Like Lambs to the Slaughter

January to April, in the Year of our Lord, 1444

During my ride(a journey of significant length) to the Giovanni estate, two others from Venezia joined me. A pity our shared residence in the city has not united us more, though that may be my fault as much as theirs. Vascille Miercrow who was 14 at the time, and was not the wisest in his choice of discussion topics. The second was Marcus Bonisaro, the man who later chose to be called Stygar, though no doubt he would be angry that I record his true name here, such is his paranoia. The journey was not unpleasant, but we had little in common between us, and I suppose we still have little in common besides what would become our shared experiences.

We arrived at the Red Lamb Inn a day before the date of the dinner party. I often wonder if Claudius himself named the inn in some sick joke, or whether it is merely coincidence. Knowing Claudius' character I think it the former.

There I met the people who were also to be victims of Claudius' machinations. Some to become my future companions, some to suffer final death, and some whose fates have escaped the same pattern my own has become woven into. At the time, the only ones there sufficient of station to discuss with me were Ser Ruegar Von Vaught a german Teutonic Knight, and Lady Beatrice Montross. Conversation was had among all the guests, and some seemed to converse for a long time with an old gypsy beggar woman named Synnova.  While some spoke with her, ayoung man named Paul approached the table where I and the others of station sat when he learned we would be supping with Claudius Giovanni. He was a former crusader, and had injured his leg in battle and was hoping for employment as a Guard from the Giovanni. I am still thankful I promised him I would speak to the Giovanni on his behalf, as the simple act of kindess eventually provided me with a loyal(albeit a well paid) guard for some time.

That evening the despicable Lothar arrived, his demeanor already hinting at his darker nature. He was civil enough, but cruelty and arrogance marred his face. He informed us that on the morrow eve, Rodrigo(a much friendlier, if far more devious man though I did not know it at the time) would drive us to the Giovanni estate for dinner. He stayed for a while, and during that time I was able to convince him to take Paul on as a guardsman for the Giovanni. Before he left however Brother Clemente,a local monk to arrive to warn us all about going to Claudius' Estate. Clemente seemed mad, but he was right in the end about his claims, and only time will tell if he was right in his latter attempt to kill us. But that night, he merely sought to save us, and Lothar would have none of it. He might have killed the brother had I not intervened, though I think Ser Ruegar's silent stare as he stood beside me did more to convince Lothar to let Clemente go then my words did. A pity Clemente did not see fit to return our kindess, but then again perhaps in his eyes his future attack on was a kindess.

Regardless, Lothar and Rodrigo left with Paul in tow to begin his training as a guardsmen and we were left the night at the inn. God did not see fit to give us our last night as humans a pleasant rest, as a local farmstead was attacked by wolves through the night. Here was the first time we saw Diego cared only for his own benefit, though at the time he went by the name Alfonso. He refused to assist in helping us drive off the wolves. True, I was not as altruistic as Ser Reugar in my reasoning for wanting to help the peasants, but I still did want to help, I simply saw helping to defend the Giovanni lands might provide me with some benefit in any negotiation with Claudius as well as saving the peasants livelyhood. Ser Reugar eventually threatened "Alfonso" into assisting himself, myself, Marcus, Simon Autenbach, Renaldo(his real name to be later revealed as Batista), and even the young lad Vascille agreed to carry a torch for light.

The family was thankful enough, and the wolves dealt with in a quick manner. The beasts were starved and not eager to fight armed men, but we could not allow them to hunt further in the area. Apparently one of the wolves had nearby pups, which we ended up gifting to the farmstead to raise against my objections. I felt the pups could not be properly trained by farmers, but it mattered little overall and we returned to the Red Lamb to sleep away what was left of the evening.