man named Lorenzo Cappelli, Doctor at that. Coming to make arrangements for a body left in his charge. The body of a man named Hans with the responsible party being Micheal Santo.
Pietro Giovanni a man with a most regal bearing strides into the room. He is not very tall but still strikes an imposing visage. His bald head shines in the bright torchlight of the waiting area. His clothes are immaculate if a bit out of date compared to what you have seen young Venetian Lords wearing throughout the city since you have been here. He gives a slight bow

The original agreement to find a 10 acre plot of land to replace Federico’s one acre of land… Once land has been located come back to me and we shall draw up agreements

"I had a strange thought. If you would be willing to enter into business with my family as well. We are morticians by trade but we have ventures with the Knights Templar as well - we hold a great deal of their wealth here as they are not allowed by the Doge to have a formal property in Venice. We have been given dispensation by them to lend some of the money to different merchant ventures. Think on it Lord Andrew

Back at the Way of Kings Inn
note the mesage is simple and is written in Gaelic, Meet me at the port at the edge of the Grand Canal tonight at midnight

Dr. Capelli came round seems he is not so happy about my damaging his door or stealing his employee…..
Aodhan and Luag barge into the common area. Both have bloody smears on them and Aodhan has a black eye. They nod to you and head to where you sit. Some Dandy’s were threateneing a couple…

Meeting with Brian of the Knights Templar…
The clients of Capelli
acting as an agent for a merchant who wishes to run trade through Venice. The reason for your secrecy is that the merchant is uncomfortable with the current environment between the Pope and City. However, should the storage and shipping rates be favorable he is willing to take a risk. In any case though he wishes to check the credentials of the Cappelli warehouse through their clients, not simply take the families word at face value.

Friday March 6, 1309
Rumors of a murder two nights ago fill the streets, nothing lasting of the brawl the other two had gotten into….a woman with her throat ripped out and the body picked up in the middle of the night and ruled a slashing …
Federicos apartment….

Back to the Giovanni mausoleum ….
While waiting discourse with Federico on the import of goods and export of pipeweed with the wharehouse in the middle of things….. Michele Querini owned the crate a man died trying to break into…

Arranged for a meeting at the Bank of Venice…

Alone in the Giovanni Mausoleum,
double doors which lead to the inner chamber of the Giovanni mortuary.
On the floor is a plush carpet whose origin is unkonw to you. As you step on it you are amazed at the softness of the rug. On the walls are not sconces but candle holders in fact there is barely enough light to see in here at all.
At the edge of your vision as you continue down the hall you can see that there are several doors in this hall, some to your left and some to your right. The hall is roughly 30' long and ends in yet another double door. This one though has strange carvings upon it.
The scene, which is difficult to make out in the dimness of the hall, appears to have the heads of some sort of creatures carved into it. Quite eerie indeed but then mortiians are no doubt morbid people dealing with the dead for a living.
Having flly examined this hall you believe there are seven choicesyou can make, with four doors on the left, two on the right and the double doors which you are now standing in front of as a seventh choice. You slow down your breathing to strain to hear something, anything but alas this place is as quiet as a tomb
The door opens with a slight push. This room is very similar to the one on the other side of the building but is decorated in a more sinister fashion. The chairs are a deep crimson red and have multiple smears upon the arms and seats the nature of the smears is not quite clear.
Instead of bright torches lighting the room black waxed low burning candles are in place. They burn with a strong intensity.
The oil paintings on the walls look muh like the ones in the front room only the men in them have strange visages. Their eyes glow a shade of dark red and their front teeth are quite pronounced like the teeth of an animal.
At the opposite end of the room is a door but not a door. It is a drawing on the wall with some sort of black ashlike substance. Thus, the faint outline of a door is there but it leads to nowhere.
These morticians certainly have a flair for the morbid! There seems to be no other way to go in this room and you turn to head back into the hall and you are startled by the presence of a faint outline of a man staring at you. His voice seems to come from everywhere and nowhere at once as his lips do not move, "Who are you and why have you come here?"
"I be Andrew tha Hardy Lord o Moray, I was here on business an put out tha door tha leads to tha water, but no boats were in sight so I wanted tah leave anouther route."

"You are a trespasser in these unhallowed halls! Leave now lest you wish to be one of the dead! Be lucky that your kind is not what I am here to punish else I would have already torn your mind asunder!"
"A child of the Lord! How did you come to be in sucha place!" Flee quickly mortal. For the love of all that is holy I will not report you to those that claim dominion over me!".
"Give me yyer name an I will pray fer yer release."
The apparition waves its handas if to reject your offer, "Your prayers will not save me".

Back to the Way of Kings Inn
Church right across the plaza. The Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari
Met an old friar who named the bonded soul a specter, Andrew is seeking how to free a specter from the black arts of bandage….
The friar bids he return tomorrow….

Saturday March 7. 1309
Back to the church. Confessional sin is wrath, penance

No news yet on the bank meeting with the Giovonni
Federico’s apartment and then to the farm…
A strange sight of people conveying bodies… You see beneath a gruesome sight, the head of a woman barely held onto the rest of her body.

Back to the church to meet the inquisition
"Yes my friend we will get to that. A spirit bound against its will is an affront to God. Worse yet is an evil spirit made manifest in the flesh. This city is rife with such creatures. Twenty years ago my allies here nearly uncovered a coven of such foul beings, beings which consume the souls of the living and deliver them unto Satan their foul master. Here and across the countryside we have worked tirelessly to find proof of such beings. Lo' our work has paid off! We know for a fact that many such creatures of darkness will congregate here in the coming weeks. With your help we will capture these vile creatures and show the world the proof of their existence. That is the purpose for which you have been sent to us. Once this issue is resolved we shall free all such restless spirits. God wills it!".
Named vampires, defeatable by faith and flame

"With Faith and Fire my friend. Is this something that you are able to handle? Father Cardinale indicated that he had a good feeling about you".

The blessing of the blade..
"Holy War must wait. For now much like our enemies we hide in wait to strike. What we need are eyes and ears around the city to look out for such fell creatures. That is what Father Cardinale is doing, gathering the faithful for our righteous cause. Once we can identify where these creatures gather or lair we will strike! My superior has requested that we immobilize as many of the creatures as we can. We will then present them at a conference held by the Pope himself! He will gather to him the leaders of the world and we will demonstrate with irrefutable proof that such creatures exist. It is then that the Holy See will call a Crusade to end all Crusades, the light shall vanquish the dark! And you Lord of Moray shall be one of those who will be cited as doing God's most Holy Work, destroying the minions of Satan wherever they dwell!"
There are thousands of these creatures and they have spies everywhere, even where you would least suspect them! With that said let me explain what we need from you. There have been at least two murders in the past two weeks which we believe may be related to these foul beings. The first a Gondola driver in the employ of a Michael Santo. The second a young woman in the western slums, her name was Margherita. We will need you to investigate these murders in your official capacity as a Diplomat of your homeland. For one of us to investigate them further would lead to suspicion, the church has had enough entanglement with local officials that we would get no where. You though as a man looking for something from the Doge and the Grand Council can position yourself as a lickspittle, looking to aid in any way possible to get in the good graces of the ruling elite of Venice. If you can get a description of this killer so much the better as we do have information about this fiend. If our information is corroborated we will know that the tip that sent us here was true".

Reported the witness of the body to the Inquisition…
Arranges to go with the Inquisition tomorrow evening in an attempt to retrieve the body.

Meet the exotic Xing outside the Way of Kings Inn, begs her off the streets to come inside for safety…

Meeting with Brian…
"Well met Brother. May the Order of the Third Eye look upon you with mercy. I trust that you have gathered information on the matter I asked you to look into?"
Gaelic "If you have met a group of men claiming to be hunting demons in the guise of men then it would seem you have found the men we are looking for. If you can prove they are who you think they are this will be a useful tool for you to gain audience with the Doge".
Brian pauses for a moment then, Gaelic "What have they told you about the Knights Templar? The Inquisition and the Templars have never seen eye to eye on really any matters. They consider our position which is insulated from the Church to be a challenge to the power of the Holy See. Meanwhile, it is they who ignore Papal Bulls and cooperate in widespread corruption. Make no mistake, there is evil in the world but it must be fought from the shadows. What darkness have you seen that has shaken you so?"
Meeting set for three days hence, told him of the specter at the family of undertakers, naming the Giavonni, and he is going to investigate them… meeting at 8 pm at your Inn on Tuesday.

Back at the Way of Kings Inn……Adeline, Quintrell, Warrane -gentlemen from the French court seeking audience with the Doge

A group of ruffians employed by Christopher Dandolo, appear to recognize Xing and pick a fight…

Sunday March 8, 1309
My leg aches from activity, yet it should strengthen for the stress.

Xing and I begin to seek out information about this Christopher Dandolo..

"I do not know which of the Dandolo manses he resides in but I would imagine that he has acquired his own property now. He generally attends the Grand Council meetings at least once a week, a fair rate of attendance when compared to other young Lords".
Xing reported some rumors to me
The Dandolo House will be having a ball this very evening wherein the heir to the House will unveil his soon to be bride.
Details are sketchy but it seems that a man was murdered in another one of the low rent districts last night.

Xing is excited about the party and dancing, and if I am to dance I must rest my leg…
Xing returns with a dress and in it she seems much more a lady than before. She has somehow through her wiles obtained invitation to the party this eventide…She made the acquantance of Jordan (bride to be) and her mother Fiona Thesing, the father owns the inn called the Greetings.

Aodhan and Luag have gone to a lunch with the Frenchmen, while Donnach it seems has gone to lunch with a robed monk of some sort.

Outside the Greetings Inn I met Gunther Thesing the father of the lovely bride to be, he was a friendly man all about enjoying a pipe and even brandy should the occasion call for it.
They had rented a great meeting hall for the event… The guardsmen are dressed in the colors of House Dandolo and are all armed.
They insisted I leave my sword at the door, I explaiuned my dispensation from the Doge included all of the country, they were thick headed louts and bullies and we exchanged terse words. Then they drew blades upon me.
The party seemed grand though I sat outside, since I was not leaving my sword with anyone.
True to form Dandolo’s men once more honed in upon Xane with accusations that a “Chinese throwing star” was utilized to attack one of the men, though they were unwilling to describe the events surrounding the attack.
Xing had been hired to find a man in the city and had come upon these ruffiens trying to kill the man she sought..
"But you were right I was not 'completely' truthful to those men. When I first came here I was hired to look for a man and arrange meetings. Unfortunately some men attempted to kill the man I was looking for on the first night I was out doing the job. I couldn't just stand there and let them kill him it was six to two!"
She seems a bit excited telling the story.
"Six to two! What men fight with odds like that? Cowards! So what did I do? I helped without showing who I was and that's all. But none of those men I recognized from the party were at that attack on the person."
It seems lost likely the murderers were seeking the witness to the attempted murder.

Aodhan reports he will continue to meet with the French, "The French delegate may be a good lead. I will continue to work on them tomorrow. Make sure you are careful of your relationship with these churchmen, they have branded themselves enemies of this Doge, being associated with them may hinder not aid our cause my friend".

I went to meet the Inquisition at the church across the way.
Claudio de Mendini
Syrio Abran
Amaury and Laurent Amyx
Devery Devereaux

Off to the former farm of Federico, to find the burial places of the bodies. There we found a group of men beating another..

Andrew you approach the men in the bog with Claudio who opens his lantern shining a bright light on the interlopers. What you see is not quite what you expected. The area on which the figures stand is not marsh but solid ground, approximately twenty five feet from your current position in the marsh.
A masked man stands behind an old monk in a filthy habit, he threatens the monk with a knife likely to keep the poor soul cowed. What the monk is muttering, if anything, you cannot hear. Ten feet from him two men are only half seen beyond a pile of dirt, they hold shovels and wear leather armor, both have the look of northern European men. Clearly they are in a hole at least a few feet deep. The last two figures are another ten feet from the masked man but closer to your position. They are also armed in leather armor but have much less dirt as they appear to be supervising the dig. The taller man is eastern European, the shorter man western European. None of these men appear to be natives of Venice based on their dress and skin color.
Michael you turn and see a bright line shined in your direction, the light pierces the dark black night temporarily dazzling you. A figure holds the lantern aloft, he appears to have a man next to him but it is hard to tell at the moment. It seems Brice was right, you are not alone in the marsh this night!
"That which dwells in darkness must always come into the light!" bellows the man holding the lantern aloft. He points his finger at the masked knife wielder. "You there drop that weapon and release that servant of God!"
Before the man with the knife can answer the eastern European man retorts, "He will do no such thing, this craven is my prisoner. You will leave this place now or suffer my wrath". The man's voice is cold an unemotional, this is no grave robber but a stone cold killer with strength of will and conviction in his voice.
The man with the lantern is indignant and responds with equal authority in his voice, "Who are you to imprison a man of the cloth? By the authority of the Lord I demand you release the monk and explain your actions! God wills it!"

The men were already digging up the bodies.
They also held prisoner a monk.

I tried to hold back the passions of men though the man there warned me that….
Sergei Volkov
"I think not man of God. Your entire organization has been infiltrated by sinister forces. Whether you are here of your own volition or under the forgotten commands of the demon spawned bloodsuckers, you cannot be trusted. Withdraw from here".
The Templars, The Church, the Nobility, any organization has been infiltrated and corrupted by them. The sad thing is that you do not know that you even do their bidding. I am not corrupted because I encounter them on my terms and slay them whenever the opportunity arises. If you are true tell me your names, I will spend the time to study you. Once I can be sure you are not corrupt I will share what I learn here with you. Decide, do you wish to slay living men or are you here to kill the real monsters that lurk among us?"
A man named Micheal Santos (PC) introduced himself, he claims nearly as much ignorance as I have…..
Barca de Nave gondola service

Out of the darkness we were assailed by corpses of the dead, a wave of terror eminating from them as they shambled forwards, one had no head.
The monk twisted out of Santos hands and leapt over the heads of the knights, and ran like a rabbit into the woods…

Monday March 9, 1309
At the Way of Kings.
The lackey of one Luigi Vespucci showed up inquiring about the whereabouts of Xing Shi

Aodhan and Luag approach your table. Gaelic "Morning Andrew. The French delegates along with Luag and myself will be attending a lunch meeting with one of the eldest councilors of the city to try and gain access to the Doge. Are you interested in attending?"
Donnach has not been seen since last night

Federico was attempting to secure a loan and failed. Seems we need to wait for Giovonni’s meeting at the bank. Perhaps they forgot we shall meet with them tomorrow.

One of the inquisition appears at the Way of kings Inn

A long journey aboard a ship has left me missing my homeland. Though those with me make for good company. Aodhan is Robert the Bruce's Diplomat to Venice, and likewise a Lord as well. He also is fond of speaking Gaelic, even when what he is commenting upon is not secretive, nor needs be hidden from those listening. Donnach Dunsirn and Luag are his bodyguards though not Scottish nobility.

Monday March 2, 1309
Our arrival at the docks was supposed to include an entourage that would take us directly to the Doge’s Palace. That did not happen an Aodhan expressed his thoughts most plainly upon the situation….
I did attempt to remind him that the hour was late and we were blown off course by a great storm during the last leg of the Journey.
A smaller boat conveyed us to The Way of Kings Inn.
The same night we did walk in the city an were accosted for our movements by unmarked men claiming the authority of the Doge. Like curs they are more bark than bite or as Donnach observed of them….. "I don't know what we seek here, these Italians have no stomach for real combat, its all fancy games with them. We should all be back taking it to the English if you ask me".
It was Donnach who later questioned "Don't you find it strange that these men represent the Doge but wear no affiliated symbols?"

Tuesday March 3, 1309
The unmarked men in the night, led to an escort of men wearing plainly the Doge’s crest in the morning, who lead us to the Doge’s Palace.
The Doge’s palace was under construction and a hotbed of activity. We waited hours in a small chamber with only a small measure of service, the serving wench was friendly enough.
We met not the Doge, instead a man named Ducat informed us of the current situation in the city…
The Doge and the Pope seem at odds over some issue, and some families have blood feuds in the streets, with rumors of hired assassins as well…
At the castle a man wearing a cross seemed familiar, only later did I recognize his countance he did recruit my cousin into the Knights Templar….

A messenger came and arranged a meeting for me at the Greetings Inn…
The man was of course Brian Stack an Irishman who immigrated to the Highlands. When I was just a lad he had recruited my cousin Conner into the Knights Templar. He speaks Gaelic …

In gaelic, "Aye. It may be hard to tell who needs whose help more. Let me explain to you the situation in the city so you will understand your own woes better. Then I will tell you mine for therein is the intersection of interests that can be mutual beneficial to us both. The Doge several few months ago agreed to aid an Italian City State in the north to "take back" a Princeship fro a rival family member. The Pope objected to Venice sending land armies to this city and has demanded that the armies return to Venice. The Doge has refused the demand. In return the Pope has threatened to excommunicate all Venetians from the Church. As I am sure you know this threat is no small matter and would give Venice's many enemies ample opportunity to strike back at their hated foe".
Brian takes a chug on his ale, "This is why your pleas fall on deaf ears. The city is split in half, the Doge's foes want the Doge to pull the land forces back ratehr then risk the ire of the Pope. The Doge sees it as weakness to pull out simply because the Holy See has demended it. He also sees the Pope as a greedy land grabber who wants to send in Vatican forces to "prop up" this regime. The Doge takes great risks here refusing the Pope, especially as the Pope has a long standing feud against the city which stems from his time as a Cardinal. If you can find a way to solve that problem I am sure the Doge will look upon you and your entourage favorably".
Brian sucks down the rest of his ale and finishes, "Luckily or unluckily, I have a way for you to help the Doge in this time of crisis. My superior in the Knights Templar has sent me here to root out Vatican radicals in the city known as the Inquisition. These fanatics see withcraft at every turn or at least they claim to. Generally though they use their inquisition powers to strip families of wealth. Those who support them by rooting out heretics and witches are looked upon favorably and often inherit most if not all of the wealth of the accused. A rash of such rampant nepotism was stamped out of Venice fifteen years ago. It left a stain on the reputation of the church in Venice and the Pope was forced to pull back all Inquisition forces from the city never to return. The fact that they are here now is a direct contradiction to the Papal Bull issued at that time. If you can prove these Inquisitors are here, the Doge can infer that the Pope acted out of turn and sent them here as a strike force of assassins against him! This will give the Doge some room to negotiate a solution with the Pope as the Pope will be seen to be in the wrong for such an action. It may not seem evident at first glance but if other Christian leaders think of the Pope's Inquisition as a force of assassins looking to strip the powerful of their titles it will force the Pope to backpeddle. After all he must rely on the help of such leaders to give the excommunication some teeth. Are you up for this challenge?"
In Gaelic, "I am grateful for your help. I must warn you though that the agent I was working with previously has disappeared. I have not heard from him in days. He was following a lead on a warehouse which housed goods which belong to the Inquisition. This man was a member of the Doge's security force he told them he was taking a trip out of town which is why they have not realized he has disappeared yet. I suspect they may have fund him snooping and had him killed though his body has not turned up. The warehouse is owned by a man named Dominic Cappelli. That is the best I have at the moment but I will see what my contacts can drudge up now that I have your help.
You will never see that man again, I never use the same messenger twice. From now on if you get a message that someone claims is from me ask the following question, "The cup must pass but to who?" The answer is "to the Order of the Third Eye". If that is not the answer given the person is a spy and I have been compromised
I scribbled myself a note with the phrase “Finest pipeweed in Italy”, and the address of Cappelli Wares
That same night I went to the wharehouse…..Cappelli Wares
Federico of Venice, the watchman on duty and pipeweed farmer extrodinare..
Enjoyed a long conversation and pipeweed…..
I was fortunate in that a recent intruder had been killed in the wharehouse, and I had met the farmer rather than the butcher in my excursion to the warehouse of Cappelli.

Wednesday March 4, 1309
A long day of nothing, a brief meeting with Federico and arranged to meet with him again at the warehouse of Cappelli.

Long did my mind keep turning Brian’s coded phrase in my mind. The cup, the cup of Christ, containing the blood of Christ. Could that be the cup referenced, the cup leading to life eternal? Did the Order of the third eye have the cup or stand to receive the cup at some later date. The third eye was obviously a subsect of the Knights Templar, but what was the third eye, perhaps men of discernment

Federico’s parcel of land is truly too small for a business farm, but we consider leasing or purchasing adjacent lands from the neighbors…

The intruder had been killed prying open a crate, the body was taken to a doctor (who was the owners brother)…The crate caretakers, though Federico does not know them one wore an opulent and very expensive cross…

Thursday March 5, 1309
A long boat ride to the mainland to see Federico’s farm
After a fifteen minute walk we arrive at the plot and it is small though well grown with pipeweed. The area right nearby is vast with nothing in sight though clearly the patch of pipeweed has spread beyond Federico's plot. All in all his plot is no more than a quarter acre though it is surrounded by acres and acres of empty, yet capably fertile land.
The Giovanni family…….The eldest brother is Amborgino Giovanni (a recluse), the middle brother Claudius Giovanni (away traveling difficult to contact), The youngest brother Pietro Giovanni (runs the family business)
Merchants of death with rumored ties to the Knight Templar

The Giovonni family business….slick cobblestones and head up a set of elegant stairs to a very well appointed, if not oppulent building, it seems the undertaker business is quite good. The business itself echoes its function as if generations upon generations of the Giovonni family are interred within.

At the door of the Giovonni family I met a man named Lorenzo Cappelli, a doctor at that. Coming to make funeral arrangements for a body left in his charge. The body of a man named Hans with the responsible party being one Micheal Santo.
Pietro Giovanni a man with a most regal bearing strides into the room. He is not very tall but still strikes an imposing visage. His bald head shines in the bright torchlight of the waiting area. His clothes are immaculate if a bit out of date compared to what you have seen young Venetian Lords wearing throughout the city since you have been here. He gives a slight bow

The original agreement to find a 10 acre plot of land to replace Federico’s one acre of land… Once land has been located come back to me and we shall draw up agreements

Pietro Giovanni made me an offer while I was there
"I had a strange thought. If you would be willing to enter into business with my family as well. We are morticians by trade but we have ventures with the Knights Templar as well - we hold a great deal of their wealth here as they are not allowed by the Doge to have a formal property in Venice. We have been given dispensation by them to lend some of the money to different merchant ventures. Think on it Lord Andrew”

Back at the Way of Kings Inn
I am given a note the message is simple and is written in Gaelic, Meet me at the port at the edge of the Grand Canal tonight at midnight

Dr. Capelli came round to pay me a visit seems he is not so happy about my damaging his door or stealing his employee…..
Aodhan and Luag barge into the common area. Both have bloody smears on them and Aodhan has a black eye. They nod to me and head to where I am seated. They explain that some Dandy’s were threatening a couple…in a most horrible fashion that they felt compelled to act in defense of the couple…

Meeting with Brian of the Knights Templar…
I am trying to learn more of the clients of Capelli
I am acting as an agent for a merchant who wishes to run trade through Venice. The reason for your secrecy is that the merchant is uncomfortable with the current environment between the Pope and City. However, should the storage and shipping rates be favorable he is willing to take a risk. In any case though he wishes to check the credentials of the Cappelli warehouse through their clients, not simply take the families word at face value.

Friday March 6, 1309
Rumors of a murder two nights ago fill the streets, nothing lasting of the brawl the other two had gotten into….a woman with her throat ripped out and the body picked up in the middle of the night, the powers that be have ruled the attack a slashing and nothing more, but the streets are ablaze with an entirely different tell …
Federicos apartment is nothing to write about, and even the location of the place is better forgotten….

Back to the Giovanni mausoleum ….
While waiting I had discourse with Federico on the import of goods and export of pipeweed with the warehouse in the middle of things….. Michele Querini owned the crate a man died trying to break into…

Arranged for a meeting at the Bank of Venice…, my fellows and I were put out into the deserted street and I alone ventured back into the Giovonni Mausoleum.
Alone in the Giovanni Mausoleum, a great set of double doors which lead to the inner chamber of the Giovanni mortuary.
On the floor is a plush carpet whose origin is unknown to me. As I step on it I am amazed at the softness of the rug. On the walls are not sconces but candle holders in fact there is barely enough light to see in here at all.
At the edge of my vision as I trek further down the unhallowed hall I can scarce make out the several doors in this hall, some to my left and some to my right. The hall is roughly 30' long and ends in yet another double door. This one though has strange carvings upon it.
The scene, which is difficult to make out in the dimness of the hall, appears to have the heads of some sort of creatures carved into it. Quite eerie indeed but then morticians are no doubt morbid people dealing with the dead for a living. I run my fingers over the carving feeling it’s smooth design and detail, the wood is not only dark it is cold to my touch.
I fully examined this hall and had seven choices I could make, with four doors on the left, two on the right and the double doors which I was still touching and right in front of me as my seventh choice. I slow down my breathes and strain to hear something, anything but alas this place is as quiet as a tomb
The ornate door opens with a slight push, and also with undisturbed silence. The room before me is similar to the one on the other side of the building but is decorated in a more sinister fashion. The chairs are a deep crimson red and have multiple smears upon the arms and seats the nature of the smears is not quite clear.
Instead of bright torches lighting the room black waxed low burning candles are in place. They burn with a strong intensity, in a most fearful symmetry.
The oil paintings on the walls look similar to the family portraits in the front room only the men in them have strange visages. They no longer appear human instead their eyes glow a shade of dark red and their front teeth are quite pronounced like the teeth of an animal.
At the opposite end of the room is a door but not a door. Though it is not a door like I have ever seen being only a drawing upon the wall with some sort of black ash-like substance. But my senses tell me impossibly that someone or something has used this point to either come or go. Thus, the faint outline of a door is there but it leads to nowhere.
These morticians certainly have a flair for the morbid! There seems to be no other way to go in this room and you turn to head back into the hall and you are startled by the presence of a faint outline of a man staring at you. His voice seems to come from everywhere and nowhere at once as his lips do not move, "Who are you and why have you come here?"
"I be Andrew tha Hardy Lord o Moray, I was here on business an put out tha door tha leads to tha water, but no boats were in sight so I wanted tah leave by another route."

"You are a trespasser in these unhallowed halls! Leave now lest you wish to be one of the dead! Be lucky that your kind is not what I am here to punish else I would have already torn your mind asunder!"
My mind reeled at the things this apparition brought forth many questions, yet also terror and yet in the depths of my doubt and confusion I did what any man of letters would have done. I called upon the protection of the Lord.
I felt the terror subside and the specters energy and anger abated, even its visage changed before me.
"A child of the Lord! How did you come to be in sucha place!" Flee quickly mortal. For the love of all that is holy I will not report you to those that claim dominion over me!".

I could see the souls torment within the bondage of servitude and I asked it to name itself
"Give me yer name an I will pray fer yer release."
The apparition waves its hands flatly rejecting my proffer of aid disclaiming that , "Your prayers will not save me".

Back to the Way of Kings Inn
Church right across the plaza. The Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari
Within the chapel I met an old friar, who was most interested in my tale, he confirmed the possibility exists, naming the bonded soul a specter, and telling me that there is hope for the spirit to be freed though the task is difficult as the dark magic that did the deed must be undone.
The old friar bids me return tomorrow and share my tale with a gathering of men who will be meeting at the church

Saturday March 7. 1309
My feet lead me back to the Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, I did confession and was shriven for my sins, it seems my main difficulty is Wrath, for which I must serve penance
Today brings no tidings of the bank meeting with the Giovonni. I travel to Federico’s apartment and then to his small farm…
One the farm we behold a most strange sight, a group of people conveying the bodies of the dead across the land. One of the shrouds slips revealing a gruesome visage, the head of a woman barely held onto the rest of her body, her throat ripped and shredded and torn nearly through.

Back to the church to meet the inquisition
"Yes my friend we will get to that. A spirit bound against its will is an affront to God. Worse yet is an evil spirit made manifest in the flesh. This city is rife with such creatures. Twenty years ago my allies here nearly uncovered a coven of such foul beings, beings which consume the souls of the living and deliver them unto Satan their foul master. Here and across the countryside we have worked tirelessly to find proof of such beings. Lo' our work has paid off! We know for a fact that many such creatures of darkness will congregate here in the coming weeks. With your help we will capture these vile creatures and show the world the proof of their existence. That is the purpose for which you have been sent to us. Once this issue is resolved we shall free all such restless spirits. God wills it!".
Named vampires, defeatable by faith and flame

"With Faith and Fire my friend. Is this something that you are able to handle? Father Cardinale indicated that he had a good feeling about you".

The blessing of the blade..The men gathered and prayed mightily and the prayer was answered in visible power, they passed the holy fire into my blade. I understood immediately that I could now strike and battle and do so without wrath for Gods wrath was imdued within my blade making my wrath unneeded.
"Holy War must wait. For now much like our enemies we hide in wait to strike. What we need are eyes and ears around the city to look out for such fell creatures. That is what Father Cardinale is doing, gathering the faithful for our righteous cause. Once we can identify where these creatures gather or lair we will strike! My superior has requested that we immobilize as many of the creatures as we can. We will then present them at a conference held by the Pope himself! He will gather to him the leaders of the world and we will demonstrate with irrefutable proof that such creatures exist. It is then that the Holy See will call a Crusade to end all Crusades, the light shall vanquish the dark! And you Lord of Moray shall be one of those who will be cited as doing God's most Holy Work, destroying the minions of Satan wherever they dwell!"
There are thousands of these creatures and they have spies everywhere, even where you would least suspect them! With that said let me explain what we need from you. There have been at least two murders in the past two weeks which we believe may be related to these foul beings. The first a Gondola driver in the employ of a Michael Santo. The second a young woman in the western slums, her name was Margherita. We will need you to investigate these murders in your official capacity as a Diplomat of your homeland. For one of us to investigate them further would lead to suspicion, the church has had enough entanglement with local officials that we would get no where. You though as a man looking for something from the Doge and the Grand Council can position yourself as a lickspittle, looking to aid in any way possible to get in the good graces of the ruling elite of Venice. If you can get a description of this killer so much the better as we do have information about this fiend. If our information is corroborated we will know that the tip that sent us here was true".

After they heard of the Specter, I reported to them my witnessing of the bodies of the victims being taken for burial. They determined that we must go in force and recover the bodies as evidence for the inquisition tomorrow evening.

Fresh from my meeting and knowing the lack of safety upon the streets I meet an exotic looking lady and plead with her to come in. Her name is Xing Shi and she is most definitely from a foreign land far away. I imagined in my mind the witnessing of her head dangling in a similar fashion and thought that were it to actually happen I would meet my end in despair! Fortunately she accepted the haven of the Inn and was safe.
Meeting with Brian…
"Well met Brother. May the Order of the Third Eye look upon you with mercy. I trust that you have gathered information on the matter I asked you to look into?"
Gaelic "If you have met a group of men claiming to be hunting demons in the guise of men then it would seem you have found the men we are looking for. If you can prove they are who you think they are this will be a useful tool for you to gain audience with the Doge".
Brian pauses for a moment then, Gaelic "What have they told you about the Knights Templar? The Inquisition and the Templars have never seen eye to eye on really any matters. They consider our position which is insulated from the Church to be a challenge to the power of the Holy See. Meanwhile, it is they who ignore Papal Bulls and cooperate in widespread corruption. Make no mistake, there is evil in the world but it must be fought from the shadows. What darkness have you seen that has shaken you so?"
Meeting set for three days hence, told him of the specter at the family of undertakers, naming the Giavonni, and he is going to investigate them… meeting at 8 pm at your Inn on Tuesday.

Back at the Way of Kings Inn……Adeline, Quintrell, Warrane -gentlemen from the French court seeking audience with the Doge

A group of ruffians in the employ of one Christopher Dandolo, appear to recognize Xing and pick a fight…

Sunday March 8, 1309
My leg aches for so much activity, yet it should strengthen for the stress.

Xing and I begin to seek out information about this Christopher Dandolo..
"I do not know which of the Dandolo manses he resides in but I would imagine that he has acquired his own property now. He generally attends the Grand Council meetings at least once a week, a fair rate of attendance when compared to other young Lords".
Xing reported some rumors to me
The Dandolo House will be having a ball this very evening wherein the heir to the House will unveil his soon to be bride.
Details are sketchy but it seems that a man was murdered in another one of the low rent districts last night.

Xing is excited about the party and dancing, and if I am to dance I must rest my leg…
Xing returns with a dress. In the dress she seems much more a lady than before. Xing has somehow through her wiles obtained invitation to the party this eventide…She made the aquiantance of Jordan (bride to be) and her mother Fiona Thesing, the father owns the inn called the Greetings.

Aodhan and Luag have gone to a lunch with the French delegation hoping to garner some support from them, which to my thinking is not likely. Donnach it seems has gone to lunch with a robed monk of some sort, if I know Donnach he is interested in some of the drink that some friars are known for brewing.

Outside the Greetings Inn I met Gunther Thesing the father of the lovely bride to be, he was a friendly man all about enjoying a pipe and even brandy should the occasion call for it.
The Dandolo had rented a great meeting hall for the event… The guardsmen are dressed in the colors of House Dandolo and are all armed.
They insisted I leave my sword at the door, I explained my dispensation from the Doge included all of the country, they were thick headed louts and bullies and we exchanged terse words. Then they drew blades upon me.
The party seemed grand though I sat outside, since I was not leaving my sword with anyone. After awhile Gunther Thesing returned to speak with me his concern for his family was most evident, and I assured him I had no ill will towards any member of his family nor his kith nor kin.
True to form Dandolo’s men once more honed in upon Xane with accusations that a “Chinese throwing star” was utilized to attack one of the men, though they were unwilling to describe or detail the events surrounding this attack.

Later that evening I discovered why, Xing had been hired to find a man in the city and had come upon these ruffians trying to kill the man she sought..
"But you were right I was not 'completely' truthful to those men. When I first came here I was hired to look for a man and arrange meetings. Unfortunately some men attempted to kill the man I was looking for on the first night I was out doing the job. I couldn't just stand there and let them kill him it was six to two!"
She seems a bit excited telling the story.
"Six to two! What men fight with odds like that? Cowards! So what did I do? I helped without showing who I was and that's all. But none of those men I recognized from the party were at that attack on the person."
It seemed most likely in my mind that the group of six were just murderers who having been thwarted in killing the person were now seeking the only witness to the attempt.

Aodhan reports he will continue to meet with the French, "The French delegate may be a good lead. I will continue to work on them tomorrow. Make sure you are careful of your relationship with these churchmen, they have branded themselves enemies of this Doge, being associated with them may hinder not aid our cause my friend".

I went to meet the Inquisition at the church across the way.
1) Claudio de Mendini 2) Syrio Abran 3&4) Amaury and Laurent Amyx
5) Devery Devereaux
We went to the mainland to the former farm of Federico, to find fresh graves and to retrieve the bodies from within them. When we arrived we found that someone else was there, though how they knew the place or what brought them to that location was a mystery to me.

I make approach to the men in the bog, Claudio casts open his lantern shining a bright light on the interlopers. I see something most unexpected, the area on which the figures stand is not marsh but solid ground, approximately twenty five feet directly in front of me.
A masked man stands behind an old monk in a filthy habit, the masked man threatens the monk with a knife at his throat. The monk is muttering, but I cannot hear his words, likely it is prayer and God is able to hear him.
Ten feet from him two men are only half seen beyond a pile of dirt, they hold shovels and wear leather armor, both have the look of northern European men. Clearly they are in a hole at least a few feet deep. The last two figures are another ten feet from the masked man but closer to my position. They are also armed in leather armor but have much less dirt as they appear to be supervising the dig. The taller man is eastern European, the shorter man western European. None of these men appear to be natives of Venice based on their dress and skin color.
"That which dwells in darkness must always come into the light!" bellows the man holding the lantern aloft. He points his finger at the masked knife wielder. "You there drop that weapon and release that servant of God!"
Before the man with the knife can answer the eastern European man retorts, "He will do no such thing, this craven is my prisoner. You will leave this place now or suffer my wrath". The man's voice is cold an unemotional, this is no grave robber but a stone cold killer with strength of will and conviction in his voice.
The man with the lantern is indignant and responds with equal authority in his voice, "Who are you to imprison a man of the cloth? By the authority of the Lord I demand you release the monk and explain your actions! God wills it!"

The men who were there afore us were also seeking the evidence of the bodies, though how they are connected is an unknown. How and when and why they held prisoner the monk was also an unknown.

I tried to take hold the passions of both groups of men. I succeeded just enough to prevent bloodshed from the men towards one another. The men who was there afore us offered a warning that was difficult for me to ignore….

Sergei Volkov
"I think not man of God. Your entire organization has been infiltrated by sinister forces. Whether you are here of your own volition or under the forgotten commands of the demon spawned bloodsuckers, you cannot be trusted. Withdraw from here".
“The Templars, The Church, the Nobility, any organization has been infiltrated and corrupted by them. The sad thing is that you do not know that you even do their bidding. I am not corrupted because I encounter them on my terms and slay them whenever the opportunity arises. If you are true tell me your names, I will spend the time to study you. Once I can be sure you are not corrupt I will share what I learn here with you. Decide, do you wish to slay living men or are you here to kill the real monsters that lurk among us?"
A man named Micheal Santos (PC) introduced himself, he claims nearly as much ignorance as I have….yet he also named his business Barca de Nave gondola service

Out of the darkness all men regardless of allegiance or purpose were assailed by evil incarnate. Corpses of the dead came shambling forwards, a wave of terrible cold, fear and loathing radiating from them as they shambled forwards, one of the corpses had no head.
The monk twisted out of Santos hands and leapt over the heads of the knights, and ran like a rabbit into the woods…The leap and his speed were astounding and beyond the abilities of man.

Monday March 9, 1309
At the Way of Kings.
The lackey of one Luigi Vespucci showed up inquiring about the whereabouts of Xing Shi

Aodhan and Luag approached my table. Gaelic "Morning Andrew. The French delegates along with Luag and myself will be attending a lunch meeting with one of the eldest councilors of the city to try and gain access to the Doge. Are you interested in attending?"
I was not attending, long ago Sir William Wallace had sought aid from the French and no aid came so his efforts were in vain. My feelings for the French are not much better than the English at this time.

Donnach has not been seen since last night, my thoughts return to that monk that was doing things that set him far and wide apart from the capabilities of just a man and I wondered again had Donnach fell into the hands of evil.
Federico was attempting to secure a loan from the bank, he did not wait for the Giovonni’s arrangements, and alone he failed to get the backing of the bank. It seems we need to wait for Giovonni’s meeting at the bank. Perhaps they forgot we shall meet with them tomorrow.

Unexpectedly one of the inquisition appears at the Way of kings Inn. While I am conversing with Federico and Xing. In my mind I am fearful that the monk from the graveyard area is the self-same friar that Donnach has been visiting with and I fear for his safety at the moment. I pray for Donnach and hope to get an opportunity to confirm the monk’s identity……