19845/The Crown of Ages

The Crown of Ages
Date of Scene:	18 January 2025
Location:	Rome and the Vatican archives
Synopsis:	The memvers of the Adv Club journey to Rome, to uncover details of the Crown of Ages. They begin to uncover a lot more than just that too.
Cast of Characters:	Lara Croft, Marc Spector, Cinque Evers, Patience Alperen

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Lara Croft has posed:
NEW YORK:
Lara stood at the head of a long oak table in the quiet, scholarly confines of the Yorkville Library. The faint aroma of old books and varnished wood filled the room, a fitting backdrop for the team's latest briefing. On the table lay a collection of carefully marked maps, historical documents, and a faded sketch of a crown adorned with intricate symbols. "The Crown of Ages," Lara began, her clear British accent cutting through the silence. "A relic so shrouded in myth that even the Vatican has been reluctant to acknowledge its existence. What little we know suggests it was forged as a symbol of divine authority, said to grant its bearer influence over the hearts and minds of those who oppose them. Patience and I have reason to believe the Vatican may hold records that could lead us to its last known location, or at least, a trail worth following. From here, we head to Rome."

The journey to Rome unfolded like something from an old adventure reel, the kind that made hearts race. The team set off under a crisp New York morning sky, their flight roaring to life on the JFK tarmac. As the plane lifted, the group exchanged theories over in-flight coffee and sketched notes on napkins. The montage carried on with glimpses of the airplane's path traced across a map, marked with dotted lines arching toward Italy. Overhead, the Alps appeared in breathtaking relief, and then, the timeless beauty of Rome came into view. On arrival, they navigated the bustling streets of the Eternal City, taxis weaving through cobbled alleys, past landmarks that stood as silent witnesses to millennia of history. The camera of life seemed to pause just long enough for them to gaze at the Vatican's imposing facade, bathed in warm evening light.

The scene shifted to the hushed, candlelit hallways beneath the Vatican, where the air grew cooler and the walls bore inscriptions in Latin and Greek. The team followed a stoic, robed figure through a series of winding corridors. Patience's contact, Father Matteo, stopped before a grand iron door emblazoned with the Papal Seal. "What lies beyond is rarely seen by those outside the Church," he intoned, his voice grave. "But Patience has made a compelling case. You'll find what you seek - if it exists - within."

The door creaked open, revealing the secret archives: towering shelves laden with ancient tomes, scrolls sealed in wax, and artifacts displayed in glass cases. The atmosphere was thick with the weight of centuries of guarded knowledge. Father Matteo stepped aside, granting the group access. "You'll have two hours. Make them count," he said before retreating into the shadows. Lara turned to the others, her expression both focused and expectant. "Let's get to work. If the Crown of Ages is recorded anywhere, it'll be here. Search for anything referencing its description, or historical mentions of relics tied to divine authority. Let's see what we uncover."

Marc Spector has posed:
    Steven Grant was both an obvious and not-to-obvious choice for membership within the globetrotting Adventurers' Club. He'd made his money in the world of high finance, so much so that his days were mostly occupied with finding ways to pass the time. He was charming, but he didn't give off the rugged scholar vibe that one might expect. On the trip to Rome he'd demonstrated a passing knowledge of history and archaeology, more Egyptian-focused than anything, but what he'd lacked in knowledge he'd made up for in enthusiasm and active listening.

    Grant wasn't the only one with them, either. Lurking behind his eyes, as always, were the Others. Marc, the damaged mercenary. Jake, the street-smart cabbie. Somewhere else, in the moon-touched darkness, the faintest light glints on the wicked beak of Khonshu. All of them hidden, interested but unobtrusive for now.

    He follows the group towards the archive, dressed as always in a tailored suit of an exquisite cut. His hands are folded behind his back, clutched at the wrist, and he moves towards the newer books written in English.

    "Afraid I'm not a dab hand at Latin or Greek, but some of these looks like they're written in English. I'll start here."

Cinque Evers has posed:
By the time they reach Vatican City, Cinque has memorized enough words, phrases,and images related to the "Crown of Ages" to recognize them in various texts, regardless of the language. When he realizes they have only two hours to search, he nods thoughtfully and devises a plan: spend the first 45 minutes conducting a thorough search of the most likely sources,then use the remaining time to skim other texts for potential clues to revisit later. Before diving into the search, Cinque takes a moment to let his eyes sweep over the entire space, mentally cataloging its layout in case they need to return without official permission.

Patience Alperen has posed:
Patience Alperen sat nearby as Lara provided the briefing. She had packed the night before and was ready for the trip. Not everyone realizes just how long the flight is from the US to Rome. Nothing like flying to Sydney from New York, but still long enough that there will be time for a good nap as well as drinks, quiet speculative conversations and even some preparations.

On the ground, after checking into their hotel rooms, she rejoined the others having changed from her travel clothing into what most would consider as her Work Clothes. The black and crimson armor of The Magdalena is hidden under a black hooded cloak. Slung over her shouder is a burlap wrapped staff-like object. Given the serious expression on her features, it seems she is prepared to enter what she may consider to be the wolf's lair given her history with the Church.

On meeting Father Matteo, she offers him a grateful smile and pauses before entering to speak softly to him in Italian then follows the others inside, closing the door.

"Thank you, Steven" she offers appreciatively. Immediately, her target are a stack of books and documents marked as covering a period from the 12th century. Carefully, she begins to skim through the aged pages.

Lara Croft has posed:
Over the course of the next hour, the group set about delving in to the available resources. For Lara, this involved trailing fingers over the spines of many different books. she set aside her leather jacket, and her scarf, and found a place to settle at a table in the center of the chamber.

Lara flipped through the pages of many books, while glancing toward the others, and offering a few words of insight, as she searched.

Eventually, she came to a point where she spoke up, and stood from her chair, holding a crimson leather tome, with a golden rope dangling from its spine. "This section here," Lara softly spoke to everyone. "It references a Regnum Eternum. The Crown of Ages. It says that it was gifted to a Knight Templar, who took it to an underground fortress, near the Acre, of Tide..." She stated, her voice soft.

The lights were dim within the chamber, the air a bit chilled from being underground, but a heavy silence was blanketing the air, with only muffled sounds of the world above audible to the group of dutiful researchers.

Marc Spector has posed:
    To the observer, Steven Grant may look as though he's just along for the fun of things. He looks over some books, flips through them with due reverance and care, yet doesn't seem to be looking quite as intensely as the rest. At one point he even pauses to check his phone, sending off a quick text message while admiring the rich decor of the archive.

    It's not until his fingers pass upon a scroll on the shelf. He leaves it there for a moment, but something compels him to reach for it again. His brow furrows as he draws it out, examining it carefully. He brings it straight to the table, unfurling it where all can see.

    Upon it are what look to be hieroglyphics, which he runs one finger down as though reading them. Strange, he didn't mention he had any knowledge of such things.

    "Moonlight," he says, his voice taking on an oddly low pitch he hadn't exhibited until now, "It resonates under moonlight. When they moved it, they did so during an eclipse to shield its power."

    Something unfurls deep in his soul, and there's visible discomfort in the otherwise suave man.

Cinque Evers has posed:
For the first fifteen minutes, Cinque meticulously examines several maps. Once satisfied, he puts on a pair of latex gloves and begins sifting through various tomes. Some texts are quickly dismissed as irrelevant to the "Crown of Ages," instead detailing methods for identifying practitioners of dark magic. Around the thirty-five-minute mark, Cinque's eyes land on a blueprint depicting subterranean vaults beneath the Vatican. One vault, in particular, catches his attention labeled "Sanctum of the Eternal Covenant."

The longitude and latitudes and varies measurements of the map quickly cause him to recall another a map he had previously studied. Mentally cross-referencing the details, Cinque quickly retrieves the map so he can better explain the information to his fellow adventurers. With mounting excitement, he explains to the other adventurers that the blueprint reveals a hidden passage connecting the Sanctum to an unassuming chapel elsewhere in Rome.

Patience Alperen has posed:
Patience Alperen carefully rifles through the ancient books. Her brow softly furrowed with concentration. These were records even she could not gain access to on her own. The measure of 'compelling' required was something she did not want to think about but if any organization knows a thinkg or two about not giving out something for nothing, it would be The Church. The irony is certainly not to be missed.

By the end of the second series of shelves, she has slowed to nearly a stop, focused entirely on a section in the back of a ledger containing correspondence from ranking officials in the Church. Her brow furrows deeper, her lips moving silently as she reads. Only Lara speaking up breaks into her concentration and she closes the ledger, using a gloved finger to mark her place as she moves to join the others at the small table.

"Acre was the final Templar city and fortress in the Holy Land before the Mamluks laid seige in 1291. With the subsequent purging of the Templars by the King Phillip the Fourth of France.." Because, really, it was his desire to not repay what he owed them rather than any true claims of heretical or sacreligious infractions that led to the Inquisition and (supposed) destruction of the Templars.

As Steven speaks, she frowns. "....moonlight.." for some reason it also troubles her, as it seems to trouble him.. "We'll need to keep that in mind as we continue." Important safety tip.

To Cinque's discovery, she leans over his shoulder to study the maps as they're laid out. "That.." she frowns. "well, it's interesting. I wonder why they would create a vault like that." Shaking her head, she nibbles her lip as she thinks. "I know that chapel. We can easily scout it out and plan to search it after hours with no trouble. If needed, I can talk to the priest but I would prefer to try and avoid any unneeded involvements with the Church." Because it always causes headaches for her later.

Gesturing to her own findings, she carefully sets the antique leather bound book on a corner of the table to show the others, ".. this ledger contains correspondence from the period just before the fall of Acre. One of the letters says that the crown was given to one of the Templar officers at Acre. So somewhere around 1290 perhaps. But there is another letter from Cardinal Santori Delgado from October 1465 that discusses the possible fate of the crown. He wrote to a bishop here at the Vatican and mentions that they were concerned with the power the crown was supposed to possess and, with other artifacts and relics of power - that aren't directly named - they were all secretly moved to Petra in Jordan and hidden. There aren't any direct clues of how to locate the hidding place. Yet."

Looking around the team, she glances to her watch.

"The Lord works in mysterious ways. He also helps those who help themselves." Ignoring the little Church Angel on her shoulder yelling that she shouldn't do this, she then offers, "We cannot take anything from this room." Her brown gaze meets each person's in turn. Instead, she removes her smart phone; the Father did not require them to surrender them, only place them on airplane mode while so deep in restricted areas of the Vatican. Opening the camera app, she carefully sets the ledger down and begins to take pictures of the letters she's found.

Lara Croft has posed:
Lara remained standing, the crimson tome in her hands, its golden rope glinting faintly under the dim light. Her eyes swept across the team as she processed what they'd collectively unearthed. "It seems," she began, her tone calm but charged with purpose, "we're narrowing in on something significant."

She set the tome down on the table, tapping the page she'd just referenced. "The Crown's connection to Acre is unmistakable, and this mention of a fortress underground gives us a solid starting point. But it aligns intriguingly with what you've all found." She turned toward Patience. "The letter you uncovered confirms the Church's fear of the Crown's power, and that it was deliberately hidden away with other dangerous artifacts. We need to track those records of where those items were sent."

Her gaze shifted to Cinque. "The blueprints you found?especially this Sanctum of the Eternal Covenant?could be the key to understanding where the Church moved these relics. If it connects to an unassuming chapel in Rome, that might be our next destination. We'll need to verify the chapel's location and see if there's any surviving entry to the vaults."

Finally, she looked to Steven. "And your scroll, with its reference to lunar energy and an eclipse? That gives us a time frame to consider. If the Crown's power is influenced by celestial events, it explains why it might have been moved to protect it. It also means we might need to watch for any similar alignments now?or in the near future."

Lara straightened, glancing around the shadowed chamber. "We've got threads to pull. First, let's confirm the location of this chapel and verify the Sanctum. Patience, if your contact can provide us access to deeper archives?or another clue?now's the time to leverage it. Once we've confirmed everything here, we'll plan our next move to follow the trail toward Acre. But for now..." She glanced at the others, her expression resolute. "Let's see how much more we can uncover before time runs out."

The faint echo of footsteps from the corridor interrupted the charged atmosphere. Lara turned her head sharply, exchanging a glance with Patience. Moments later, Father Matteo reappeared, his face pale and drawn, the usual warmth in his demeanor replaced with tension. Behind him, three men stepped into the chamber. Their tailored suits and cold, calculating eyes immediately set Lara on edge. One carried a leather briefcase, the others wore expressions that suggested their hands were more accustomed to holding weapons than books.

"I apologize," Father Matteo began, his voice tight. "But your time here has been... cut short." He hesitated, as if weighing his words carefully under the scrutiny of his unwelcome companions. "These gentlemen represent a... higher authority. They've come to ensure the sanctity of the archives is maintained."

The man with the briefcase stepped forward, his voice sharp and commanding. "You've overstayed your welcome. Whatever you've found will remain in the Vatican's care. You're to leave immediately."

Lara's expression darkened as she glanced toward the others. "I wasn't aware we were on such a strict timetable," she said, her tone measured but edged with defiance. She stepped forward, subtly angling herself between the men and her team. "We've only just begun to piece together what we need. Surely a few more minutes won't?"

"This is not a debate," the man interrupted, his tone brooking no argument. "Gather your belongings and leave. Now."

Father Matteo cast an apologetic glance toward Patience, his unease evident. "I tried to extend your time, but..." He trailed off, his gaze flicking nervously toward the suited men.

Lara glanced at the others, her mind racing. The tension in the room was palpable, the group left to silently assess their options. She gave a slight nod to Patience and Cinque, a signal to comply?at least for now. "Very well," she said, her voice steady. "We'll leave." But the look in her eyes made it clear: this wasn't over.

Marc Spector has posed:
    "Gentlemen," Steven says, hands held before him in a plaintive gesture, "Surely we can come to some sort of arrangement? We're simply historians, you see. Scholars. Surely ... "

    But, when Lara concludes that it's time to leave, he simply nods in agreement and turns on his heels to follow the head adventurer. His eyes do linger on the scroll he had found, his fingers tense as he reflexively moves to pick it up, but ultimately he leaves it where it is.

    "Well, how about gelato?" he asks the others, following along, "I know the best spot on the Via dei Capocci. Not that far from the Saint Mary Major's Basilica, actually, if you're looking to take in more monuments to Catholicism ... "

Cinque Evers has posed:
Cinque eyes widen slightly at the exchange between Lara and the mysterious man and Father Mateo, he takes the time to memorize the man with the briefcase. Cinque ponders for a moment why the person has brought a briefcase to the room, and wonders if he is allowed to take items from this area. Cinque gaze watches the interactions betwwen Patiene and Father Matteo, and is left with more questions as quitely ask himself why Father Mateo reverance to Patience does not prevent him for listening to the mysterious man in the briefcase, or why does Father Mateo have reverance to Patience to begin with...

The questions are still being analyzed and coming up with different hypothesis while he walks behind the duo after the exchange of glances between the group. When Steven mentions the location of gelato, Cinque snaps his fingers. "No, I mean yes, I would like some gelato, but I am thinking I need to go to do some regular maps, and spend some time doing some research on my computer. Cinque furrows his brow, "With some more information I might be able to find the chapel or way to get to the chapel."

Cinque also needs to check that his gear survived the trip just in case things start to go south.

Patience Alperen has posed:
Patience Alperen listened the group and Lara's following comments and nods in agreement. But then she shakes her head, "I'm afraid that even I have exhausted the limits of my influence. As surprising as it may seem that the officials of the very Church established to worship and revere Jesus Christ have more authority than a woman whose very bloodline traces back to Him, it is unfortunately the truth --" her comment is cut short as the door opens.

Her lips purse into a frown as the words are spoken. And despite her previous admission of having no further influence, she draws herself up, chin lifting. "You have been a true friend of Christ, Father. Thank you for your efforts." To the other men, she speaks calmly but with far more authority than she often projects.

Stepping in front of the others, she regards the agent who spoke. To the others, and any with sensitivities to the Divine and Holy, it may seem that a soft gold-white aura forms around the shape of Patience as she addresses the man.

"You are not an agent of the Inquisitorious and you do not represent Agent Kristoff nor Cardinal Innocent." Stepping even closer, the faint aura strengthens. "I am The Magdalena. A Daughter of Jesus of Nazareth. His blood flows in my veins as it has in every generation before me. I have looked into your hearts. I can see the arrogance. The greed. The lust for power and the callousness with which you over step your duties for The Church in exchange for that which is not rightfully yours." Spreading her hands out, palms up, she offers softly, "I offer you the opportunity to repent. To truly follow the example of The Man whom you claim to serve, by virtue of your positions."

Even as she speaks, she is stepping forward, slowly backing the trio of belligerants and the Father into the hallway.

"Do not harden your hearts any longer. Return to the Flock of your Shepherd and seek forgiveness for your transgressions."

As she crosses the threshold of the room, her hands drop. Briefly slipping them behind herself, hidden from the men by the folds of her cloak. She taps two fingers from her right hand against the top of her left wrist quickly: Time is short - get what you can!

And with that, the iron door is slowly closed behind her, only the muffled sound of her voice continuing to speak. Firm but calm. Like a mother scolding her children.

Lara Croft has posed:
As Patience stepped into the hallway, her voice carrying with it a blend of authority and divinity, Lara immediately caught the subtle gesture of her fingers behind her back. The message was clear: time was short, and they needed to act quickly. Without hesitation, Lara turned to Steven and Cinque, her tone urgent but composed.  

"Steven, Cinque," she said, her voice lowered to avoid carrying into the corridor, "grab whatever you can hide - notes, sketches, small items. Cinque, those maps might be key. Steven, if you can photograph anything significant, do it now. We'll need as much detail as we can take with us."  

Her sharp brown eyes swept over the table and shelves, mentally calculating what could be useful. "No second-guessing. If it looks relevant, take it. Patience won't be able to hold them off for long, and I'm not inclined to push our luck further than necessary."  

Lara picked up the crimson leather tome she'd referenced earlier, slipping it into the folds of her satchel with practiced ease. "I'll cover the rear and ensure we're not leaving anything obvious behind." Her voice softened, but there was an edge of urgency. "Work quickly. Once we're out of here, we'll regroup somewhere safe to plan our next steps."  

She glanced toward the heavy iron door, the faint echo of Patience's voice filtering through the cracks. Time was slipping away, but Lara trusted her team. They just had to move fast.  

"Go," she urged, her tone firm but steady, as she adjusted her satchel and moved to keep watch on the room's entrance.

Were they Tomb Raiding the Vatican?  It seemed so...

Once Lara stepped out in to the hallway, she was adjusting her scarf and satchel back over her shoulders. A smile touched her lips, as she looked to Patience, and the men. "Thank you, again, Father Matteo. It was a very enlightening experience..." She said, glancing over her shoulder to ensure the boys were keeping up. "Steven, where was that gelato place that you spoke of?" She casually asked, as the group seemed prepared to head on.

Marc Spector has posed:
    The go-ahead given, the scroll disappears somewhere on Steven's person immediately. It's odd that a somewhat foppish financier would have such sleight of hand abilities, but there's little time to question it. He grabs a few more things as yet unclaimed, depositing them in internal pockets. He doesn't have a bag, so he can't carry much more than the bare essentials.

    As they begin to make their stealthy retreat, however, he nods his head to Lara as though nothing untoward had happened.

    "Come on, it's the Mediterranean. The weather's never bad. We can walk."

Cinque Evers has posed:
Patience?s vigorous, profound, and dominant revelation about her identity makes Cinque pause, as her words are far from any explanations he hypothesize in why Father Mateo had such reverence from home. Only a small part of his mind begins to grapple with these newfound questions about Patience, while the rest focuses on Lara?s urgent directive to gather as much information as possible. Cinque allows himself a brief moment to absorb his surroundings, mentally capturing every detail of what is open and in view, committing it to memory for later recall. He then returns to the map section, this time examining an 18th-century map he had previously overlooked, hoping to glean more references that might aid in locating the vaults or the chapel.

Cinque follows behind the group, "Adventures with Gelato in Rome, sound like a Sundance Film Festival Movie that won several prizes."

Patience Alperen has posed:
Outside the archive room Patience, well, occupies the three misguided agents while the others work swiftly to recover any leads they can.

As the door opens, finally, and Lara emerges, followed by Steven and Cinque, the sight they are greeted with is much different than it might have seemed from inside the room.

Patience is kneeling beside the three men - who are now sprawled out on the floor and very much unconscious. The color has returned to Father Matteo's features, though now he seems to be flushed a bit. Probably because of the three motionless men.

Glancing up as they emerge, Patience offers an innocent half-smile and rises up.

"They will need some time to reflect on their poor life choices, Father. I trust they will be safe in your care." Stepping forward, she breaks with propriety and gives the older man a fond hug. "As always, thank you. The Lord be with you."

For a brief moment, she disappears into the archival room again, laying her own pilfering claim to the historic ledger which disappears under her cloak and then she catches up with the rest of the team.

"Gelato sounds good. I.. suggest we find a different exit from the grounds than we used to come in." She quickly slips past the others to lead the way down a different hallway, "This way. There's a small gate back into Rome just a few buildings over."