- ARCHIVE - Imperial Court of Constantinople

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Baraq Khan looks angrily at the Sultan

Know that if you weren't the Sultan of an allied country, I would have broke you in half and played with your body. But it is your lucky day.

Who is the most coward... the one who fight, or the one who nearly cry seeing what we, MONGOLIANS, can do when we attack our ennemy?!

You aren't in a position of force, Sultan Murad. I am impressed only by the Great Khan Dsaluu Jambyn, and do not give anything of what a European friend thinks of the way I rule my country. I may have be beaten, but with a 3-1 disavantage. You were even able to force your entry in Crimea...

Now enough talking. We you do not want to play, do not. But Kazan and Sibir will have fun tonight, with the Patriarch and some Greeks human bodies. Let's just make the team.

He than turns to the Patriarch, and, with a relatively easy Greek:

Of course, you come with me... Bars, do you play? And Bolor?

 

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Joseph II hisses. "Away from me you filthy dogs!"

"I go no where with anyone. This church is my sanctuary and my refuge. Keep your hands away from me!"

The Patriarch looks at Bars and Bolar and the filthy Siberian mongol then at Murad. Turning to the latter, he pleads:

"Please! My own people live under your banner! Keep these filthy animals from me. O Great Sultan, I have worshipped you from afar. I dream of saving your soul...... do not let these men claim my life! If I should do, so shall the glory of the Hagia Sophia and the glory of Constantinople....her glory is yours!!!

the emperor has fled like a coward and all that stands in your way are these animals....I beg you..take what is yours and defend orthodoxy!"

 

[BaronFoxxe]

"Patriarch," began Emperor Alexius IV, "strange how you call Ioannes a coward. I have talked to the myriad of people in this courtyard. They have told me how you called a fellow man of the faith a Demon. In the height of the crisis you barred the doors of the Hagia Sophia to the People of this city. Furthermo...."

"Enough!" Roared a voice from behind the group of lords.

"I will not have discussions of executions on this hallowed ground," continued the Archbishop of Trebizond, " Look about you lords, there are wounded, injured and dying all about us. Let us concentrate on the least of God's people, not upon the disposition of the Patriarch. Imprison him if you must, but help me see to these people. Is that not the duty God has given to the nobility on earth?"

 

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A mysterious person dressed in black, completely covered, witnesses the specticle. It gazes upon the pleaing Patriarch with unknown eyes, and it shows no emotion. It simply stands to watch the sceen unravel.

 

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Inside the Hagia Sophia

A crowd of peasants had gathered inside the church. They lined up before their beloved Patriarch and with total contempt for both the Turk and the Mongols they spat, "You want our holy father!? You gonna go through us first!"

Unarmed but for whatever objects they could grab from the streets the people are determined to protect the Patriarch or die and go to heaven in the process.

 

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Death of Constantinople

Outside the gates of Constantinople, a few sorrowful greeks pulled carts of coffins away towards the plains of Thrace. What few survivors the Mongols left, the plague had come to claim.

The relief force in Morea striken by the death, infidels in the holy city, the emperor fled abroad...surely this was the end.

The people could only shiver at their bleak futures under their new masters as they pushed coffins and more often than not threw the unboxed corpses of their bretheran into a large pit that had been made for this occasion.

It was a black day indeed.

 

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As Bars Khan's allies stand bickering over the life, his expression becomes more and more venomous. By the time that the peasants approach the Hagia Sophia, he is virtually shaking with rage. Bolor Khan, whose armor is still stained with blood, is watching wide-eyed as the normally cagey and collected Great Khan is nearly convulsing in place. And yet, no one notices, so absorbed are they with dividing the prizes and deciding what is to be done with the Patriarch.

"SHUT UP!!! ALL OF YOU!!!!"
Everyone snaps to attention, even the Patriarch and the Sultan. The Great Khan begins to pace about, spittle flying from his mouth as he yells.

"You stand around debating as if you can change what has taken place here! I am the Victor of Constantinople, and it is my prize! Not a one of you will take anything from this place without my leave, nor will you do anything! Murad, who is my brother sovereign, you must concede that the life of the Patriarch is mine to do with as I please. I have given it to Baraq in order to make amends with him. Moreover, I will suffer no pieces of Constantinople being carted off to other lands without my express permission. Baraq, you have been given the honor of slaying one who is offensive to us. However, I ask a boon of you: In respect of his station among his people, kill him without torture. Although I will not suffer him to live, he proved to be a honorable foe by not fleeing. We should give him a respectful death."

Bars Khan seems like he is starting to calm down, but then he turns and sees the rabble trying to protect Joseph II, and his rage explodes again. "AND YOU ALL! Is it not enough that everyone you have ever known lies dead at my hand!?! Would you now have me kill all of you as well!?! I have killed a hundred thousand today, what difference does a few more make to me!?! Do you think I fear a rabble mob when I have killed all you hold dear!?!" Bars Khan is shaking again, and seems to be frothing a little.

"PATRIARCH!!! YOU HAVE NO SANCTUARY!!! THIS CITY, THIS CHURCH, AND EVERYTHING IN IT ARE MINE!!!! MINE!!!! MINE!!!! The Sultan cannot save you! Your God cannot save you! If you had been able to appease your God, then he would not have let loose a bane such as I, a bane for all ages!" Even with the peasant masses in between the two men, Joseph seems to shrink back from the ranting Mongol.

"YOU WOULD DARE TO CHALLENGE MY RIGHT OF CONQUEST!?! SEE WHAT I CAN DO!!! I am the destroyer of lives, of cities, of nations, of worlds!!! I am death made flesh, and no man may harm me! Your words are puny, and you honor even moreso! I will...! I should...! Son of a...! URAGSHAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!"

With that, Bars Khan ripped his saber from it's sheath, and charged the entire mass of humanity before him. Everyone just sat stunned as the lone man charged fifty. However, as Bars Khan crashed into the first man and beheaded him cleanly, the crowd simply disintegrated, running every which way. Although they had not known fear before their assembled conquerors, they broke at the charge of one man, who killed in their midst like the devil possesed him. All the time, he spouted unintelligable words and spat all over the room. Not a man would stand against him, but it mattered not, for he cut them down as they fled. The guards and warriors that stood there were simply speechless at this display.

As the remains of the peasants fled away from the demon, Joseph II fell to the floor, and wet himself. "The Prince of Darkness has taken your soul!" he cried. "Get thee away from me!" He cried, tears of terror flowing down his cheeks.

Pausing only to rip his saber from the body it was stuck through, Bars whirlled around and charged the Patriarch of the Orthodox Church, screaming in tongues as loud as he could. As he grew closer, the Patriarch's scream of terror echoed Bars' scream of rage, until the two reached a horrible creshendo. Then , Joseph II's scream was cut off into a gurgle as Bars Khan, with strength that only a madman could possess, cleaved him in half from shoulder to hip. The two bloody halves twitched on the ground as the Great Khan, over balanced by the mighty swing, fell into the ruins of the Patriarch.

Everyone in the room sat in silence for a moment, and then Bars Khan's voice, cold and calm, rang out in the enormous chamber. "Take this filth and crucify it. Let this serve as my message to those who would war with me."

Bars Khan rose to his feet, covered in gore, and gave the assembled lords a stare that dared them to argue with him.

 

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The myseterious person just stands in the middle of it all, watching without emotion. It stands seemingly starring at the angered and victorious Khan. It then bows it's head in respect for the infuriated Khan and departs slowly.

 

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Baraq Khan, surprise, but yet smilling, turns to Murad.

See, that, my friend, is my old friend Bars Khan... I like him the way he is now.

Baraq Khan then turns to the Patriarch, coldly looking him. He takes his sword on the ground, and looks agan at the Patriarch

Patriarch of Constantinople and of the Orthodoxe church. You have been found guilty, by the aws of Tchinngis Khan, of opposition to the Mongolian hordes from the east. As it is the only way for us to punish you, you will die honorabely.

He looks at the dead Patriarch, and put the sword on the neck of the Old man

You have prooven to be a man of honor, and of your words. Therefore you died with no pain. May your god have mnercy of what you caused in Constantinople.

. Coldly, he said to 3 mongolians warriors:

Spread the words that he as vaillantly fought for what he knew it was the truth for him. There is no shame for him to be dead now...

He than turns again to the assembly of people the were near the two Mongolian Khans

People

It is now a new area in Constantinople. Mongolia is the master of the lands, by the hand of Bars Khan, Khan of the Kazan Khanate. Know it, nothing will be the same here again. Hail Bars Khan, hail Mongolia!

He turns back to Bars Khan, smiling agrily

My friend... you know what I want now... The Patriarch is dead, but my taste of revenge is not done... I need you to help me get her... and you know of whom I talk about... Maybe she has spies here. And if she has, then so be it. But you know very well that without her dead... I won't stop my anger...

So, what is your answer... do we recreate another Horde, and go hunting?

 

[driftwood]

Murad stood impassively, his hands clenched behind his back. It appeared as though a great weight had settled on his shoulders. At last, as Joseph's corpse ballooned in different directions, he spoke.

"Very well. The Archbishops and Metropolitans will need to convene a synod to elect a new patriarch. I hope you will guarantee them safe passage to, and in, Constantinople. If not, they may use Iznik, which they called Nicaea in olden times."

Bowing lightly to Bars Khan, he headed off, the Turkish soldiers falling in behind him. Several of the wide-eyed Greeks, though suspicious of the Turks, decided they preferred the relative safety of the janisseries to the capriciousness of the Mongols, and trailed after them.

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After long discussions with the Sultan, the Grand Vizier called up more of the Turkish army onto the plain of Thrace. They attempted to catch the population of Constantinople before it disbursed in the wind. Refugees were offered food and shelter, and promised either farms on the rich soil of Thrace or their homes returned back in the city. Since many of the Turks were Greek Chrisitans themselves, a goodly number of the Greeks agreed not to flee. In a time of war, the promise of warm food every day was a strong argument.

 

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As Bars Khan leaves to return to his tent, his shoulders slumped, Bolor Khan runs to catch up with the Sultan.

"Great Sultan. The Orthodox priests shall have safe passage here, and will not be harmed. I will vouch-safe them with my life, and the lives of my men. If we are to know peace within our lives, then we will have to stop this killing."

Throwing a fearful look at the retreating Bars Khan, Bolor returns to the Hagia Sophia, and the Mongols within.

 

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Baraq Khan, and his brother Boka, see Bolor and his cold look , The two ones go to the tent of their overlord, asking him to enter.

My friend. I really have to talk to you of something.

Bolor Khan is the representative of Kazan at the Devout alliance. My representative, Sugai, my own personnal advisor, sent me a letter, nearly a month ago, about some troubles he had with Baraq Khan. It nearly turned to a fight, but the Ottoman envoy did well by getting the two out of the conflict. However, my views are that Bolor Khan wants to take you place at you death, and may attend to your life in a near future. Trust me, Bars... it would really not be a great thing to see him take your place. We all we plan to do right now... he is too peaceful!

 

[driftwood]

In preperation for the synod, the Ottomans have established a zone of the city where order is maintained and people are relatively safe. Mongol soldiers are not allowed in if drunk, and even if not are escorted.

It stretches from the northwestern corner of the city, by the palace of the Blachernae and the walls, along the northern harbor opposite Pera, and down towards the center of the city, just west of Hagia Sophia. Of course, it is impossible to truly control the flow of people into the odd-shaped section, but the Turks are relatively successful.

 

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A suprisingly healthy Orthodox Priest from Moskva arrives in from the north. He has been called by the Synod, but he is here for a different reason. He bows respectfully before the Sultan of Ottomans and he walks into the Hagia Sophia where he genufleks. He sees a bunch of other Orthodox Priests there as well, but he has come with a mission...to establish a seperate church.

My my, I hope this all goes well, it seems everyone is healthy...Oh Lord grant us the strength here to acheive my mission.

 

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A gaunt and pale Piotr Lodonov enters the Hagia Sophia to pray, awaiting the beginning of the Holy Synod. He has come as Bishop of Pskov and representative of those lands as well. He is visibly shaken by the destruction that has been visited upon Constantinople and nervous around the Turks and Mongols.

 

[Warspite]

(a letter that was found with one of the peasants in constantinople)

stand fast christian brothers and sisters, do not give into the demands of the Mongols. As sure as they have butchered your people in that city, surely St Mark will ride to your rescue and destroy and punish the Mongols forever

 

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A small and modest group of of Orthodox official have set up a small encampment along with them some doctors and healers from Albainia to tend to the injured Greeks.

One of the wounded looked up and began to speak wearly to a prelate
"Your from Albainia aren't you"

The prelate replied
"Yes, I suppose I am"

The Greek spoke again
"Your here to save us"

The prelate responded
"No, I am afraid not, I am here for a election of the patriarch, I doubt an Albainian patriarch will be elected to much hate has been spread of us has been spread."

The Greek gasped
"I fear I will not last the night when you return to Albainia tell your king that the people of Constatinople support your actions those who do not stand up against such tyranny are enimies of all civilisation"

The prelate respond
"We responded to pleas of Byzantium first to stop those who support such atrocities with diciceve actions but our enimies are now seeing the reason for our actions but I doubt they'll change

 

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The Russian priest rises amongst the coucil of priests, the one whom Alexandra sent, he rises in fury, and says aloud.

When is this synod going to start?

 

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Baraq Khan is sitting in te Yurt of the new Great Khan of Mongolia, Bars Khan. The two are having great time telling themselves jokes about Russians. Suddetly, an Altai arrives an say some old Tartaric words. Baraq Khan looks angrlily to the Altai, then jump of his seat

You must pardon me, my friend. Some important matters in Sibir are now preoccuping me. I am glad to see that your decision about our plans haven't changed, and hope you will send me a messenger in Sibir at the end of you enterprise, that will signify the great debut of it! But now I must leave... Temuska, my youner brother, is sick of the plague.... I must go, sorry.

He then quickly runs to his horse, a beautiful mongolian jument. He than quickly leave in direction of Tobolsk, where his sick borther waits for him.

 

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Exarch Ivan Dmitri arrives in Constantinople, along with various attendant priests and bishops. To see the Holy City brought so low moves him nearly to tears, and he glares at the burnt out ruin of three-quarters of the city, as if that alone could alter reality and heal the damage.

Because the Muslims have taken the Hagia Sophia as their own, the synod is held in a rather large villa that managed to survive the attacks intact, although it's master was not as fortunate. As Ivan looks about the courtyard, he sees an enormous variety in the faces there. From the impatient, untrusting face of the Moscovite, to the serene, heavily bandaged face of the Archbishop of Trebizond, they all could feel the peculiar combination of excitement and apprehension in the air. Privately, Ivan wondered if it was like this every time a new patriarch was selected. No, he thought. These are extraordinary times.

Rising to the front of the room, he addresses his brothers, calling the meeting to order. "Brothers, the Christian faith has reached an hour of crisis. Joseph II has been slain by the Great Khan of the Golden Horde, leaving us leaderless when a firm hand is most necessary. No doubt, you are all aware of the circumstances which surround us, and so I throw the floor open to those who would speak, and those who would nominate a man to fill the void at our head."