IBEX

Snippets: the Dominicans had been founded to purify the faith and fight “heresy”; from about 1250 on inquisitors were drafted from their ranks, and then also from the jesuits. During the time of this story there existed a few small republics, and city states in (northern) Italy. A few united in a League. The papacy tried to gain influence, establish more Papal States - hence the quarrel about Imola, mentioned earlier in this story. Since these states were mostly small, they relied on mercenaries for their infighting and defence. Read up on Federico Montefeltro in this connection here. The yet unborn, illegitimate son of Giuliano de Medici (Giulio) will eventually become pope Clemens VII. Arguably one of the most challenging papal reigns… The church of course never fought fair; Sixtus encouraged the Pazzi plot, his own relatives engaged in it. But when things turn sour it wasn’t a matter of a political, a power dispute, but was transcended into the realm of religious parlance. Sin, heresy, blasphemy, and such was the wielded as a powerful cudgel - one that left no viable response in earthly terms. It was less than 50 years later that Luther protested this church. And a century till Henry VIII split from Rome, because he was done with the church meddling in worldly matters, politics…

Pah, that’s so Neapolitan!

The poison that is religion; the slow corrosive drip, the torrent - the colour is forever the same. Blood.

There seems to be an early scent of Savonarola in the air,

Two Medici, and one Pazzi - guess it’s in the year of the Lord of 1478 (due Medici e un pazzo…😇😜)

Loretta, pesce morto e gelida….

Haskal appears surprisingly informed, before even learning what had taken place…

they didn’t visit “family” though?

I liked Lynix better with his Mohawk, in chaps… if I do say so myself!

Oh, how I love them all! Even Haskill didn’t seem a bad lot.

My wishes; at the end of EVERY chapter there should be a button to return to STORIES. I much prefer chapters with names, not just numbers. This helps with remembering which I had read last. also, each chapter should have the publishing date, for the same reason. I wish authors would use a lot more tags! im looking forward to the revamped site already. For so many years you ve done an amazing job!

Actually I was waiting for tragedy to befall his parents. They were the only obstacles between himself and immortality. Since no other friends than his dorm mate were ever mentinoed, only the parents would notice any changes in his habits and appearance. Although it seem that maybe foul play could have been involved - possibly by the adversaries of The Prime, and the last of His Childers - Vlad. Our young hero appears truly naive, if not borderline daft, if he not even considered making funeral arrangements..... or he is in a permanent fog and mentag haze, being controled by Vlad? Btw I feel in Chicago leadership might be a vacancy now? And Navius' ring is being retired?

Cliffie BAD! That being said - did Zac's life force - upon touching Q's feather - just revert to Q? I'll keep watching this space...

Bas serves the function of " Dear Diary..." Oh sorry - journal, it's blokes here, innit? Sadly, he never answers, full of wit and sass! But perchance he's a sleeper? Re-appearing at an unexpected / inopportune moment, as deus ex machina ,or some such literary device? Btw , for me as foreign, non-native reader, the style reminds me much of Nigel Gordon on Awesomedude.org - the Johnny series. I guess it is the locale? Similar language / idioms / landscape... Thoughts? Anyway, I love this slow burning story!

"Agua...." and then I wept

I'll ship Elion and Holden...

Is this a re-write, or a continuation of the Carter Saga I read many years ago, I think on crvboy?

I just HAD to look for a house in New Orleans! Found one on Zillow, suitably aged….

I must have slept during that lecture - what are The Federation, and The Empire? Both share The Academy, it seems. So who is the senate?

Oh, Sweet. Finally. All is good in the five sectors now! Wedding bells in the offing….

when regicide becomes an obligation...

Thanks for the Matriarch! She currently is the only one that can reset Marc’s head!

Marc appears now as a self absorbed entitled brat. Not communicating with “his fated Nate, the love of his life..” at all, yet expecting to be fully understood. He has no real corrective yet. All his family treat him as the second coming ( at least of his great grandfather), and he can do no wrong. He single-handedly forced the merger with the Alexander’s, without much auditing, or scrutinising. Whatever he wants he gets, or he marches marines to thwart an unplanned/ unwanted lunch! Enough with juvenile tantrums, Alex stop fawning, grow a spine, and give your mate a good talking to. Standing up for oneself should be something Marc might understand, and respect.

Guys, help me out - “we wolves not meeting pack expectations…” - where and how is the two Nyxes outcast status explained? It seems they are just run of the mill black Nix pack members?

In Arthur's homelands Richter means "Judge"