You are William MacMahon, Lord of Damascus, Taker of Edessa, Defender of Constantinople, and the only reason you're awake is that one of the Orthodox priests has quietly shaken you awake and reported that your presence is being requested by the Ladies Asherah and Aine, in their rooms at the Palace.

Thanking him, you slip out of the Hagia Sophia, taking one last lingering glance, before hurrying to the Palace. The Empire is a rotting husk. The only reason you aided in the defense of the city was to achieve more bargaining power with the Emperor.

You enter the palace smiling and nodding to the courtiers and servants, before finally reaching the wing where Asherah and Aine were given rooms.

>Do you find out what they want?
>Go off and do other, plot-ty things?

>>21941323
While you'd dearly love to get your hands on the entire library of Constantinople, you realize that'll take the work of a fully established chapter house, working for decades. That said...

You find Sergio, knowing he can read, if not speak, Latin, and set him to work with another Hospitaller brother that reads Greek finding texts on maps, manufacturing, shipbuilding, and naval warfare, to be copied by the scholars working in the library. Once you leave them there, you return to your borrowed office next to your room, and request a pageboy bring the Ladies Asherah and Aine to you.

>How do you greet them?

>>21941346
"Ladies. To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?" You keep your voice calm and equitable, not wanting to die of poison right now.

"You were summoned to US, MacMahon, in order to discuss... A certain event that took place before you charged the Turks." It had been Aine speaking, but now Asherah has taken over.

"You kissed me, MacMahon. YOU KISSED ME! We thought you were interested in Marie! She thought you were interested in her! What kind of game are you playing, MacMahon!?" Oh God. Angry women. Angry at you. Time to run. You stand, as though to have them sit, and then you slide under the desk on the hardwood floor, tripping them both, before scrambling back to your feet and heading to the corridor.

>You've momentarily escaped.
>Oh God, now where do you hide?

>>21941352
Actually, you decide... Fuck no. You're sick of shit from emperors and kings and that fuck useless Count of Edessa, and you walk the Hell back into your office, where they're still trying to process what just happened.

"You what? You thought I was interested in Marie? You seem less than all-knowing, I must say. You asked me at the time, ME, whom you'd pronounced to have as my primary concern, my guiding star, the breaking of the armies of the crescent of Mecca, what you'd get for assisting me in a fight! When you would obviously get seventy thousand slaughtered Turks. You asked me to sweeten pure honey, and for what? What sort of ambrosia do you seek exactly? So I did what any sensible man would do - I assumed you might not follow through and took succor, whilst confusing you thoroughly."

"You keep the company of the Irish, woman, so you'll understand. I did it for the craic. What becomes of it is out of my hands - I'm just a damn morningstar in the skulls of heathens to you right now, so figure it out. Was there anything else?"

Before they can reply, or even process that as well, you whirl and march out of the room and to the barracks, near the Fifth Military Gate, of the mercenaries you fought with, the Normans, Scots, and some of the off-duty Varangians.

Despite their being total bros, you're unsure if they'd take well to your attempts to hire them.

>Try to hire them?
>Sit and chew the bull?
>Test the waters?

YAY CRUSADER QUEST

Reading intro now.

>>21941361
Spend an hour or two rubbing elbows and asking what things are like and getting the feel of the situation, then ask how long they've been serving the Emperor and how much longer they're likely to do it.

Eventually work toward any sympathetic captains and ask them that, given that the Emperor has his pick of mercenaries and that they've witnessed the true meaning of Byzantine politics, whether or not they'd be interested in pursuing new contracts.

If the answer is no, no hard feelings. If they have an interest, they needn't reneg on the Emperor but you will buy up their contracts as they become available.

This ensures a steady flow of new troops to our banner, a few hundred to a few thousand at a time. Besides, we may well need them in Rome. After a meeting with the Emperor and his Generals and buying a stock of Greek Fire grenades, we should leave for Sicily...maybe pick up Nur Al-Din on the way.

>>21941793
I think Ridire fell asleep again.

>>21941868
Are you kidding me? Do you know what? DO YOU KNOW WHAT. I drank so much caffeine. I drank all the caffeine.

>>21941882
Excellent. Time to continue fucking around in Constantinople. Here, man >>21941793

>>21941793
So yeah, we gotta do this.

Then:

-Gifts for Thierry's daughter, Eleanor of Aquitaine (the french king's wife, we kind of ignored her so far) and Queen Melisande of Jerusalem; all should include music transcribed from the library probably.

-Meeting with Imperial generals and possibly a request to the Emperor to flank the Seljuks and cut off the Sultanate of Rum as we've recaptured Edessa

-Agreement to set up steady shipments of Greek Fire in our direction in exchange for money and silk and so on. Byzantine silk production is still recovering from the raid undertaken by the Sicilian navy, we'll help meet the Empire's demand.

-Check on the men in hospital and try to get on Anna Komnene's good side maybe.

-Trip to Sicily.

>>21941882
Evidently all the caffeine wasn't enough :P

Go ahead and make poast, Ridire.

>>21941361
You're welcomed by a rousing cheer, and a pint of mead being shoved into your hand, you down it to more acclaim and applause; these guys really like you. Grinning, you hold up a pouch of gold and toss it to one of the more sober men near you. Judging from his cap and the plant sprig in it, he's a Scot, so you tell him in Gaidhlig to go buy more of whatever alcoholic beverage is being passed around.

One of the captains, a rough, grizzled looking Scot, answers your inquiries about morale and their length of service.

"We've been serving the Emprah for four years, now. Most o' my men have decided they don't like the clime, and are looking for something... Warmer, if you catch my meaning, sir. Our contract is over, this season."

"Excellent... mac Donchadh, excellent. It's a pleasure to have worked with you, and I hope the chance offers itself again."

"The same, Hospitaller, the same." You and mac Donchadh are separated in the swirl and crush of bodies drinking and almost rioting in the barracks room, but you're ambushed by the Norman's captain, a short, dour man that looks like he's won in several shield wall battles.

"Ave, Hospitaller. Unlike the Scots, our contract expired with the campaigning season. We're only still here because we're waiting on a couple of the wives to give birth."

(1/2)

File: 1354940461151.jpg-(17 KB, 300x223, CrusaderRings.jpg)

>>21942075
"Good, good. It's good to meet you, Franz. I don't have quite enough money on hand to hire you and your men, but will the promise of land around Damascus, and money, see you through the rest of my trip here, and a trip to Sicily and possibly Spain, before we reach Damascus again?"

"We've fought for less, William. We're yours now." Thanking him profusely, you're picked up bodily by the shoulders from behind. Reaching for your dagger, you're about to twist and drive it into whoever's skull when you're turned around and greeted by the Varangian captain, Olaf.

"GREETINGS, LITTLE CRUSADER KNIGHT. OLAF HEAR YOU ARE HIRING MERCENARIES FOR BIG FIGHT IN HOLY LAND." Poking at an ear, as you think you've gone deaf, you're about to try to formulate a reply when he whispers, only for you to hear.

"There's a ship loaded to the brim with more Northmen two weeks out. One of the traders exchanged greetings with her. When they arrive, we'll head for Damascus and your father. Just be sure there's a fight in the planning for us, Will."

Your reputation almost precedes you, you think. Well, at least it's a good one. After thanking Olaf, you, Franz, and mac Donchadh begin drinking companionably, before one of the men lets the courtesans into the room. Fairly certain at least one of the several aimed in your direction is a spy intent on breaking your vow of celibacy for you, you slip out of the room.

>Shopping first?
>Meet the Generals?
>Try to get some of that sexy Greek Fire?
>Hospital trip?

>>21942187
Shopping and hospital trip. The Generals will authorize the greek fire trade, pending the Emperor's approval.

>>21942224
secondan

>>21942187
You're a bro for continuing with this, Ridire. Remember how to roll dice, btw, or should we recap?

>>21942295
I have got it! As an aside, you guys are the bros for participating in this.

So do you guys want to bet he fell asleep again.

>>21942574
I wouldn't bet against it, but I'll give him a chance to get back into writefagging form if he's starting slow

>>21942187
You are William MacMahon, Lord of Damascus, Knight Hospitaller, etc, etc, etc. You're about to boldly go where no man has gone before (Willingly, at least.) Shopping.

Armor? Check. Sword? Check. Dagger? Check. Wedding ring? Check. You are good to go. Taking a breath, you swiftly scale the wall of the garden you hid from the courtesans and Asherah and Aine in. Your awesomeness, however, is interrupted by someone on the other side throwing a rock and knocking you off balance, causing you to fall. Rubbing your head and back, you look for the culprit, but whoever they were has disappeared. Prioritizing your excursion, you head for the hospital of Anna Komnene, where the wounded mercenaries that you led are recovering from their wounds. After murmuring thanks and receiving theirs, you feel dirty. You weren't worthy to lead these men into battle, where they were wounded and their brothers in arms were killed. Yet they followed you anyway. You're about to leave, ashamed of yourself, when a light touch on your arm stops you.

"Don't go, Hospitaller. My father would feel the same way, when he lost men in battle. He'd feel guilty, unworthy, and terrible, and he'd drink himself into a stupor, and then go out and get into brawls for a few nights before he came to his senses."

"I'm sorry, ma'am, but-"

"Don't interrupt me when I'm speaking, young man! You're not too old or too big that I won't bend you over my knee and spank you like your mother would! As I was saying, before I was so rudely interrupted, you can't blame yourself for not being perfect. Only God, in His infinite Glory, is perfect. And you're NOT God. Now get out of here, and come back tomorrow."

Thanking her, you take your leave of the hospital.

>Gift time!
>Who do we shop for first?
>Thierry's daughter, Laudette?
>Eleanor of Aquitaine?
> Melisande of Jerusalem?

>>21942617
We're getting them all the same shit, more or less - we need to hit wherever the musicians are copying out their latest crap, we need to go get them cloth or clothes dyed in rare colors (purple for the queens as it is most expensive and rare, black for the Count's daughter), and aside from that we could send them spices.

>>21942667
Might as well throw in some velvet, they should have a stock in Constantinople.

>>21942617
Hey Ridire, is Athena around in this world? Can we meet the Greek pantheon, or anyone else aside from the sisters?

>>21942778
We got that bitch velvet and silk and music. Bitches love velvet and silk and music.

>>21942785
Chances are we could meet Hecate, her cult had a basis in Constantinople before the site was chosen for Roman settlement. She has some association with the walls of byzantium themselves.

>>21942792
Okay.jpg, go talk to the generals if we're done.

>>21942617

For simplicity's sake, you decide to get them all the same thing: A large assortment of spices, a wonderful selection of music from the Library of Constantinople, purple silk and velvet for the two Queens, and yellow for Laudette. Half-remembered heraldry lessons come to mind, and black is supposedly a color worn to help with fertility. For women, at least. Yellow, however, is a nice neutral color, and you feel safe sending her rolls of velvet and silk in yellow.

You get that safely packaged and on it's way through the Imperial Courier system, before sending a note requesting a meeting between the Imperial Generals and Admirals in the city, the Emperor, and yourself. You know it's going to take a few days; Byzantine politics move slow, and you're still an unknown factor and quantity. Cursing the city, you return to the market places.

>Do we want to try and get something for Asherah and Aine?
>Do we want to get something for Dad?
>Marie's important, too! Don't forget her!

>>21943056
Marie can have a tea service. DOHOHOHO, WHY'D I READ THAT FREAKING WRITEFAGGOTRY

Dad can have some bitchin' Byzantine armor with the family crest on it.

The goddesses can have some expensive old wine, and well-worked shields depicting Valkyries if there's a norman/varangian smith in the city.

>>21943156
that works

File: 1354945269409.jpg-(83 KB, 600x399, istanbul_s_irene2.jpg)

>>21942895
>>21942785
The ancient acropolis of Byzantium, near the Hagia Sophia on the hill, had temples to Athena and other gods (Dionysus, Poseidon, Artemis, and Aphrodite). The basements of the buildings that exist there now might lead to Athena's old holy places.

The Church of Divine Peace or S. Irene, pic related, was built on the site of and was nearly identically to the Temple to Aphrodite, it was the 'Old Church' to Hagia Sophia's 'Great Church.' Its basements would likely offer an opportunity to commune with that goddess, much good may it do you.

>>21943056

Dad will get a set of Byzantine armor with his family crest, a stooping eagle, on it. After commissioning it, and giving the smith your measurements, since you're the same size as your father, you find a tea merchant, and buy half his stock off him, before hiring several wagons to carry it to the palace for Marie. Finding a Varangian smith knowledgeable about their pre-Christ myths, however, takes the greater part of the day, and when you at last track him down, he's halfway drunk. When he informs you he can read, you find his apprentice and tell the lad what you want; that is, two shields in the Varangian style, but decorated with "Varangian angels". Glad this can work, you spend the last of the money you brought with you a couple of bottles of wine and ice for the goddesses. Finally done with the bloody shopping, you've met with Anna Komnene, arranged a meeting between yourself, the Emperor, and his generals, you've effectively accomplished what you set out to do today.

>Keep avoiding the mystical sisters?
>Go talk to God in a church?
>Other?

>>21943506
Go visit the Old Church described in >>21943342

Let's see if we can find some basements that the old Greeko-Roman pantheon hangs out in, having a chat with Minerva/Athena or Apollo or even Aphrodite would be interesting.

It might lend more credence to Aine and Ashera's stories about being goddesses.

>>21943530
Why not

>>21943623
Because HERESY

>>21943630
Heh, silly bitch. We're the defender of Constantinople, nearly as successful a crusader as the founder of the kingdom of Jerusalem, and well on our way to becoming the pope's darling. Don't even start.

>>21943506
Rolling for getting jumped by Greek/Romano pantheon.

As part of a historical context as to why they'd be hanging out in Constantinople, it's a central location between Anatolia and Greece, and there were Greek colonies on the Anatolian peninsula.

>>21943677

Subject, shit.

>>21943654

You know what you can do, right? Bring a couple of crosses or something. That way, if anyone questions what you are doing say that you are trying to cleanse the stones of the ancient heathen practices.

>>21943687
We're not going to insult the ancient gods by bringing symbols of the religion that drove them out of the civilized world. They're not vampires, and bear us little ill will.

>>21943685
>>21943677
Put it in email and type DICE+1d20, not ROLL+1d20

>>21943715
I guess it's true that we defended their city from the Turkish barbarian horde of Islam. Well, Hecate's city at least.

>>21943715

Say to the goddess you are coming as an official representative of your religion and wish to speak to her. The crosses are just flavor showing you are sincere in your religion.

>>21943746
Why? We're mainly there to see what we can learn about this weird-ass phenomenon, not make deals.

Besides, Hecate is the Mother of Angels. I don't think it's good to assume anything about the pantheons and their connections to Yahweh until we learn more.

>>21943752

Just wanted to find a workaround to find out why a crusading knight would be visiting ancient shrines to pagan goddesses that wouldn't arouse suspicion and not be insulting to the goddess.

>>21943784
We want to learn the truth of the situation. We're not going to defile their temples, but we can't make like we're ready to negotiate on behalf of the church either.

File: 1354947849885.jpg-(395 KB, 1280x1024, ItalianCity.jpg)

Rolled 2

>>21943506

You decide to visit the underbelly of the Hagia Sophia. If you didn't feel close to God up high on the city walls, and you didn't feel close to Him in the Hagia Sophia, perhaps below it. You're willing to try, at least.

Instead of wandering with a direct purpose, you wander with a goal. You let the flow of the people around you take you from market, to docks, to walls, to gardens, taking in the city's beauty the whole time.Glad for the distraction from all your worries, you simply sight see, until at last, you arrive at the towering church. The Orthodox version of a Father takes you aside and asks how he can help you, and you tell him.

"I'm trying to feel closer to God, sir. I'm hoping if I visit the undercroft, it might help."

"Well, brother, it might. Come this way, then, but please, do not disturb the others." You thank him and follow him through, and down, a side passageway, before emerging below the main chamber. After extracting your promise not to touch anything, you look around and find yourself impressed by the expanse of books and scrolls lining the walls.

Rolled 5

>>21943856
Despite your promise, you can't help but lightly running your finger along the spine of one of the books, almost delightedly. Despite your calling as a soldier, you enjoy reading, even when it's nothing more than an old monk's preferred beer recipe. You're about to pull one off the shelf to take a look at the title page, when you're interrupted by a voice decidedly not the good Father's.

"I'd stop there, Crusader. The good Father asked you not to touch." Smiling ruefully, you withdraw your hand before letting it settle on the hilt of the dagger at your belt.

"You must forgive me, but you have the advantage of me, Messier?"

"I don't, and yes, I do. You travel with a Celtic deity and a Semitic one. I'm not sure you know exactly what's going on, but you have an idea, and I'd guess it's a fairly decent one."

>Is he right? Do you have an idea of what's going on?
>Bluff him!
>Stay quiet. POKER FACE time.

(2/2)

>>21943921

My, I can't read my selected book with all this talking. Gotta go with Poker face. The goddesses sure have got you in a bind like nobody.

Make sure he can't read, CAN'T READ that Poker face.

>>21943921
Turn about and seek the source of the voice.

"I would take it as a kindness, messier, were you to share some more enlightenment with me lest I fail to reach it myself, and blunder about as a bull in a china shop. There is little to commend the cogitation produced by a mind working half in the dark."

>>21943973
A china shop? A potter's yard, more like. Still, seconding. Nice dialogue.

I wonder what the two and five mean. OP, are you still with us?

>>21943921

You turn slowly, to find yourself facing a dark haired, handsome man, and you present him with an inscrutable poker face. "I would take it as a kindness, messier, were you to share some more enlightenment with me lest I fail to reach it myself, and blunder about as a bull in a potter's yard. There is little to commend the cogitation produced by a mind working half in the dark."

"True, Crusader, true. I am Apollo, and though this is a temple to your god, I am it's custodian, for the knowledge here is priceless, and irreplaceable." Previous experience indicates goddesses are impatient. You're about to find out if that holds true for gods, as well. You don't say another word, instead leaning against a support beam and open the book, a selection on the role of Mother Church in warfare, You settle in for a long haul, assuming Apollo can slow time down should he wish to, being able to control the sun. The man opposite you manages to find a chair in a room bereft of them, and sits down with a book of his own. At least your selection is interesting, providing a historical basis for why, exactly, the Catholic Church says crossbows are heretical to use against Christians. You and Apollo won't be interrupted for a while, yet, either. There's a service now being conducted overhead.

>>21944250
Close the book and put it back on the shelf.

"And if I offer you the chance to replicate this knowledge and spread it to a few more libraries, hallowed inventor of music and medicine and the bow, and with it my sword-arm and those of my bretheren to turn back the saracens lest they rob this place of the treasure you protect? I intend to place a crusader house of copyists here, but I expect you already know of the temperment of the Emperor and the recent Turk incursion."

"Will that earn some further Apollonian enlightenment? For it would be of great assistance, as there rages a conflict over the Bosphorus and Golden Horn now the like of which has not been seen since the Greeks besieged proud Troy."

>>21944310
>references to the Trojan War
>inb4 nobody knows that Troy was pretty close by in Anatolia

I guess we should indicate what we want to know. Are we asking about the goddesses and the nature of the conflict between the Islamic and Judeo-Christian gods?

>>21944250

The contest of silence and reading went on for so long, you fell asleep. In fact, the past few days have been so stressful, you're having an odd dream. Asherah and Aine are there, and they're standing in front of you, as if protecting you from something. Which is odd, you think to yourself, in so far as you're able, you're the one that should be protecting them. You attempt to tap the both of them on a shoulder, but physical contact leads to suddenly being able to hear.

"-ady for this. Despite what the Council says, with all respect to that body, he's only a man. Yes, he fights like a cornered father wolf, yes, he fights with the strength of four men, but no, he cannot stand what you would send at him." One of the sisters just finished speaking, and now the indeterminate fog shape they're keeping from you speaks.

"Despite this, goddess, their plans are moving at a pace faster than ours'! We cannot delay, despite the possibility of driving him in- is he listening in? Apollo, you know not what you have done!"

You're jerked awake by a sudden warmth against the side of your body; Marie has flopped upon you in your room at the Imperial palace. Clearing your eyes, you ask how you got back.

"A patrol found you slumped against a support beam in the basement of the Hagia Sophia, almost freezing, and robbed." Shaking your head, you try to recall your dream.

"Oh, Sir William! You didn't have to buy me quite so much tea. I'm worried we'll have to leave some behind when we go." Despite your best attempts, you fail to recall who was standing in front of you in your dream. Grimacing, you make sure you're decent before standing up and declaring loudly to Marie, "We've got work to do. Let's get it done!"

>>21944382
The hell? This is bullshit, Apollo, bullshit. We were going to cut a deal!

Whatever, now we can go track down some thieves or meet with generals or something.

>>21944382
And I'm gonna call it a night, guys. Thank you for participating. Feel free to throw any feedback my way. You can catch me in #swq on Rizon on IRC. I'm on there as Ridire, as well. If all is well, I'm going to be running next Friday. See you then!