The Necronomicon in Byzantium
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Horrible Tale of The House Angelos
That is not dead which can eternal lie,
And with strange aeons, even death may die.
[SIZE=+3]CONTENTS[/SIZE]
[size=+1]Chapter 1 (1102-1108)
Chapter 2 (1108-1116)
Chapter 3 (1116-1121)
Chapter 4 (1121)
Chapter 5 (1122)[/size]
-
Horrible Tale of The House Angelos
That is not dead which can eternal lie,
And with strange aeons, even death may die.
[SIZE=+3]CONTENTS[/SIZE]
[size=+1]Chapter 1 (1102-1108)
Chapter 2 (1108-1116)
Chapter 3 (1116-1121)
Chapter 4 (1121)
Chapter 5 (1122)[/size]
I am happy to bring this what should be done a long time ago – an AAR based on Cthulhu mythos! The story starts in 1001 Anno Domini in Byzantium, I'll play as the (in)famous House Angelos and try to become the Emperor of Romans using blasphemous and forbidden dark knowledge.
Some home rules and basic info:
1) Version 1.92, mod CK2+ 1.33.25 and almost all of the DLCs but nothing else.
2) Console will be used to provide flavor for the story (mostly for generating the „bad” traits).
3) Console will be used to provide some benefits like gold although the price will be high (fhtagn!).
4) No quickloads or any loads except when starting the game – consequences will be accepted always although → next point
5) If I will have to choose between some random thing and the total collapse of the story I will choose the story.
6) The goal is to provide interesting and dark story. The goal in game is to become the Emperor of Romans, although I leave the possibility of continuing the story after achieving that point.
7) In every chapter they will be three special elements:
*„Chronology of events” - timeline for the story;
*„Dramatis personae” - list of all important characters;
*„The Black List” - list of all the victims of power hungry Angeloi on their way to the Imperial Throne.
8) Oh and I'm not a native speaker, so my apologies for mistakes.
9) I reserve the right to change the rules during the story.
2) Console will be used to provide flavor for the story (mostly for generating the „bad” traits).
3) Console will be used to provide some benefits like gold although the price will be high (fhtagn!).
4) No quickloads or any loads except when starting the game – consequences will be accepted always although → next point
5) If I will have to choose between some random thing and the total collapse of the story I will choose the story.
6) The goal is to provide interesting and dark story. The goal in game is to become the Emperor of Romans, although I leave the possibility of continuing the story after achieving that point.
7) In every chapter they will be three special elements:
*„Chronology of events” - timeline for the story;
*„Dramatis personae” - list of all important characters;
*„The Black List” - list of all the victims of power hungry Angeloi on their way to the Imperial Throne.
8) Oh and I'm not a native speaker, so my apologies for mistakes.
9) I reserve the right to change the rules during the story.
That's all folks! Let's get this started.
PROLOGUE
1101-1102
1101-1102
Today everyone celebrates. Twenty long years have passed since Alexios seized the throne and saved us all from the hordes of infidels. The Empire is now much stronger that during those black days but one doesn't need wise eyes to see the dangers surrounding the state like the vultures surround the ill and weak but still pride lion. But today everyone celebrates, songs are played, wine is spilled and smiles fill the air. Everyone but me. I can't find any happiness in my life since I lost her. Oh my dear Anna, how much I miss you! Would you ever forgive me? This is my last hope because I know that I can't count on His forgiveness. I will burn for what I did to you, my love. Soon I will this miserable world and the judgment will be passed upon me. If we met on the other side… no, no! I can't think about this, not now. I did this for our children, Anna, I did it for them. Or I thought so, because today I know that this cursed day will bring us only misery. But you wanted this, didn't you? You told me to read this damned book, you were always saying that as quick as I rise I can fall. And I did, my dove, I did.
After the Alp Arslan filled the valley with the blood of Romans and humiliated our Emperor I knew that our darkest nightmares has become real. In the next years full of despair and chaos thanks to my stupidity which was then mistaken for courage and my lack of vision which enabled me to continue my service in a fading army I gained the honor of commanding the droungos of Chios. I, simple lowborn from Smyrna, was elevated to the ranks of aristoi! Today I can say that this says more about the condition of our aristokratia than my doubtful valor.
Everything seemed to be so good. I was a landed noble, I found the most beautiful women of all on the agora of Smyrna in the sunny day, we married in silent monastery of St. Dionysius. Even the everpresent shadow of war couldn't erase our happiness during those days. But then I found this book. Years have passed and I still don't have any idea what was his name. Tall, pride, dark-skinned and always smiling warrior from a distant land with those weirdly intensive orange eyes. When we were on a campaign against the barbarians in the first years of Alexios reign I saved his life. „This is the most precious thing I have. You have to take it Manuel, this is the only way for me to pay this debt.” He disappeared few days later, probably died during the battle with feral Pechenegs. I've never saw him again.
I forgot about this book completely – we were in the middle of a war after all. Only years later, when the infidel invasion swallowed our eastern lands like a black tide and we have to sail to Theodosiopolis to save ourselves I found it. Forgotten, lost on the bottom of small coffer, one of the few we didn't leave in the castle while escaping from the sword of the enemy. Oh my Anna, why did you tell me to use this damned book!? I should have toss in into the deep where it belongs. But it was too late – the mysteries were to fascinating to foret about them. Soon I knew the history of the book, the tragic tale of Mad Arab Abdullah al-Ḥaẓrad, an exile from Sanaa in Arabian Peninsula.
When I realized that this was indeed the Necronomicon, banned by the patriarch Michael before I was born, then I failed. I failed you and our unborn sons, I failed him and I lost my mind to this vile manuscript.
But it worked. It worked just as al-Hazrad promised in his madness. Soon I was a doux and I wasn't a mere servant anymore. With themata of Samos and rich lands under my rule I gained power and wealth but I lost this what is the most precious of all: my only love and my soul. I tried to get rid of it, I really did – but it always come back. Always. This unholy ritual somehow binded my blood with the magic of the book, thus connecting my whole family to this insult of God's laws, this abomination of unholy verses. And that's why I'm frightened, why I can't smile – I deserved my fate but my sons? Did I bring doom on all of them innocent boys?
I have no other option. Andronikos is not a child anymore, but he's still young, too young to survive in this harsh times without guidance. I spent a lot of gold to hire the best eunuchs in the Queen of Cities to teach him the world. He's talented much more than I am, but I'm full of doubt whether he will survive long without allies. I must find him a good wife and do it quickly. I also have to teach him the dark secrets of the book – maybe he will be able to find a way to break this curse and bring peace to our family.
I'm old and tired, my days are numbered. But I will find the strength to carry on this burden for a few more years – I have to do it for my sons. Then, when my time comes, maybe we will meet again, even if just for a one sweet and sad moment.
Maybe then I will finally take a rest. Today nobody will go sleep early but all my night are vigile. I can't find peace while lying alone on my bed in the darkness. I can hear only my weak heartbeat and the distant sound of waves braking on the rocky shore. And I don't find any consolace in the light of the day - I read the book and I know that truly the night is dark and full of terrors.
Mother forgive me.
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