Dark_RP

Under The Black Cross IX
Ashes of Outremer VI


After he had spoken privately with Prince Etienne, the eerily luminescing Knight, Sir Michael of Durham returned to his mixed band of mortals and Cinites before Volund and Baradeus of the Itinerant Company approached him, and introduced themselves.
Sir Michael in a direct and earnest manner, radiant of confident humility. And in answer to their question, seemed to answer truthfully, that he and his band were in Acre to secure the Relic, and bare it to safety. Volund seemed satisfied, but Baradeus went further, offering their assistance to him should he need it in his task. Sir Michael considered, and said that he would seek them out within the city in the nights to come.
As a cold wind blew in from the west the company of The Bitter Ashes mounted their steeds oncemore and with the jangling of their reigns rode of into the night, making for Acre.
Gregoire spoke to Etienne briefly, gauging the Prince's opinion on the strange Order about which he knew so little. Etienne told him some of what he knew, and expressed an open admiration both for Sir Michael and his Order.
Shortly afterword they too took their leave of the caravanissary, riding back to the city along side Don Alfonso ans Sir Guy, who were as curious of Sir Micheal as themselves and likewise struck by his strangeness.
Days passed once again, and upon their next meeting with the Baron they learned that he believed that the company of Hungarian Crusaders that disappeared in the mountains was merely a cover for the Vlaszy to set up a hidden stronghold away from prying eyes, and as such orders the Company to keep an even closer eye on the doings of Lady Kara. He also revealed to them that King Andras of Hungary, in who's retinue he traveled, had tired of the Crusade and meant to return to Hungary soon. Von Achern told that he would try to remain near the King and use his influence to dissuade him for as long as possible, but that the Company should look for other ways to secure Lord Jurgen's influence over the city, as the King's departure also meant his own, and that of Lady Kara also. They must succeed before that time, he told them, and telling him nothing of the new force that had entered the city, they agreed.
After the passage of but a few more days, Gregoire received a later from Lady Maria D'Agostino, inviting him and his Company to the promised meeting at her residence, the following night.
Knowing that this doubtless meant some development of her schemes that could possibly affect their own, they made themselves ready, and attended.
They approached her new haven, a well appointed manor house owned by her family in the Genoese quarter.
The guards of the House of San Angelo, recognising Gregoire, took their invitation and led them through the baroque velvet and painting lined corridors down to a secret chamber beneath the house.
The door opened into a shadowed candle-lit chamber where sat the awaiting group of Cainites around a polished table. Count Dieter Von Karlach, the Tremere Alexia of Nicosia, and Lady Kara Vlaszy-Lupescu all sat awaiting them. The presence of Lady Kara, their secret patron, unnerved them, making them unsure as to how to proceed, with the Vlaszy warrior-maiden's iron stare fixed hard upon them.
Maria D'Agostino begins by greeting them, and stating that she intends to support Aram's seizure of power, He will think he rules, but I have the most important of the Kingdom's true master behind me, as you can see... She went on to say that she would merely wait for circumstances to turn against Aram, before taking the throne for herself. For the good of Acre of course.
Watching the Company's reactions she said that this is strengthened by the new agreement signed between the House of D'Agostino and Lady Kara, for her master the Voivode Rustovitch. As she spoke the Cainites of the Company shifted uncomfortably and the iron gaze of Kara only intensified.
Maria said that the agreement would be strengthened further still if they would also join with them...
Swear your loyalty to the true rulers of the Holy Land! Etienne cannot hold the throne, Aram is a heretic loyal to a heretic, and Von Achern is a German Kissing the hands of a German. None are true leaders. Swear!
She spoke with fire, but the perceptive among the Company could see that her allies were not as strong as she in their convictions.
As they hesitated, not knowing what the Lady Kara would have them do, Count Dieter mutters angrily of their insolence, and suggests killing them on the spot. Maria D'Agostino reacts differently, gesturing to the Austrian Count that they were still her guests.
Brother Anthony spoke for the Company, saying that they were honoured to be considered in the matter, but that they must decline.
Maria simply looked at them, saying that she trusted they would soon see right, as her servant opened the door for their departure.
The Cainites of the Company walked back through the exotic and bustling nightime streets of Acre to their haven, so that they might discuss their courses of action, but as they arrived they saw that Washid stood waiting by their door.
He greeted politely, and inquired as to how the meeting went, saying that he and Etienne had been aware of Maria's intentions for some time.
After they had invited him inside and were seated privately, he offered them a deal.
He said that he knew they searched for Sir Gregory of the Templars, and thus the true cross, and he knew where it was. He said he would give them the means to keep Etienne on the throne, for should Aram obtain it by other means Acre was surely lost, and in return he wished only one thing.
The Crusade must not attack Jerusalem, it must move for Egypt.
They spoke honestly saying that they had no means to control the Crusade, but Etienne replied that Kings are advised by Barons and Dukes, by priests and monks, and some of thos are a little to fond of our blood. Lady D'Agostino has many such friends, and she talks to them of heading for Jerusalem, were she Prince her wished would be that much stronger...
Washid said that he was more that aware of their capabilities, and he did not ask the impossible, merely for them to try.
After some consideration they agreed, knowing that it may be the only way for them to secure the Relic at all.
Washid, seemingly satisfied, told them that Sir Gregory and Knights loyal to him, no less than 10 but no more than 20, were hiding in the old tower of Atlit, out in the foothills.
Taking his leave, he departed. They talked of whether to tell Sir Michael and his company of this, to secure their aid. At last seeing that it did not matter if they took the Relic themselves, only that it not fall into the hands of an enemy, they decided to do so, and seeing also that haste was a virtue, left to find him and his men.
After learning of where he had made his haven within the city from Etienne, they approached the tower which he had claimed. They arrived and told the imposing Knight of what they had learned, and he made ready for departure immediately , order his three Squires and three men-at-arms to accompany him. The tower became a hive of activity as they arranged to meet Sir Micheal and him men by the Moupas Gate later that night.
Before departure they learned from Von Achern the King Andras of Hungary was leading his army into the desert on one last raid before returning west, and that the Baron and his childer would be accompanying them. For Von Achern was suspicious that the Vlaszy had a secret base outside the city and eager to discover for himself if it was true.
They met Sir Micheal and his six men, three Cainites three Mortals, under moonlight by the city gates, and with that the company of twelve rode off into the dark and dusty desert of Outremer.
After some hours ride they entered the canyons of the mountains, and after a while further, Sir Michaeld stopped, saying that the tower of Atlit was up and beyond the next bend. Volund volunteered to fly as a raven above the tower and see how it was defended, Sir Michael and the others agreed, and so he went.
Soaring up he saw the decaying tower and the walled compound and the Knights who defended it, perhaps 15 in total. He also spied a place where the wall tumbled down to rubble, and though a torch-bearing Templar patroled by there, it was easily the best point of attack.
Volund returned and told the other what he had seen, and, soon, quietly, they began to scale the rocky slope.
As they reached the summit, Sir Michael told them to move fast and kill quickly, before drawing his blade silently, and charged toward the collapsed walls.
He didn't break his stride as his long sword cut a silver arc through the guarding Knights neck, and was engaging the next by the time the head his the floor. His men and the Itinerant Company were but strides behind him as they entered the courtyard and engaged the mustering Templars.
The fight for the most part was quick and bloody, and though some of the Knights displayed the power of Faith in burning and forcing away their attackers, the superior strength of the attackers won out.
But not before some of them witnessed a lone knight fleeing on horse-back out into the night, a pack strapped to his back.
Once the last of the Company had finished with their foes, they mounted up and pursued with all the haste their steeds would give them.
They rode hard for nearly an hour, almost catching up to the fleeing Templar, when he passed a rise and disappeared.
Upon cresting the rise themselves they saw a sight they had not expected. The full might of the marching army of the King of Hungary, in all its standard-bearing iron-shod glory, with the King himself at the centre of his Knights, surrounded by the nobility of Hungary. And Baron Von Achern, clearly recognisably by his standard.
None in the army stopped Sir Gregory from entering its ranks as it moved along the road, recognising his tabard and shield as those of a Templar.
Sir Michael and his men rode down also, entering the column further to the rear and slowly moving up towards King Andras. Volund, Baradeus, and Brother Mortius joined him, while Maelduin, Gergoire, and Dragovich stayed up where they were, observing as Sir Gregory approached the royal party, pleading to be allowed near Andras. Most Christian King! , he breathlessly spoke in Latin, I beg your protection. I carry this relic most holy and flee from devils in Crusaders' garb. They seek to take this thing for which I have pledged my life to protect, and which Brothers of the German Hospital and of the Temple have already died to get me to your wise self... The tall wide-shouldered and cold-eyed monarch barely suppressed a smile, his avarice for holy trinkets well known, and began to blow himself, fully... to the amazement of all, and the arousal of Von Achern.
The King asked as to the nature of the relic, and Gregory replied that it was a fragment of the Cross of the Passion, brought to Acre by the Apostle St Paul and kept safe until this very day.
At that point Von Achern rode forward, visibly struggling for control in the presence of the Fragment, but unable to resist his own hunger for power.
The Bron spoke,csaying that the Relic should be handed over to him and the Teutonic Order, stating that they could protect it.
Sir Gregory however saw the nature of the Baron, and screamed, Devil! , drawing his sword to the surprise of all around.
The Company and Sir Michael drew nearer from behind as as Gregory screamed to the Baron, Reveal your true self!
Von Achern, once steady, now recoiled in horror from the zealous Knight, falling backward from his steed in a pile. One of the Bron's ghouls tried to strike out at the Templar, but his movements seem slow and Gregory pivots, landing a blow to the neck. Blood gouts, and the smell of gore is the last straw for Von Achern as he flies into fang-bearing frenzy, in front of the shocked King of Hungary and his nobles.
He leaps for Gregory as the King looks on in horror as a trusted advisor is revealed to be a monster from hell.
Von Achern strikes some mighty blows, barely deflected by Sir Gregory, but every time he approaches the Templar white flames lick around his body, forcing him back.
The Templar wastes no time, swinging his bastard sword high he lops of the proud Baron's head his a single stroke as his body crumbles to ashes before it hits the floor.
As the King and his nobles crowd round, finally coming to their senses and questioning sir Gergory, the Company and Sir Michael approached from the rear. During the chaos, Sir Micheal simply reached down from his horse and picked up the wrapped cross-fragment and continued riding, unnoticed by all.
The others followed him, through experiencing more difficulty passing between the men, and left the column by the other side.
Maelduin, Dragovitch, and Gregoire still on the other side, went to meet up with the others, but before they left the ridge they spied the departing forms of Lady Kara and some of her Vlaszy Knights from a vantage point in the distance.
Once they had all left the vicinity of the Hungarian royal army, Sir Michael granted Mortius' earlier request and allowed him to hold the Relic if he wished, but the Aura of Faith surrounding was far to powerfull for him to bear, and after but a few paces collapsed to the dusty ground,wracked with agony.
Gergoire approached him, bearing the burning Faith better than his mentor, and whispered heretical verses into the Cappadocian's ear.
Holding the Cross Fragment close to his armoured breast, sir Michael thanked them for their help, saying that he would see them in acre after making the Relic safe, and rode of with his men into the desert, as the Itinerant Company made for the lights of Acre.

OOOPS, ran out of time again at the last minute, last bit in brief:
EPILOGUE:
Etienne summons the Company to him and says he will accept Jurgen as patron if he remains as Prince. The Company agrees and Washid is revealed by Etienne to be a Follower of Set, but Etienne loves him anyway, though Mortius now hates him.
Aram calls his Court by the old Roman ruins and proclaims himself Prince and Etienne deposed. Some support him, Maria, Alexia, Von Karlach, and Kara for show. But most supported Etienne in the end, Sir Michael and the Order of The Bitter Ashes, Hakkon, Leofry, Don Alfonso, Sir Guy, Adam, Ephraim, and the Company as representatives of Lord Jurgen now that Von Achern was dead.
Aram acknowledged defeat, saying to his brood-mate that he was worthier than expected, before leaving for Jerusalem.
Thus ends The Itinerant Company's second hire in Outremer, no less eventful than the last.
Here follows 13 years of downtime, decide what your characters will be doing in that time.
The last chapter opens in the year 1225 AD, Transylvania...