"The last year of the Third Crusade was brutal, but to be honest all of it was. For five years I toiled in the desert land for a cause I didn't believe in. I was more than happy to return home after that time." -Edward Richtofen
March, 1192
So long had I fought in that Hellish land, so long had I watched men die all around me, so long had I witnessed foul acts the likes of which would make Saints faint from the pure evil of them. I have many scars of battle upon my weary body and torn soul and I cannot say that I was pure in my time in the Middle East. Though I never took to heart what Christianity had to teach and offer I could feel guilt eating at me still. I had killed many, innocent and guilty, friend and enemy alike. Even with my superior willpower I gave into temptation, but I made sure that I would have no bastard child left in that Hell of a land.
My return home was satisfying to say the least, no longer subject to the extremes of the climate and turbulence of the war that had, as I expected, ended in failure for us. I rode home upon horseback after reaching the coast of Italy, now titled a Templar for my outstanding survivablity, and apparent "service to God". I thought nothing of the name and rode on as those who wanted a hero to praise followed me giving me gifts that I did not want or did not need. As I passed through the Alps back into my homeland I was greeted by a familiar face.
My sister, Angelica, whom I'd not seen in seven years stood before me with her husband, Wilhelm of Wulfsburg and their two daughters aged five and three respectively. Now my sister was never really one to charity, but my status and time done in the Crusades must have put her in a mood for such a thing. She and Wilhelm gladly took me in and gave me all the amenities of home as well as a fair supply of money. When asked I would tell them of my tales in the Holy Lands, but I kept my stories censored greatly.
April 3rd, 1192
I took my leave from my sister and her husband's residence and made my way to make some place my own home.
April 15th, 1192
I finally settled in a nice hamlet outside of a town called Heidelburg, the people there are quiet and keep to themselves. Amazingly enough there is no church around either, what a boon to have for one of my tastes. I can't help but feel as though there is something off about the people here. I do like their quietness, but it unnerves me in the most peculiar manner. Nevertheless I took up residence in an old manor, left by a nobleman who passed away two years ago.
April 23rd, 1192
A strange man visited me in my home today, his name was Leopold von Heissenwerner. Though his intentions were quite cryptic I couldn't really refuse company, it was rude to do so, after all he'd travelled from Vienna to meet me. I had to wonder why, that was until he told me why he was here. Apparently there was an opening in a high ranking position in a secret sect of Templars (which as I was a Templar it applied to me). Leopold told me that it was an offer that I couldn't refuse and the benefits that he explained to me were very enticing.
I would be paid in great wealth if I took up this position and its reponsibilities, and it would give even more weight to my fading noble name. There was something else that influenced me to accept the offer, but I couldn't place my finger on it, before I could ask about anything else he left. At least there was no deadline in which I would have to get to Vienna, that gave me time to plan for my trip and prepare for what ever duties I would have in the position.
June 18th, 1192
Here in Vienna I was greeted by Leopold once more and he couldn't have been happier to see me. I was taken into the cathedral where I would be inducted into the sect in secret and set with my duties. In the catacombs of the cathedral there were three others, but they were of different descent than I and just what were they doing in Austria anyway? Leopold introduced me to the brash Brit Clarence Dempsey of Bath.
The man was not who I would have liked to be around, in fact I would rather had left then and there than to exchange niceties with these men, but I digress. Leopold also introduced me to a burly Russian man named Baron Alexei Belinski and then last a strange man of the Orient Haru Masaki. We were all hand selected by agents of the sect to defend an ancient and powerful mystery that lie within the earth of many places. Apparently these secrets were so powerful that Leopold stressed that "if man were to uncover such a thing again the consequences could bring about the apocalypse itself".
After the tense seminar we couldn't disagree with joining the sect in order to save humanity from this great and perilous power. A few obscure rituals and oaths later and we were anointed as Templars of the Ancient Powers.
"It was after this entry that I stopped writing all together as my duties as a 'Templar of the Ancient Powers' took most of my time. It was also after my induction that I came ever closer to acheiving the 'transformation' that made me what I am today." -Edward Richtofen
