The group begin reading the Devil’s Simulare which tells an interesting story from the time of the crusades.
Three Frankish crusaders find fight their way into the city of Constantinople as part of the Fourth Crusade and seize it. The city, however is split between the Frankish forces and the Venetians who both occupy different districts.
Despite his orders, Lord Baldwin is unable to prevent a large and unusual amount of looting and pillaging. A mania seems to have fallen over the invading forces.
The three Franks are summoned to see Lord Baldwin who has heard that a cabal amongst the Venetians are searching the city for some prize. He is keen to obtain whatever it is before they do and sends the three to interrogate a priest named Augustino who is being held by Frankish knights at the Theodosius Basilica.
As they travel through the city the three Franks encounter a number of atrocities being perpetrated by both sides and hear tell of a “Dragon” that is stalking the streets.
At the basilica they speak with four Frankish knights who are guarding the priest. They say that Henry’s men rescued him from being attacked by Venetians, possibly the cabal that Lord Baldwin had mentioned. The guards are uncomfortable about holding him.
Talking with Augustino the three learn that the cabal of Venetians, lead by a man named Remardi, are searching the city for “The Devil’s Simulare”, an item that allows the bearer to look like any other individual as long as they have removed the victim’s skin with a particular knife. The artifact is a suit of armour made of some kind of ceramic.
The cult, “The Unburdened Flesh”, has been manipulating the Doge of Venice to seize Constantinople and gain access to the Simulare. A Byzantine ritual in latin is rumoured to also allow the Simulare to summon the devil himself. The ritual is hidden in a chest under the statue of the Virgin Mary in the Church of Mercius.
He also told them about a man named Brother Merrivae who has a great deal of knowledge on the occult who could be found at the docks on a leper ship.
The interrogation is cut short when Augustino meets a horrific end, with his eye exploding in its socket.
