Spring, 196 A.D. (C.E.)

Centurion Decianus Varus:
Alea iacta est! Emperor Publius Helvius Pertinax
has fallen victim to the assassin's blade. As I
stand gazing out across the massed ranks of our
Pannonian legions, Septimus Severus duly strives
to consolidate his newly acquired control of the
Empire. Pescennius Niger is slain, his forces
expelled from Cyzicus, Nicaea and Issus, and yet
Clodius Albinus has sailed from Britannia and is
raising an army in Gaul in his own bid to seize
the throne. Severus intends to engage that
northern host at Lugdunum once his campaigns here
Find more similar lyrics on http://mp3lyrics.com/rXEin the east are concluded. Behold Byzantium! We
now prepare to lay siege to this ancient and
splendoured city. Strangely, the order has been
given that the Byzantine library is to be searched
thoroughly following our victory. Rumour has it
that Severus's aged soothsayer Angsaar is
searching for a collection of arcane scrolls said
to be of the utmost importance, scrolls which are
reputed to be hidden somewhere here in Byzantium.
Something about that wizened old shaman unnerves
me... there is something strangely unnatural about
him, something... sinister. Feh! What are those
scrolls supposed to be called again? Ah yes, The
Chthonic Chronicles...