The Paradox of Intrigues

The year is 1291. The Holy Land city of Acre, and stronghold of the Knights Templar, is preparing for an attack from the Sultan Kahlil and his Egyptian Mamluks streaming up from Egypt. Rumor speculates another Arab army is traveling down from the Damascus in the North, catching the city in a coordinated attack between the two armies. Their intent: kill the Christians residing in their country and reclaim their cities. Domino, Dowager Countess of Exter and her lover, Templar knight, Brother Etienne desBarres must part for Domino is pregnant with Etienne's child. To ensure their survival she must evade the approaching armies from the south and north and escape to the safety of England and the estate of her deceased husband, Sir Charles Paget, Earl of Exter. The child she carries, passed off as Charles' child, will assume that title upon its birth, providing it is a son. Domino is escorted by her family and her friend and companion, Alya, along with Charles' previous lover, and self-appointed guardian, Raoul Langston. Brother Etienne desBarres and his younger brother, Brother Philip, will remain in Acre and perform their duties as members of the Knights Templar. They are saved from the full force of the deadly siege by a twist of fate accompanied by the manipulations of the Templar monk, Brother Ambrose, and the death of Grand Master William deBeaujeu. To prevent the Templar treasure of Acre from falling into the hands of the Sultan Kahlil they concealed the funds, along with Templar treasurer, Tibald deGaudin, aboard ship and fled to the safety of Castle on the Sea. Their reprieve, unfortunately, proved to be short lived. In the meantime Domino safely arrived in the English port of Southampton. Raised in the warmth and sun of the Holy Land, the English climate was a bit of an unpleasant surprise, along with their sanitation habits or rather the lack thereof. Finally arriving in Exter which she had been led to believe was a prosperous village she was devastated to learn the truth of the situation. Charles, before his death and realizing the estate had fallen into disrepair under his late brother, had sent money to the estate chamberlain, James of Rowland. Unfortunately Rowland had died and the monies stolen by one of the two knights supervising the estate. Domino is faced with desperate poverty and hunger in her people and devastating conditions on the estate. Once again she is called upon to gather her remarkable strength and courage to meet the momentous challenge of the estate's renovation and preservation for the sake of the child she carries. Brother Etienne and Brother Philip are also called upon to face a momentous challenge above and beyond the terms of their Templar duties. Enrolled as "temporary Templars" for a period of seven years, their time grows short. Both men are anticipating the end of their term; Philip to assume control of their Father's vineyard in France and Etienne to return to England as chamberlain for the Exter estate in order to watch over the child he and Domino have created. But Fate and Brother Ambrose share other ideas for already the rumors of nefarious deeds, sodomy, devil worshipping and general misconduct are circulating through the courts of Europe regarding the Knights Templars. These vile speculations, created by King Philip IV of France and fed by the Templar's enemies would come to a head on Friday, October the 13th, 1307 leading to the downfall of one of the world's most original organizations. Our five players are called upon by the powers of the universe, and Brother Ambrose, to perform daring feats of rescue of the accused and tortured Templars using the Templar funds removed from Acre, Castel on the Sea and Bordeaux and hidden in France, Switzerland and England. Only then will Fate allow them to sleep with a clear conscience and their souls live in peace.