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shared_worlds:gregorios [2019/03/29 15:13] – external edit 127.0.0.1shared_worlds:gregorios [2020/02/02 23:48] (current) – Updating to new link format eofpi
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 ==== Session 1 ==== ==== Session 1 ====
  
-**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=1530478&postcount=10|Gregorios (473-518 AD)]]**+**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/1/post-1530478|Gregorios (473-518 AD)]]**
  
 I was born in Constantinople on 26 December, 473 AD. I was the offspring of two Celts, sold into slavery. I never met my real father. I was lucky though. My mother served as a handmaiden to the empress Ariadne, so I came into the employ of Emperor Zeno when I came of age. By the time I was 15, it was apparent that I had a very good grasp of languages, and could learn them quickly. I served him faithfully, until his death in 491, when I was 17. I went on to serve Emperor Anastasius I in the same capacity, and he actually went on to free me. I eventually became an ambassador for him. I travelled all over Europe, representing the one beacon of order in a time of chaos after the Western Roman Empire fell. During this time, I was known as Gregorios. In 518, Anastasius died. I was 45, but still looked only 19. I thought I just came from good stock, but the nobles thought otherwise. I was banished from court on the charges of witchcraft and heresy. I wandered the empire for years, taking whatever work I could. Eventually, I decided that if I was going to get anywhere, I would have to take on a new identity. I became Alexios, a trader recently come back from a voyage to Persia. I was born in Constantinople on 26 December, 473 AD. I was the offspring of two Celts, sold into slavery. I never met my real father. I was lucky though. My mother served as a handmaiden to the empress Ariadne, so I came into the employ of Emperor Zeno when I came of age. By the time I was 15, it was apparent that I had a very good grasp of languages, and could learn them quickly. I served him faithfully, until his death in 491, when I was 17. I went on to serve Emperor Anastasius I in the same capacity, and he actually went on to free me. I eventually became an ambassador for him. I travelled all over Europe, representing the one beacon of order in a time of chaos after the Western Roman Empire fell. During this time, I was known as Gregorios. In 518, Anastasius died. I was 45, but still looked only 19. I thought I just came from good stock, but the nobles thought otherwise. I was banished from court on the charges of witchcraft and heresy. I wandered the empire for years, taking whatever work I could. Eventually, I decided that if I was going to get anywhere, I would have to take on a new identity. I became Alexios, a trader recently come back from a voyage to Persia.
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 ==== Addendum to Session 1 ==== ==== Addendum to Session 1 ====
  
-**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=4031449&postcount=704|My First Death (493 AD)]]**+**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/1/post-4031449|My First Death (493 AD)]]**
  
 One thing I forgot to mention, long ago back when I was recounting my tales from when I was still in my first life, as Gregorios. When I was only the tender age of 18, I was sent from my usual place in the palace, and sent to Claudiopolis in Cappadocia, to help with pacifying the restless citizens in that region, as they were not, shall we say, enthusiastic, about the succession of Anastasius to the throne, despite Ariadne's support of him. Unfortunately, I was still there in 493, when Claudiopolis came under siege by Isaurian rebels. I was not a soldier, and at that point in my life, I had no desire to become one. I was instructed, along with the rest of the palace retinue, to remain in shelters, protected by soldiers and guards at all time. One day, I was instructed to go out, despite the soldier's mandate to stay in the shelter, to get water, as we were running low and more was needed, not only for drinking, but also in treating the wounded. Being a lowly slave, the soldiers didn't care to escort me to the fountain, which was right across the square from our shelter at the time. But unfortunately, the walls were right nearby as well. And as luck would have it, it was the face of the wall that the rebels were besieging. Right as I began to turn my back to fill my bucket with water, an arrow volley came over the wall. One pierced me in the left lung, and it immediately collapsed. I crumpled to the ground, and I knew that this was the end. I closed my eyes, and began praying, in order that I may have a slim chance of going to Heaven. The next thing I knew, I was in a bed in the shelter, being attended to by one of the other slaves. She told me that I had had a narrow escape, and that if the guards hadn't been watching me, I'd have died. But as it stood, I was going to live. One thing I forgot to mention, long ago back when I was recounting my tales from when I was still in my first life, as Gregorios. When I was only the tender age of 18, I was sent from my usual place in the palace, and sent to Claudiopolis in Cappadocia, to help with pacifying the restless citizens in that region, as they were not, shall we say, enthusiastic, about the succession of Anastasius to the throne, despite Ariadne's support of him. Unfortunately, I was still there in 493, when Claudiopolis came under siege by Isaurian rebels. I was not a soldier, and at that point in my life, I had no desire to become one. I was instructed, along with the rest of the palace retinue, to remain in shelters, protected by soldiers and guards at all time. One day, I was instructed to go out, despite the soldier's mandate to stay in the shelter, to get water, as we were running low and more was needed, not only for drinking, but also in treating the wounded. Being a lowly slave, the soldiers didn't care to escort me to the fountain, which was right across the square from our shelter at the time. But unfortunately, the walls were right nearby as well. And as luck would have it, it was the face of the wall that the rebels were besieging. Right as I began to turn my back to fill my bucket with water, an arrow volley came over the wall. One pierced me in the left lung, and it immediately collapsed. I crumpled to the ground, and I knew that this was the end. I closed my eyes, and began praying, in order that I may have a slim chance of going to Heaven. The next thing I knew, I was in a bed in the shelter, being attended to by one of the other slaves. She told me that I had had a narrow escape, and that if the guards hadn't been watching me, I'd have died. But as it stood, I was going to live.
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 ==== Session 2 ==== ==== Session 2 ====
  
-**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=1531230&postcount=31|Alexios (518-530 AD)]]**+**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/1/post-1531230|Alexios (518-530 AD)]]**
  
 I remained under the guise of Alexios for a good many years. I took a wife and fathered children under that guise. I traversed the entire Silk Road many times. I became known as the best merchant in Constantinople for goods from the Orient. My older son, Leo, eventually became a trader himself, sailing all around the Black Sea, or so they tell me. On one occasion, the emperor hired me personally to lead a tradee envoy to Kent. I think that was the year 530. In any case, we ran into a storm off the French coast, in the Channel. All the ships sank; no one survived. Save me. I shouldn't have survived either, but I did. I woke up on a beach, near some white cliffs. I didn't recognize them, but I guessed that I was in either England or France. I had been at court once or twice with Anglo-Saxons as Gregorios, and never with the French. However, I decided there was little to no chance of me getting back to Constantinople. So, I used this ordeal to create another new identity. The answer came to me, when I met the first people in this new land. They asked me my name in Anglo-Saxon, and I answered: Redwald. I remained under the guise of Alexios for a good many years. I took a wife and fathered children under that guise. I traversed the entire Silk Road many times. I became known as the best merchant in Constantinople for goods from the Orient. My older son, Leo, eventually became a trader himself, sailing all around the Black Sea, or so they tell me. On one occasion, the emperor hired me personally to lead a tradee envoy to Kent. I think that was the year 530. In any case, we ran into a storm off the French coast, in the Channel. All the ships sank; no one survived. Save me. I shouldn't have survived either, but I did. I woke up on a beach, near some white cliffs. I didn't recognize them, but I guessed that I was in either England or France. I had been at court once or twice with Anglo-Saxons as Gregorios, and never with the French. However, I decided there was little to no chance of me getting back to Constantinople. So, I used this ordeal to create another new identity. The answer came to me, when I met the first people in this new land. They asked me my name in Anglo-Saxon, and I answered: Redwald.
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 ==== Session 3 ==== ==== Session 3 ====
  
-**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=1531313&postcount=36|Redwald (530-568 AD)]]**+**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/1/post-1531313|Redwald (530-568 AD)]]**
  
 By then end of the time that I posed as Redwald, I was really starting to push it. Even in the 550s, I was attracting looks. They just kept thinking I should look older. But it wasn't until 568 that they decided that I was a witch. Those 38 years, though, were some of the best of my life though. I took another wife after a few years, but I had to seriously reconcile myself with God before doing so. I was, after all, one of the few practicing Christians in Britain at the time. After a while, I felt that God had forgiven me, however. I had three sons and two daughters. I still remember Breguswið's smiling face on her wedding day. It pains me to think of it, though. To think she's been dead for over 1400 years now... But I must not dwell on it. I worked as a farmer during those years, and did well for myself. But I missed Constantinople. It was my home city, after all. I had spent over 50 years there. But, there was no way a farmer could make his way back there, unless I was met with some great fortune, but God did not see it as necessary at the time. Instead, He decided to show me who I really was, and told the government officials of Kent about me. In 567, they arrested me for witchcraft. The following year, They burned me at the stake. But, my flesh would not burn. So they decided to hang me. The rope broke. They decided to slit my throat. It healed immediately. They tried to draw and quarter me. The horses wouldn't move. Finally they tried running me through. The wound healed immediately. So, they banished me. I spent the next 20 years wandering the countryside, making my living as a hired worker for no more than a season. If ever they asked for my name, I just reverted to using Gregorios. For all that anyone knew, he had died decades before. Eventually, I had saved up enough to make my way into France. I worked my way through that country, until I reached Italy in 612. In Ravenna, I heard a language I hadn't heard in nearly a century: Byzantine Greek! I was overjoyed, and immediately found a job on a ship bound for Constantinople. I disembarked there, and offered my services as interpreter at court. This time, I used a new name, as rumours were still circulating about Gregorios. This time, I was: Demitrios. By then end of the time that I posed as Redwald, I was really starting to push it. Even in the 550s, I was attracting looks. They just kept thinking I should look older. But it wasn't until 568 that they decided that I was a witch. Those 38 years, though, were some of the best of my life though. I took another wife after a few years, but I had to seriously reconcile myself with God before doing so. I was, after all, one of the few practicing Christians in Britain at the time. After a while, I felt that God had forgiven me, however. I had three sons and two daughters. I still remember Breguswið's smiling face on her wedding day. It pains me to think of it, though. To think she's been dead for over 1400 years now... But I must not dwell on it. I worked as a farmer during those years, and did well for myself. But I missed Constantinople. It was my home city, after all. I had spent over 50 years there. But, there was no way a farmer could make his way back there, unless I was met with some great fortune, but God did not see it as necessary at the time. Instead, He decided to show me who I really was, and told the government officials of Kent about me. In 567, they arrested me for witchcraft. The following year, They burned me at the stake. But, my flesh would not burn. So they decided to hang me. The rope broke. They decided to slit my throat. It healed immediately. They tried to draw and quarter me. The horses wouldn't move. Finally they tried running me through. The wound healed immediately. So, they banished me. I spent the next 20 years wandering the countryside, making my living as a hired worker for no more than a season. If ever they asked for my name, I just reverted to using Gregorios. For all that anyone knew, he had died decades before. Eventually, I had saved up enough to make my way into France. I worked my way through that country, until I reached Italy in 612. In Ravenna, I heard a language I hadn't heard in nearly a century: Byzantine Greek! I was overjoyed, and immediately found a job on a ship bound for Constantinople. I disembarked there, and offered my services as interpreter at court. This time, I used a new name, as rumours were still circulating about Gregorios. This time, I was: Demitrios.
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 ==== Session 4 ==== ==== Session 4 ====
  
-**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=1532994&postcount=48|Demitrios (613-645 AD)]]**+**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/1/post-1532994|Demitrios (613-645 AD)]]**
  
 Being Demitrios was absolute paradise. I was back in Constantinople, back in my element. I had forgotten how much I loved being Gregorios, serving as the emperor's right-hand man for all those years. But that was a century ago, and things had changed at court. We were no longer a local power like wer once were. Now, now we controlled a huge chunk of the Mediterranean. I felt that, with my help, we would finally be able to revive the Roman Empire. I reveled in this time. I took another wife, and had more children. I even met some of my descendants. My fifth-great-grandson, Damian, came to work at court. He worked right under me. But, it was hard for me. He reminded me so much of Leo, and it saddened me to think of my first son, my favourite son, having died so many years ago, never knowing what happened to his father. It was right around that time that the Lombards resumed their push into Italy, and I saw that this would signal the end of our holdings in Italy. The Persians also stated knocking at our eastern door. I volunteered to help settle peace on our frontiers, and the emperor agreed. I went first to Lombardy, and negotiated a peace that allowed us to keep everything we held in Italy south of a line between Ravenna and Florence. And that line held for about 100 years, until Ravenna fell, but that's another story. I journeyed all around the frontiers of the empire, negotiating peace with all our neighbours. It went well, that is, until I reached the Sassanid Empire. They refused peace with us, and had me thrown to the lions. They sent word along that I had been killed, so that meant I couldn't return to Byzantium. I wandered for what seemed loke an eternity, before I finally ended up in Iberia. There, I fought my first ever war. Being Demitrios was absolute paradise. I was back in Constantinople, back in my element. I had forgotten how much I loved being Gregorios, serving as the emperor's right-hand man for all those years. But that was a century ago, and things had changed at court. We were no longer a local power like wer once were. Now, now we controlled a huge chunk of the Mediterranean. I felt that, with my help, we would finally be able to revive the Roman Empire. I reveled in this time. I took another wife, and had more children. I even met some of my descendants. My fifth-great-grandson, Damian, came to work at court. He worked right under me. But, it was hard for me. He reminded me so much of Leo, and it saddened me to think of my first son, my favourite son, having died so many years ago, never knowing what happened to his father. It was right around that time that the Lombards resumed their push into Italy, and I saw that this would signal the end of our holdings in Italy. The Persians also stated knocking at our eastern door. I volunteered to help settle peace on our frontiers, and the emperor agreed. I went first to Lombardy, and negotiated a peace that allowed us to keep everything we held in Italy south of a line between Ravenna and Florence. And that line held for about 100 years, until Ravenna fell, but that's another story. I journeyed all around the frontiers of the empire, negotiating peace with all our neighbours. It went well, that is, until I reached the Sassanid Empire. They refused peace with us, and had me thrown to the lions. They sent word along that I had been killed, so that meant I couldn't return to Byzantium. I wandered for what seemed loke an eternity, before I finally ended up in Iberia. There, I fought my first ever war.
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 ==== Session 5 ==== ==== Session 5 ====
  
-**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=1533420&postcount=66|Alaric (704-718 AD)]]**+**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/1/post-1533420|Alaric (704-718 AD)]]**
  
 Alaric was probably the shortest lifespan I ever had. Having arrived in Iberia, I found myself in the middle of a vast kingdom, that reminded me quite a bit of the Byzantium into which I had been born. I set myself up in Basconia as a farmer. But this pastoral life was not to last. Just as I was ready to take a wife again, the drums of war sounded. Now, I have always been a pacifist at heart, but I was recruited to fight in the war against the invading Moors. For seven years, I fought for the Visigoths, and for my home. It ended abruptly, however, when I took a spear point to the heartat Septimania. I died for the first time. I lay on the battlefield for what seemed to be centuries, but in reality was probably about six months. I still remember that moment when I revived. I believe it was exactly on my 245th birthday. I drew a sharp breath, and panted heavily for a good half hour. It was almost as if I had just resurfaced from having been underwater for a long time, and my lungs were burning for air. I sat up, and saw that my wound had healed. I had no idea who had won the battle, or what country I was now in. All I knew is I had to get away from this battlefield. I headed north, and didn't stop until I came to the English Channel. I adopted a new identity again. This time I became Sigiric. Alaric was probably the shortest lifespan I ever had. Having arrived in Iberia, I found myself in the middle of a vast kingdom, that reminded me quite a bit of the Byzantium into which I had been born. I set myself up in Basconia as a farmer. But this pastoral life was not to last. Just as I was ready to take a wife again, the drums of war sounded. Now, I have always been a pacifist at heart, but I was recruited to fight in the war against the invading Moors. For seven years, I fought for the Visigoths, and for my home. It ended abruptly, however, when I took a spear point to the heartat Septimania. I died for the first time. I lay on the battlefield for what seemed to be centuries, but in reality was probably about six months. I still remember that moment when I revived. I believe it was exactly on my 245th birthday. I drew a sharp breath, and panted heavily for a good half hour. It was almost as if I had just resurfaced from having been underwater for a long time, and my lungs were burning for air. I sat up, and saw that my wound had healed. I had no idea who had won the battle, or what country I was now in. All I knew is I had to get away from this battlefield. I headed north, and didn't stop until I came to the English Channel. I adopted a new identity again. This time I became Sigiric.
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 ==== Session 6 ==== ==== Session 6 ====
  
-**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=1534452&postcount=79|Sigiric (721-740 AD)]]**+**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/1/post-1534452|Sigiric (721-740 AD)]]**
  
 Sigiric was an interesting character. Having been scarred by my recent experiences in the war and having died for the first time, I became an alcoholic. I spent more time in local pubs than at home with my wife and children. And I discovered the gift I had for words, and composed what I thought were great poems. I think one of them might've become the basis for Beowulf. They all say it was written in England, but it was an Anglo-Saxon drinking buddy I had in 725 who stole it off me when he wrote down my drunken rantings. Eventually, though, I began to see the error of my ways, and turned back to God, and to my family. But it was a hard habit to break. Eventually, in 740, I suffered a complete relapse. I went to the pub, and drank more than I ever had before. I staggered out of the pub that night, completely drunk, and suffering from severe alcohol poisoning. I ended up passing out in the street, and choking to death on my own vomit. I revived later on, completely ashamed of what I had done, and what I had become. I needed to leave as soon as I could. I went far to the east, walking for decades, until I came upon an old familiar road: the Silk Road. I walked to the very end, and started up a new life in Imperial China. Sigiric was an interesting character. Having been scarred by my recent experiences in the war and having died for the first time, I became an alcoholic. I spent more time in local pubs than at home with my wife and children. And I discovered the gift I had for words, and composed what I thought were great poems. I think one of them might've become the basis for Beowulf. They all say it was written in England, but it was an Anglo-Saxon drinking buddy I had in 725 who stole it off me when he wrote down my drunken rantings. Eventually, though, I began to see the error of my ways, and turned back to God, and to my family. But it was a hard habit to break. Eventually, in 740, I suffered a complete relapse. I went to the pub, and drank more than I ever had before. I staggered out of the pub that night, completely drunk, and suffering from severe alcohol poisoning. I ended up passing out in the street, and choking to death on my own vomit. I revived later on, completely ashamed of what I had done, and what I had become. I needed to leave as soon as I could. I went far to the east, walking for decades, until I came upon an old familiar road: the Silk Road. I walked to the very end, and started up a new life in Imperial China.
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 ==== Session 7 ==== ==== Session 7 ====
  
-**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=1537224&postcount=95|Jian Zhuang (762-785 AD)]]**+**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/1/post-1537224|Jian Zhuang (762-785 AD)]]**
  
 I arrived in China in the summer of 762, right as the emperor died. I used the ensuing chaos to my advantage, and established myself as a trader and interpreter in Chang'an. I took on a new name, and tried my best to blend in among the Chinese. Definitely not an easy task, having been the offspring of two Celts. The only thing I really changed, however, was to dye my hair. After all, how many Chinese people do you know with naturally flaming red hair? Eventually, I saved up enough money to buy an estate outside the city. There, I took a wife, and had several children by her. I lived contentedly with her there, until one day Emperor Dezong decided to subdue the renegades in the frontier provinces. Messangers rode throughout the city, and out into the country. They conscripted my sons. After they had been gone for six months, I became worried, and took off after them. I finally found them, killed in a skirmish near Silla. Overcome with grief, I fled the empire, heading far to the north. I wandered Siberia for years, sometimes not seeing anyone else for over a year, with only my horse for company, until he died in 790. A few more years passed. Eventually I found myself among the Yakuts. I arrived in China in the summer of 762, right as the emperor died. I used the ensuing chaos to my advantage, and established myself as a trader and interpreter in Chang'an. I took on a new name, and tried my best to blend in among the Chinese. Definitely not an easy task, having been the offspring of two Celts. The only thing I really changed, however, was to dye my hair. After all, how many Chinese people do you know with naturally flaming red hair? Eventually, I saved up enough money to buy an estate outside the city. There, I took a wife, and had several children by her. I lived contentedly with her there, until one day Emperor Dezong decided to subdue the renegades in the frontier provinces. Messangers rode throughout the city, and out into the country. They conscripted my sons. After they had been gone for six months, I became worried, and took off after them. I finally found them, killed in a skirmish near Silla. Overcome with grief, I fled the empire, heading far to the north. I wandered Siberia for years, sometimes not seeing anyone else for over a year, with only my horse for company, until he died in 790. A few more years passed. Eventually I found myself among the Yakuts.
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 ==== Session 8 ==== ==== Session 8 ====
  
-**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=1539822&postcount=108|Dülei (798-841 AD)]]**+**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/1/post-1539822|Dülei (798-841 AD)]]**
  
 I found myself in the midst of a Yakut tribe after all my wandering. I was unconscious when they found me. I think they were very surprised to see that I woke up later in their camp. After all, this was the middle of the winter, and they found me half-frozen and naked as my clothes had torn themselves to shreds. But, they accepted me into their tribe. They called me Dülei, meaning "deaf." For the first three months or so, I kept my mouth shut, as I had no idea what any of them were saying. They thought, however, that I couldn't hear them. After three months, however, I began spitting their language back to them, with a perfect accent and everything. They thought it was a miracle. But my name stuck. Eventually, however, I took another wife. I had several children with her. And the best part was I was able to stick around and watch them grow up, and meet some of my grandchildren. Even though I retained my youth, I was able to maintain my position in the tribe for years. Years turned into decades, and I became a tribal elder. I had a wonderful time there. But, something called to me from the West. Something was telling me to return to Europe. Eventually, I decided to heed the call. I bid goodbye to my family, and began walking far to the southwest. Eventually I ended up back where I started: Constantinople. I found myself in the midst of a Yakut tribe after all my wandering. I was unconscious when they found me. I think they were very surprised to see that I woke up later in their camp. After all, this was the middle of the winter, and they found me half-frozen and naked as my clothes had torn themselves to shreds. But, they accepted me into their tribe. They called me Dülei, meaning "deaf." For the first three months or so, I kept my mouth shut, as I had no idea what any of them were saying. They thought, however, that I couldn't hear them. After three months, however, I began spitting their language back to them, with a perfect accent and everything. They thought it was a miracle. But my name stuck. Eventually, however, I took another wife. I had several children with her. And the best part was I was able to stick around and watch them grow up, and meet some of my grandchildren. Even though I retained my youth, I was able to maintain my position in the tribe for years. Years turned into decades, and I became a tribal elder. I had a wonderful time there. But, something called to me from the West. Something was telling me to return to Europe. Eventually, I decided to heed the call. I bid goodbye to my family, and began walking far to the southwest. Eventually I ended up back where I started: Constantinople.
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-**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=1541092&postcount=116|Leo (854-879 AD)]]**+**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/1/post-1541092|Leo (854-879 AD)]]**
  
 I reached Constantinople finally after many years of wandering. I had noticed it had changed quite a bit since I had been there last. It was no longer the bustling centre of a great empire, but rather a more consolidated and sober realm. With the Muslims nearly knocking at their door, everyone was on edge. It just wasn't the same. But it was home nonetheless. I signed onto a dromon, the first time I ever was in the navy. I spent 3 years patrolling the Aegean, until the emperor died. Then we were called back to Constantinople. The city had completely changed by then. It was an exciting time to be there. We were expanding again, and I began to see the cosmopolitan sense of the city that I had been used to. I took another wife, and had more children. My eldest son, Gregorios, inherited my talent for languages. Apparently he became an advisor to the emperor. But, soon, I felt it was time to move on. I was starting to get those looks again. I packed up a few things, and disappeared one night. I told my wife that I had been called back into the navy, and that we were embarking on a dangerous campaign. Then, I left the empire once again. I headed west. I had heard about a New Roman Empire, under the Franks, and I was intrigued. But what I found wasn't what I expected. I reached Constantinople finally after many years of wandering. I had noticed it had changed quite a bit since I had been there last. It was no longer the bustling centre of a great empire, but rather a more consolidated and sober realm. With the Muslims nearly knocking at their door, everyone was on edge. It just wasn't the same. But it was home nonetheless. I signed onto a dromon, the first time I ever was in the navy. I spent 3 years patrolling the Aegean, until the emperor died. Then we were called back to Constantinople. The city had completely changed by then. It was an exciting time to be there. We were expanding again, and I began to see the cosmopolitan sense of the city that I had been used to. I took another wife, and had more children. My eldest son, Gregorios, inherited my talent for languages. Apparently he became an advisor to the emperor. But, soon, I felt it was time to move on. I was starting to get those looks again. I packed up a few things, and disappeared one night. I told my wife that I had been called back into the navy, and that we were embarking on a dangerous campaign. Then, I left the empire once again. I headed west. I had heard about a New Roman Empire, under the Franks, and I was intrigued. But what I found wasn't what I expected.
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 ==== Session 10 ==== ==== Session 10 ====
  
-**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=1541698&postcount=122|Francois (879-903 AD)]]**+**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/1/post-1541698|Francois (879-903 AD)]]**
  
 I arrived in Paris, hoping to find the renaissance of thought that everyone had been talking about happening in my 140-year absense. But such was not the case. Instead, I found a fractured people, a suffering people. But that wasn't the half of it. In 885, we came under direct attack by the Vikings. I volunteered my services in defending the city, and I was conscripted as one of only 200 men-at-arms. Against 30,000. I thought for sure I was done for, but apparently God still loved me. Eventually, we were able to break the siege the following year, and things returned to normal, relatively speaking. There was no renaissance, but I had been accepted as a member of the Parisian community. I married and had children, and very much enjoyed my new life here. However, the tumultuous times returned. By 903, I could no longer stay there. I faked my death, and fled to the north, to England. I arrived in Paris, hoping to find the renaissance of thought that everyone had been talking about happening in my 140-year absense. But such was not the case. Instead, I found a fractured people, a suffering people. But that wasn't the half of it. In 885, we came under direct attack by the Vikings. I volunteered my services in defending the city, and I was conscripted as one of only 200 men-at-arms. Against 30,000. I thought for sure I was done for, but apparently God still loved me. Eventually, we were able to break the siege the following year, and things returned to normal, relatively speaking. There was no renaissance, but I had been accepted as a member of the Parisian community. I married and had children, and very much enjoyed my new life here. However, the tumultuous times returned. By 903, I could no longer stay there. I faked my death, and fled to the north, to England.
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 ==== Session 11 ==== ==== Session 11 ====
  
-**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=1543467&postcount=125|Adwulf (905-941 AD)]]**+**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/1/post-1543467|Adwulf (905-941 AD)]]**
    
 I really liked Adwulf. He was such a peaceable character. He is among the favourite lives I've ever led. A simple pastoral farmer in Wessex. I took a wife at a young age as him, and had fifteen children. And the best part was I got to watch many of them grow up, and have children of their own. By the time I had to leave, I had 40 grandchildren, all loving of their dear young grandfather. But there came a time even there that people started staring at me. They were not only afraid, I think, but also they were starting to show a new emotion towards me: jealousy. They were jealous of me! I can't think why, what with my rootless existence, measuring my life in centuries rather than years? Everyone I ever cared about lying in a grave somewhere? What was there to envy? But the jealousy turned to rage. One night, they burst into my cabin. They raped and killed my wife. Then they came after me. They tried to burn me, but I wouldn't burn. They tried stabbing me, but it didn't work. They tried all sorts of tortuous methods of killing me. Finally, however, they decided to drown me in the nearby river. I still remember thrashing around as they held me under. Then, it all just stopped. I had died again. I don't know how long it was before I revived, but I found myself in a strange place, with natives speaking a strange language, yet somehow familiar. And also, almost all of them were like me: They all had flaming red hair. I had drifted ashore in Ireland. I really liked Adwulf. He was such a peaceable character. He is among the favourite lives I've ever led. A simple pastoral farmer in Wessex. I took a wife at a young age as him, and had fifteen children. And the best part was I got to watch many of them grow up, and have children of their own. By the time I had to leave, I had 40 grandchildren, all loving of their dear young grandfather. But there came a time even there that people started staring at me. They were not only afraid, I think, but also they were starting to show a new emotion towards me: jealousy. They were jealous of me! I can't think why, what with my rootless existence, measuring my life in centuries rather than years? Everyone I ever cared about lying in a grave somewhere? What was there to envy? But the jealousy turned to rage. One night, they burst into my cabin. They raped and killed my wife. Then they came after me. They tried to burn me, but I wouldn't burn. They tried stabbing me, but it didn't work. They tried all sorts of tortuous methods of killing me. Finally, however, they decided to drown me in the nearby river. I still remember thrashing around as they held me under. Then, it all just stopped. I had died again. I don't know how long it was before I revived, but I found myself in a strange place, with natives speaking a strange language, yet somehow familiar. And also, almost all of them were like me: They all had flaming red hair. I had drifted ashore in Ireland.
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 ==== Session 12 ==== ==== Session 12 ====
  
-**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=1547527&postcount=129|Sean (941-979 AD)]]**+**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/1/post-1547527|Sean (941-979 AD)]]**
  
 Ireland was a refreshing place to live in, as long as you avoided the battlegrounds in the middle of the island. I stayed close to the shore, but eventually found myself in the west of the country. There, I met up with, and eventually joined, the clan O Dubhda. They were a great maritime power at the time, controlling trade routes all up and down the Atlantic coast. Eventually, the chieftan decided to marry me off to a lovely woman, whom I loved immensely. I had several children with her. Under the clan O Dubhda, I became a sailor along the Irish coasts. This meant that I was away from home quite often. This made it very convenient for me to slip away when it was time, which happened about 30 years after I reached the clan O Dubhda. I was off the coast of Dublin at the time, and a large storm came in, and in the confusion, I threw myself overboard, and pretended to drown. I swam away from the coast, and towards Britain once again. I swam for what must have been at least 2 weeks, drifting in the currents, but doing my best to keep a constant easterly direction. I eventually reached land, though, in Wales. Ireland was a refreshing place to live in, as long as you avoided the battlegrounds in the middle of the island. I stayed close to the shore, but eventually found myself in the west of the country. There, I met up with, and eventually joined, the clan O Dubhda. They were a great maritime power at the time, controlling trade routes all up and down the Atlantic coast. Eventually, the chieftan decided to marry me off to a lovely woman, whom I loved immensely. I had several children with her. Under the clan O Dubhda, I became a sailor along the Irish coasts. This meant that I was away from home quite often. This made it very convenient for me to slip away when it was time, which happened about 30 years after I reached the clan O Dubhda. I was off the coast of Dublin at the time, and a large storm came in, and in the confusion, I threw myself overboard, and pretended to drown. I swam away from the coast, and towards Britain once again. I swam for what must have been at least 2 weeks, drifting in the currents, but doing my best to keep a constant easterly direction. I eventually reached land, though, in Wales.
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 ==== Session 13 ==== ==== Session 13 ====
  
-**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=1550646&postcount=132|Cadoc (979-993 AD)]]**+**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/1/post-1550646|Cadoc (979-993 AD)]]**
  
 I came ashore in Britain, but it was in a country speaking a strange language. It took some time for me to pick it up, but I eventually did. By 980, I was able to get a respectable plave in a village near the sea. I took another wife, and set myself up on a farm. I had several children, including one son I recently learned was an immortal like his father. It was a good life that I led there. However, I was called away while my children were still young. I ended up being conscripted into the army, to defend my home against the invading Anglo-Saxons. Eventually, however, I went to battle near Cardiff. For seven days, we went back and forth with the Saxons, but on the eighth day, we were forced to retreat into the city. We were besieged for months, until they brought in reinforcements, and took the city. I did my best to hold them off from the castle that dominated the city at the time, but I was killed from burns suffered from being in the wrong place at the wrong time. The castle's guards dumped motlen lead on the invading Saxons, and I happened to be in their midst at that moment. I revived much later, with all my clothes burned off. Even my armour had melted away. I wandered for several years, that is, after finding some clothes. Eventually, I decided to go back to see my home again. There wasn't much left of it. It was burned to the ground. However, my secret chest was left intact. In it, I found remnants of my past lives. But I had none to put in for this life. I despaired over that fact, but I took the chest along with me. I had enough money in there to get me started in a new life, wherever I went from here. I decided to go to the north, to the land of the Vikings. I came ashore in Britain, but it was in a country speaking a strange language. It took some time for me to pick it up, but I eventually did. By 980, I was able to get a respectable plave in a village near the sea. I took another wife, and set myself up on a farm. I had several children, including one son I recently learned was an immortal like his father. It was a good life that I led there. However, I was called away while my children were still young. I ended up being conscripted into the army, to defend my home against the invading Anglo-Saxons. Eventually, however, I went to battle near Cardiff. For seven days, we went back and forth with the Saxons, but on the eighth day, we were forced to retreat into the city. We were besieged for months, until they brought in reinforcements, and took the city. I did my best to hold them off from the castle that dominated the city at the time, but I was killed from burns suffered from being in the wrong place at the wrong time. The castle's guards dumped motlen lead on the invading Saxons, and I happened to be in their midst at that moment. I revived much later, with all my clothes burned off. Even my armour had melted away. I wandered for several years, that is, after finding some clothes. Eventually, I decided to go back to see my home again. There wasn't much left of it. It was burned to the ground. However, my secret chest was left intact. In it, I found remnants of my past lives. But I had none to put in for this life. I despaired over that fact, but I took the chest along with me. I had enough money in there to get me started in a new life, wherever I went from here. I decided to go to the north, to the land of the Vikings.
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 ==== Session 14 ==== ==== Session 14 ====
  
-**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=1552262&postcount=134|Sæbjörn the Red (994-1021 AD)]]**+**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/1/post-1552262|Sæbjörn the Red (994-1021 AD)]]**
  
 I reached a fjord in Norway the following year. I got a position on a longboat, headed for an island far to the west. I arrived there, and fell in love with it. But, eventually I was banished, and had to head even farther west, to "Green Land." But it was anything but green. But I heard rumours of a new land even farther west. It must have been in 1003, that I went on an expedition to the lands to the west. Hellurland was not impressive at all, and we soon moved on. Markland was better, but still very cold, so we moved further south. We reached Vinland afterward. I think that area is now called Massachusetts Bay, but I can't remember. It was paradise nonetheless. We stayed there for many years. But eventually, the expedition decided it was time to return to Greenland. I volunteered to stay behind to help establish the colony. Eventually, we came into contact with the natives of the region. I used my language skills to learn their language, and communicate with them. There was this one woman, Aponi, who really got my attention, though. Eventually, I decided to leave the colony. I faked my death, so people wouldn't come looking for me. I then slipped into the forest, and towards the native village. I reached a fjord in Norway the following year. I got a position on a longboat, headed for an island far to the west. I arrived there, and fell in love with it. But, eventually I was banished, and had to head even farther west, to "Green Land." But it was anything but green. But I heard rumours of a new land even farther west. It must have been in 1003, that I went on an expedition to the lands to the west. Hellurland was not impressive at all, and we soon moved on. Markland was better, but still very cold, so we moved further south. We reached Vinland afterward. I think that area is now called Massachusetts Bay, but I can't remember. It was paradise nonetheless. We stayed there for many years. But eventually, the expedition decided it was time to return to Greenland. I volunteered to stay behind to help establish the colony. Eventually, we came into contact with the natives of the region. I used my language skills to learn their language, and communicate with them. There was this one woman, Aponi, who really got my attention, though. Eventually, I decided to leave the colony. I faked my death, so people wouldn't come looking for me. I then slipped into the forest, and towards the native village.
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 ==== Session 15 ==== ==== Session 15 ====
  
-**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=1554129&postcount=139|Gregorios (1021-1105 AD)]]**+**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/1/post-1554129|Gregorios (1021-1105 AD)]]**
  
 For once, I felt free among the Micmac. These people were so trusting, I felt like I could be myself among them. So, soon after I married Aponi, I decided to take a risk. I went to the chief of the tribe, and told him about who I really was, and that I wasn't really about 30, but actually nearing my 548th birthday. Though being shocked at first, he eventually accepted me as who I was. I reverted to my original name, and finally was free to be myself entirely among the Micmac. With Aponi, I had fifteen healthy children, all with Byzantine names. I became a village elder eventually, and by the 60th year of my life with the tribe, I became chief. By that time, my children had had their own children. I was a mighty patriarch, and finally had the opportunity to watch my family grow up, and grow old. I reveled in the love of my grandchildren. But, all of a sudden, that came to a grinding halt. In my 63rd year with the tribe, Aponi died, apparently of old age. I was devastated. But, my family needed me, and I had to carry on. But I realized that it was time to let the next generation lead. I appointed my son, Leo, to become the next chief, and stepped down, becoming a medicine man. He ruled us well for 10 years, before his son, Alexios, became chief. With the tribe in capable hands, I decided it was time for me to be moving on. In the end of my 83rd year with the Micmacs, I heard from the Viking colony, and that it was going to be abandoned. I decided to stow away with them, and make my way back to Europe. I eventually settled again in France. For once, I felt free among the Micmac. These people were so trusting, I felt like I could be myself among them. So, soon after I married Aponi, I decided to take a risk. I went to the chief of the tribe, and told him about who I really was, and that I wasn't really about 30, but actually nearing my 548th birthday. Though being shocked at first, he eventually accepted me as who I was. I reverted to my original name, and finally was free to be myself entirely among the Micmac. With Aponi, I had fifteen healthy children, all with Byzantine names. I became a village elder eventually, and by the 60th year of my life with the tribe, I became chief. By that time, my children had had their own children. I was a mighty patriarch, and finally had the opportunity to watch my family grow up, and grow old. I reveled in the love of my grandchildren. But, all of a sudden, that came to a grinding halt. In my 63rd year with the tribe, Aponi died, apparently of old age. I was devastated. But, my family needed me, and I had to carry on. But I realized that it was time to let the next generation lead. I appointed my son, Leo, to become the next chief, and stepped down, becoming a medicine man. He ruled us well for 10 years, before his son, Alexios, became chief. With the tribe in capable hands, I decided it was time for me to be moving on. In the end of my 83rd year with the Micmacs, I heard from the Viking colony, and that it was going to be abandoned. I decided to stow away with them, and make my way back to Europe. I eventually settled again in France.
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 ==== Session 16 ==== ==== Session 16 ====
  
-**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=1554414&postcount=141|Jacques (1108-1156 AD)]]**+**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/1/post-1554414|Jacques (1108-1156 AD)]]**
  
 Upon reaching France, I sought a job in the court of the king. I told of my skills with languages, and he set me up translating documents from foreign vernacular into Latin, and from Latin into vernacular, foreign and domestic. Over time, he became very impressed with my work, and appointed me official ambassador to the Kingdom of Jerusalem. I used this opportunity to reset my age, andlive a long life, serving several kings of both France and Jerusalem. I reveled in my life there. For once, I was able to practice the religion that I was born into, freely. After all, there was a sizeable Orthodox minority in Jerusalem. I took a wife, and had several children with her. I loved my life there. But then, things changed again, like they always do. People started giving me that look again, the looks of fear and jealousy. I decided that it was time to move on, yet again. I faked my death, and moved far to the north of the country. I took a job as a serf at an estate near Acre. I took the name Balian. Upon reaching France, I sought a job in the court of the king. I told of my skills with languages, and he set me up translating documents from foreign vernacular into Latin, and from Latin into vernacular, foreign and domestic. Over time, he became very impressed with my work, and appointed me official ambassador to the Kingdom of Jerusalem. I used this opportunity to reset my age, andlive a long life, serving several kings of both France and Jerusalem. I reveled in my life there. For once, I was able to practice the religion that I was born into, freely. After all, there was a sizeable Orthodox minority in Jerusalem. I took a wife, and had several children with her. I loved my life there. But then, things changed again, like they always do. People started giving me that look again, the looks of fear and jealousy. I decided that it was time to move on, yet again. I faked my death, and moved far to the north of the country. I took a job as a serf at an estate near Acre. I took the name Balian.
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 ==== Session 17 ==== ==== Session 17 ====
  
-**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=1554760&postcount=147|Balian (1156-1193 AD)]]**+**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/1/post-1554760|Balian (1156-1193 AD)]]**
  
 Soon after I started working the estate, I think it was called Ibelin, someone thought they recognized me. Not from my days as a French ambassador, but from elsewhere. They thought I was their youngest son, or something. In any case, they took me into their home, and I became a noble. Can you believe that? A Byzantine slave became a noble! Even now I can't believe that. In any case, I became a very notable person, especially once the Second Crusade started out. By that time, I was rubbing elbows with the royals, like I once did, but on a much different level. My most vivid memories from this life, however, come from the Siege of Jerusalem. I was in command of the entire city, and we held out for nearly two weeks. But, being the peace-loving man that I am, I decided to surrender the city, rather than let more blood be spilled. I then led the Christians of the city to safety in Acre, or at least what I thought was safety. We were besieged three years later. I fled later on, and in 1193, the time had come for me to fake my death again. Afterwards, I fled again. This time, I felt the need to go someplace safe, so I went to Constantinople once again. Soon after I started working the estate, I think it was called Ibelin, someone thought they recognized me. Not from my days as a French ambassador, but from elsewhere. They thought I was their youngest son, or something. In any case, they took me into their home, and I became a noble. Can you believe that? A Byzantine slave became a noble! Even now I can't believe that. In any case, I became a very notable person, especially once the Second Crusade started out. By that time, I was rubbing elbows with the royals, like I once did, but on a much different level. My most vivid memories from this life, however, come from the Siege of Jerusalem. I was in command of the entire city, and we held out for nearly two weeks. But, being the peace-loving man that I am, I decided to surrender the city, rather than let more blood be spilled. I then led the Christians of the city to safety in Acre, or at least what I thought was safety. We were besieged three years later. I fled later on, and in 1193, the time had come for me to fake my death again. Afterwards, I fled again. This time, I felt the need to go someplace safe, so I went to Constantinople once again.
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 ==== Session 18 ==== ==== Session 18 ====
  
-**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=1556997&postcount=152|Petros (1194-1204 AD)]]**+**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/1/post-1556997|Petros (1194-1204 AD)]]**
  
 Back in Constantinople, I felt safe again. I felt safe enough to try something I never had tried before: staying in one place for at least a century. After all, this was a large enough city, I could definitely just blend into a crowd somewhere, or at least I hoped to. In any case, I took a job at a shop in the bazaar down near the Bosporus. After a few years, I had saved up enough money to buy my own shop, and take a wife. I sold goods coming off the Silk Road, and I did well. That is, until the Venetians came. Who would have thought that civilized Christians would turn against other civilized Christians? In any case, they killed my wife, but not before they raped her many times over. My children were no better off. For those that were over three, they were sold into slavery. Those under three, were thrown into the sea. I myself, I was taken with my children, and sold into slavery. We were separated once we got to Venice, and sold to masters all over the Republic. I was sold to a man, named Polo, or at least I think he was named Polo. Eventually, though, I came into the employ of the Polo family. And that is when I had quite an adventure. Back in Constantinople, I felt safe again. I felt safe enough to try something I never had tried before: staying in one place for at least a century. After all, this was a large enough city, I could definitely just blend into a crowd somewhere, or at least I hoped to. In any case, I took a job at a shop in the bazaar down near the Bosporus. After a few years, I had saved up enough money to buy my own shop, and take a wife. I sold goods coming off the Silk Road, and I did well. That is, until the Venetians came. Who would have thought that civilized Christians would turn against other civilized Christians? In any case, they killed my wife, but not before they raped her many times over. My children were no better off. For those that were over three, they were sold into slavery. Those under three, were thrown into the sea. I myself, I was taken with my children, and sold into slavery. We were separated once we got to Venice, and sold to masters all over the Republic. I was sold to a man, named Polo, or at least I think he was named Polo. Eventually, though, I came into the employ of the Polo family. And that is when I had quite an adventure.
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 ==== Session 19 ==== ==== Session 19 ====
  
-**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=1560790&postcount=169|Paulo (1268-1305 AD)]]**+**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/1/post-1560790|Paulo (1268-1305 AD)]]**
  
 Soon before Niccolo and Maffeo took Marco to China, they bought a new slave: me. They had heard of my special skills, so they decided I'd be a valuable asset to their trek across Eurasia. I told them I spoke many languages, and knew quite a few that were not generally spoken anymore. What I didn't tell them was that I had made this journey several times before. I did, however, let slip that I knew the road well a few times, though, if only to get them out of some sticky spots. And I also did my best to translate for them, even if some of the languages had changed somewhat in the near six centuries since I had been there last. After 3 years, we reached the court of Kublai Khan, the great usurper in my idea. But that's beside the point. After all, his family had controlled China for over 50 years. But I didn't let my opinions about Khan colour my interpretations for the Polos. I also stayed on with them for the 17 years that they stayed in China, working for Khan. I picked up quite a few new languages during that time. Eventually, we went back to Venice. I stayed on for another 14 years, until they decided to free me. I left them, and I left Venice behind. I headed north, to the German states after that. Soon before Niccolo and Maffeo took Marco to China, they bought a new slave: me. They had heard of my special skills, so they decided I'd be a valuable asset to their trek across Eurasia. I told them I spoke many languages, and knew quite a few that were not generally spoken anymore. What I didn't tell them was that I had made this journey several times before. I did, however, let slip that I knew the road well a few times, though, if only to get them out of some sticky spots. And I also did my best to translate for them, even if some of the languages had changed somewhat in the near six centuries since I had been there last. After 3 years, we reached the court of Kublai Khan, the great usurper in my idea. But that's beside the point. After all, his family had controlled China for over 50 years. But I didn't let my opinions about Khan colour my interpretations for the Polos. I also stayed on with them for the 17 years that they stayed in China, working for Khan. I picked up quite a few new languages during that time. Eventually, we went back to Venice. I stayed on for another 14 years, until they decided to free me. I left them, and I left Venice behind. I headed north, to the German states after that.
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 ==== Session 20 ==== ==== Session 20 ====
  
-**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=1564254&postcount=172|Franz Südenmann (1305-1349 AD)]]**+**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/1/post-1564254|Franz Südenmann (1305-1349 AD)]]**
  
 I settled eventually near Brunswick, in the Holy Roman Empire. My God how it had changed since Charlemagne conquered it over 600 years before. I can't remember now, but I might have been on the campaign to take Brunswick for the Franks, but it was centuries ago. In any case, I set myself up, as I almost always did, as a merchant in the village, travelling from village to village. Eventually I decided to open a permanent shop in the city market. I became prosperous, importing luxury items from all across many different trade routes, specializing, as always, in Byzantine goods and in goods coming off the Silk Road. I was frequented by many of the nobility of the area, and eventually gained permission to marry one of their daughters, securing a noble title for myself (this time a legitimate one). All was going well. We had several children, and my oldest son was set up on his grandfather's estate, when the unthinkable happened. Later generations would call it the "Black Death," some the "bubonic plague," and others just "the plague." But what it was was devastating. My son took as many of us as he could out of the city as soon as the plague struck, but could not save us all. Three of my daughters caught it and died. But then the worst happened. The plague spread, and came to my son's estate. It left none alive. Not even my strongest firstborn son was able to stay fit. Only I was left alive. Overcome with grief, I fled the German states, keeping just ahead of the plague. I dressed in a long black cloak, and was completely pale, from my lack of exposure to the sunlight. The only thing I kept with me, other than my chest and horse, was a scythe. It was a good scythe, and it lasted me through many centuries. I settled eventually near Brunswick, in the Holy Roman Empire. My God how it had changed since Charlemagne conquered it over 600 years before. I can't remember now, but I might have been on the campaign to take Brunswick for the Franks, but it was centuries ago. In any case, I set myself up, as I almost always did, as a merchant in the village, travelling from village to village. Eventually I decided to open a permanent shop in the city market. I became prosperous, importing luxury items from all across many different trade routes, specializing, as always, in Byzantine goods and in goods coming off the Silk Road. I was frequented by many of the nobility of the area, and eventually gained permission to marry one of their daughters, securing a noble title for myself (this time a legitimate one). All was going well. We had several children, and my oldest son was set up on his grandfather's estate, when the unthinkable happened. Later generations would call it the "Black Death," some the "bubonic plague," and others just "the plague." But what it was was devastating. My son took as many of us as he could out of the city as soon as the plague struck, but could not save us all. Three of my daughters caught it and died. But then the worst happened. The plague spread, and came to my son's estate. It left none alive. Not even my strongest firstborn son was able to stay fit. Only I was left alive. Overcome with grief, I fled the German states, keeping just ahead of the plague. I dressed in a long black cloak, and was completely pale, from my lack of exposure to the sunlight. The only thing I kept with me, other than my chest and horse, was a scythe. It was a good scythe, and it lasted me through many centuries.
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 ==== Addendum to Session 20 ==== ==== Addendum to Session 20 ====
  
-**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=1565508&postcount=174|Musings on odd perceptions about immortal people among Mortals]]**+**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/1/post-1565508|Musings on odd perceptions about immortal people among Mortals]]**
  
 You know, I've been watching that new show //[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Amsterdam_%28TV_series%29|New Amsterdam]]// as well. It's very surprising to me that he's able to stay in one city for centuries. I've never been able to do that. People get really suspicious of you after 50 years. But it is interesting that he tells his children his secret. I've never thought of that before. Maybe I'll do that with my later children, and maybe those children of mine that are still alive. That is, when they're ready and able to keep the secret. You've got to wonder, though. Was one of us behind the conception of that show ? You know, I've been watching that new show //[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Amsterdam_%28TV_series%29|New Amsterdam]]// as well. It's very surprising to me that he's able to stay in one city for centuries. I've never been able to do that. People get really suspicious of you after 50 years. But it is interesting that he tells his children his secret. I've never thought of that before. Maybe I'll do that with my later children, and maybe those children of mine that are still alive. That is, when they're ready and able to keep the secret. You've got to wonder, though. Was one of us behind the conception of that show ?
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 ==== Session 21 ==== ==== Session 21 ====
  
-**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=1567445&postcount=181|Dmitri Gregorov (1352-1396 AD)]]**+**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/1/post-1567445|Dmitri Gregorov (1352-1396 AD)]]**
  
 I finally settled in Muscovy after the plague died out. I was still in mourning for my family, as were a lot of other people in the region. But, life started to return to normal soon after. I decided to put my scythe to a "new" use, rather than using it to "take souls" as a lot of people thought I used it for, and became a farmer again. It was quite a day when I finally took my black cloak off, and they saw that I was just a man. Not only that, but apparently a lot of women thought me attractive. Maybe it was the red hair. I don't know. But I soon found that if I frequented taverns, I could always find a comely woman to spend the night with. One night, actually, something very strange happened. Andrei Kobyla was in the tavern with his wife, but he eventually lost track of her. She took me by the hand, and led me to a room upstairs. Suffice it to say that I ended up bedding her. Although I felt very guilty about it later. In any case, Andrei found out, and had me sentenced to death by hanging. But, once again, the rope broke. They took this as a sign from God that I was to be pardoned (not suspecting my immortality had anything to do with it), and let me go, on the condition that I leave Muscovy and never return. I complied. However, I heard through the grapevine, however, that Andrei's wife had gotten pregnant from our encounter, but she made everyone think that it was her husband's child. I suppose that means I am the progenitor of the House of Romanov. I finally settled in Muscovy after the plague died out. I was still in mourning for my family, as were a lot of other people in the region. But, life started to return to normal soon after. I decided to put my scythe to a "new" use, rather than using it to "take souls" as a lot of people thought I used it for, and became a farmer again. It was quite a day when I finally took my black cloak off, and they saw that I was just a man. Not only that, but apparently a lot of women thought me attractive. Maybe it was the red hair. I don't know. But I soon found that if I frequented taverns, I could always find a comely woman to spend the night with. One night, actually, something very strange happened. Andrei Kobyla was in the tavern with his wife, but he eventually lost track of her. She took me by the hand, and led me to a room upstairs. Suffice it to say that I ended up bedding her. Although I felt very guilty about it later. In any case, Andrei found out, and had me sentenced to death by hanging. But, once again, the rope broke. They took this as a sign from God that I was to be pardoned (not suspecting my immortality had anything to do with it), and let me go, on the condition that I leave Muscovy and never return. I complied. However, I heard through the grapevine, however, that Andrei's wife had gotten pregnant from our encounter, but she made everyone think that it was her husband's child. I suppose that means I am the progenitor of the House of Romanov.
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 ==== Session 22 ==== ==== Session 22 ====
  
-**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=1576026&postcount=221|Constans Lampenos (1438-1453 AD)]]**+**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/1/post-1576026|Constans Lampenos (1438-1453 AD)]]**
  
 I wandered around Eastern Europe for a few decades after leaving Muscovy, ranging from Sweden to Rus, and back again. I kept a watch over the bastard son I had had, and watched him flourish. But, eventually, I felt something even stronger calling to me: my home. My original home. So I went far to the south. But it was difficult to get there, as the Turks had expanded quite a bit since I had been there last. I had to take a ship across the Black Sea, and enter the city at night, for fear the Turks would sink us. As I learned, the grand and wonderful Byzantine Empire that I was born into in its early days, now controlled only the city of Constantinople. The emperor was no longer the mighty man that he once was. I lamented for my homeland, but life goes on. I met this very nice girl in the city, and married her. By 1445, we had had 5 children, 3 boys and 2 girls. It seemed that life would turn out alright after all. But I was wrong. In the early 1450s, when my oldest son was just 13, the Turks launched a massive siege against us. I went to the emperor, and told him of my extensive military experience, and he put me in charge of one of the walls and its defenses. We held out against the Turks for nearly two months. Then they sent everything they had against us. We were overwhelmed. I fled back to my house to try and protect my family. I got there just before they did, and succeeded in fighting them off while they made their escape. I followed them quickly after. I can't remember how we crossed the enemy lines, but by sunset the next day, we were far away from Constantinople. But my woes were just beginning. I wandered around Eastern Europe for a few decades after leaving Muscovy, ranging from Sweden to Rus, and back again. I kept a watch over the bastard son I had had, and watched him flourish. But, eventually, I felt something even stronger calling to me: my home. My original home. So I went far to the south. But it was difficult to get there, as the Turks had expanded quite a bit since I had been there last. I had to take a ship across the Black Sea, and enter the city at night, for fear the Turks would sink us. As I learned, the grand and wonderful Byzantine Empire that I was born into in its early days, now controlled only the city of Constantinople. The emperor was no longer the mighty man that he once was. I lamented for my homeland, but life goes on. I met this very nice girl in the city, and married her. By 1445, we had had 5 children, 3 boys and 2 girls. It seemed that life would turn out alright after all. But I was wrong. In the early 1450s, when my oldest son was just 13, the Turks launched a massive siege against us. I went to the emperor, and told him of my extensive military experience, and he put me in charge of one of the walls and its defenses. We held out against the Turks for nearly two months. Then they sent everything they had against us. We were overwhelmed. I fled back to my house to try and protect my family. I got there just before they did, and succeeded in fighting them off while they made their escape. I followed them quickly after. I can't remember how we crossed the enemy lines, but by sunset the next day, we were far away from Constantinople. But my woes were just beginning.
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 ==== Session 23 ==== ==== Session 23 ====
  
-**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=1582260&postcount=228|Alejandro Diaz (1485-1493 AD)]]**+**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/1/post-1582260|Alejandro Diaz (1485-1493 AD)]]**
  
 I wandered around Europe for several decades with my family. I sank into a really deep depression over the fall of Constantinople. To think, I had held that city to be the one and only safe place in the world for nearly a thousand years, and now, all of a sudden, it wasn't safe anymore. I had to completely reexamine my life. But I had my family to help me along. I even trusted them with my secret. I had never told anyone before. My wife was absolutely repulsed by this revelation, but I convinced her not to leave me. I convinced my children as well. We followed the trade routes, like the Gypsies now criss-crossing the continent. As time went on, our group grew. Other outcasts joined us, my children took spouses, had children of their own. This helped me immensely to readjust to my new life post-Byzantine Empire. In 1485, my wife died crossing the Pyrenees. We brought her body down to the plains below, and gave her a proper Orthodox burial. This brought us into a new kingdom: the Kingdom of Spain. It had changed drastically since the wars of the Moors I had participated in 750 years earlier. We kept moving south, and eventually settled in Seville. In 1492, I heard of an expedition to the west, and I remembered the Micmac. I immediately signed on, along with two of my grandsons. What we found when we reached land was a tribe much unlike the Micmac, but fortunately, there was a member of the tribe who spoke a dialect of Algonquian that was mutually intelligible with my own. So I served as one of two translators in dealing with the Taino, which is what they called themselves. Soon, we moved on, finding a rather large island. I volunteered to stay behind in the new settlement, which they called La Navidad. But soon, the natives, who were not pleased with our settlement there, destroyed the colony. They killed many of the men, and sold my grandsons into slavery. I think they ended up somewhere in Aztec territory. I pretended to be dead until they left the colony, and snuck into their camp that night, hijacked a canoe, and headed far to the north, where I reckoned I'd meet up with an Algonquian-speaking people that could point me in the right direction to the Micmac. I wandered around Europe for several decades with my family. I sank into a really deep depression over the fall of Constantinople. To think, I had held that city to be the one and only safe place in the world for nearly a thousand years, and now, all of a sudden, it wasn't safe anymore. I had to completely reexamine my life. But I had my family to help me along. I even trusted them with my secret. I had never told anyone before. My wife was absolutely repulsed by this revelation, but I convinced her not to leave me. I convinced my children as well. We followed the trade routes, like the Gypsies now criss-crossing the continent. As time went on, our group grew. Other outcasts joined us, my children took spouses, had children of their own. This helped me immensely to readjust to my new life post-Byzantine Empire. In 1485, my wife died crossing the Pyrenees. We brought her body down to the plains below, and gave her a proper Orthodox burial. This brought us into a new kingdom: the Kingdom of Spain. It had changed drastically since the wars of the Moors I had participated in 750 years earlier. We kept moving south, and eventually settled in Seville. In 1492, I heard of an expedition to the west, and I remembered the Micmac. I immediately signed on, along with two of my grandsons. What we found when we reached land was a tribe much unlike the Micmac, but fortunately, there was a member of the tribe who spoke a dialect of Algonquian that was mutually intelligible with my own. So I served as one of two translators in dealing with the Taino, which is what they called themselves. Soon, we moved on, finding a rather large island. I volunteered to stay behind in the new settlement, which they called La Navidad. But soon, the natives, who were not pleased with our settlement there, destroyed the colony. They killed many of the men, and sold my grandsons into slavery. I think they ended up somewhere in Aztec territory. I pretended to be dead until they left the colony, and snuck into their camp that night, hijacked a canoe, and headed far to the north, where I reckoned I'd meet up with an Algonquian-speaking people that could point me in the right direction to the Micmac.
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 ==== Session 24 ==== ==== Session 24 ====
  
-**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=1588165&postcount=230|Gregorios (1493-1532 AD)]]**+**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/1/post-1588165|Gregorios (1493-1532 AD)]]**
  
 By December, I had reached the site of my old tribe. It was good to see them again, and to be able to be myself once again. I also noticed that the red hair and green eyes were still going strong in the tribe. And that they told a legend about me. The white man who never grew old. The fact that I had returned to them was a cause for great celebration. I spent a long time telling about everything that had happened to me over the last 400 years, ending with my triumphant return to them. The chief, named Alexios, being a direct descendant of mine, gave me a wife from a neighbouring vassal tribe. As it seems, the technology I had brought with me (inadvertantly) made them strong enough to subjugate some of their neighbours over the centuries. In any case, I lived very happily among them. But, it was soon disrupted. I remember I was teaching my third son Constantinos how to shoot a bow and arrow when runners made their way all the way up from the Aztec Empire: Montezuma had surrendured to the Spaniards. We were on edge for a while, and I began preparing them for the coming waves of Europeans I knew would soon spread from the south. I taught them tomake armour, but they never really developed the industry to produce it for all their warriors. They were unfortunately stuck right at the end of the Stone Age. But I did my best. When I heard news about the fall of the Inca Empire as well, I fell into a great despair. I walked to the east, into the sea. I desparately hoped to drown. But, no such luck. I revived once again, on the coast of Europe. By December, I had reached the site of my old tribe. It was good to see them again, and to be able to be myself once again. I also noticed that the red hair and green eyes were still going strong in the tribe. And that they told a legend about me. The white man who never grew old. The fact that I had returned to them was a cause for great celebration. I spent a long time telling about everything that had happened to me over the last 400 years, ending with my triumphant return to them. The chief, named Alexios, being a direct descendant of mine, gave me a wife from a neighbouring vassal tribe. As it seems, the technology I had brought with me (inadvertantly) made them strong enough to subjugate some of their neighbours over the centuries. In any case, I lived very happily among them. But, it was soon disrupted. I remember I was teaching my third son Constantinos how to shoot a bow and arrow when runners made their way all the way up from the Aztec Empire: Montezuma had surrendured to the Spaniards. We were on edge for a while, and I began preparing them for the coming waves of Europeans I knew would soon spread from the south. I taught them tomake armour, but they never really developed the industry to produce it for all their warriors. They were unfortunately stuck right at the end of the Stone Age. But I did my best. When I heard news about the fall of the Inca Empire as well, I fell into a great despair. I walked to the east, into the sea. I desparately hoped to drown. But, no such luck. I revived once again, on the coast of Europe.
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 ==== Session 25 ==== ==== Session 25 ====
  
-**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=1599372&postcount=237|Luca Di Greco (1534-1568 AD)]]**+**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/1/post-1599372|Luca Di Greco (1534-1568 AD)]]**
  
 I washed up on an unknown coast, at least for me. But I recognized the language the people spoke. It was Italian. How the currents of the ocean dropped me there, I dont know. But there I was. In any case, I made my way first to Florence. Last time I had passed through, I had marvelled at the art that was being created in that hub. But, when I came there the this time, I was met with a war zone. Quite a gear shift. They told me if I wanted art, then I should go to Rome. And so I did. While I was there, I met an older man, named Michelangelo. He was working on a fresco in the Sistine Chapel. He said it was called Last Judgement Day. I offered to help. I thought he could use all the help he could get. He refused, but said he could always use more models. So, I accepted this. I stayed in Rome for a few more years, while he finished the fresco. I wanted to see how it would turn out. Let me say I was rather impressed with the end result. In this time, I married, and had a few children. Only five this time. I was very happy in my new life. But, rumbles of war soon gripped us once again. In 1568, the Protestant Dutch rose up against their Catholic Spanish overlords. The pope, of course, sided with the Spanish. I was among the few that went off to the war from the Papal States, never to see my family again. I was killed by a musket ball near Utrecht. I revived a few months later, I think. I have no idea how much time had passed. But I needed to get out of the Netherlands. It was far too unstable. So I headed to France. I washed up on an unknown coast, at least for me. But I recognized the language the people spoke. It was Italian. How the currents of the ocean dropped me there, I dont know. But there I was. In any case, I made my way first to Florence. Last time I had passed through, I had marvelled at the art that was being created in that hub. But, when I came there the this time, I was met with a war zone. Quite a gear shift. They told me if I wanted art, then I should go to Rome. And so I did. While I was there, I met an older man, named Michelangelo. He was working on a fresco in the Sistine Chapel. He said it was called Last Judgement Day. I offered to help. I thought he could use all the help he could get. He refused, but said he could always use more models. So, I accepted this. I stayed in Rome for a few more years, while he finished the fresco. I wanted to see how it would turn out. Let me say I was rather impressed with the end result. In this time, I married, and had a few children. Only five this time. I was very happy in my new life. But, rumbles of war soon gripped us once again. In 1568, the Protestant Dutch rose up against their Catholic Spanish overlords. The pope, of course, sided with the Spanish. I was among the few that went off to the war from the Papal States, never to see my family again. I was killed by a musket ball near Utrecht. I revived a few months later, I think. I have no idea how much time had passed. But I needed to get out of the Netherlands. It was far too unstable. So I headed to France.
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 ==== Session 26 ==== ==== Session 26 ====
  
-**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=1605053&postcount=256|Jean-Luc Devereux (1570-1594 AD)]]**+**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/1/post-1605053|Jean-Luc Devereux (1570-1594 AD)]]**
  
 I eventually settled in western Normandy, a land that I knew and loved. I settled in as a farmer as well as I could, but it seemed that strife had just followed me here as well. The king of France was waging wars of religion, and I did my best to stay unnoticed, so I wouldn't be called up to fight again. I eventually married a local miller's daughter, and had seven children with her. I did well for myself, at least by my reckoning. I owned 35 acres, and acquired more over the years. I stuck around long enough to watch my sons grow up, and take wives of their own. But then the time came. Dispatches from the king told one man from every family to report to Paris. I volunteered to go, as I knew what it meant. It meant war had come again to my house. I enlisted in an artillery unit, hoping that would keep me somewhat safe. But no such luck. At a battle in 1594, the Catholic League brought in artillery of their own. One cannonball hit us, and sent me flying back at least 75 feet. I hit the ground with a thud that would kill any other man, but I survived. I fled the battlefield, and disguised myself as a civilian. I headed north, stopping at my old house to say goodbye to my family in my own way, and offer my wife my condolences on her husband's death. I caught a ship in Calais, and hopped across the Channel. I then found myself in a bustling city I'd never been to before: London. I eventually settled in western Normandy, a land that I knew and loved. I settled in as a farmer as well as I could, but it seemed that strife had just followed me here as well. The king of France was waging wars of religion, and I did my best to stay unnoticed, so I wouldn't be called up to fight again. I eventually married a local miller's daughter, and had seven children with her. I did well for myself, at least by my reckoning. I owned 35 acres, and acquired more over the years. I stuck around long enough to watch my sons grow up, and take wives of their own. But then the time came. Dispatches from the king told one man from every family to report to Paris. I volunteered to go, as I knew what it meant. It meant war had come again to my house. I enlisted in an artillery unit, hoping that would keep me somewhat safe. But no such luck. At a battle in 1594, the Catholic League brought in artillery of their own. One cannonball hit us, and sent me flying back at least 75 feet. I hit the ground with a thud that would kill any other man, but I survived. I fled the battlefield, and disguised myself as a civilian. I headed north, stopping at my old house to say goodbye to my family in my own way, and offer my wife my condolences on her husband's death. I caught a ship in Calais, and hopped across the Channel. I then found myself in a bustling city I'd never been to before: London.
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 ==== Session 27 ==== ==== Session 27 ====
  
-**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=1607635&postcount=259|John Alden (1594-1687 AD)]]**+**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/1/post-1607635|John Alden (1594-1687 AD)]]**
  
 I arrived in London to find the rebirth of the arts taking a wonderful new form: theatre. Up until now, I hadn't had much experience with theatre, but that really wasn't my primary concern. The primary concern was because I hadn't been in England for so long, that English was completely foreign to me. So I just sat in a pub for days on end, just listening to the language. On the first day, I was able to make out a few words, but not many. By the seventh day, I, using my existing knowledge of other European languages, had a good grasp of the language. But it wasn't for another three weeks that I became fluent, at least fluent by my standards. And after that, I decided to seek work at one of the theatre companies around London. I heard of open auditions for a new play, to be performed at the Globe. I went and auditioned. The playwright said that he was very impressed with my performance, and gave me more scenes to read. I noticed that this was very much like what I had experienced with another slave girl all those centuries ago, when I was Gregorios. So I was able to take that experience and apply it to the play. So because of that, I got the lead part. The character's name was Romeo. And I had great fun playing that part. So I decided to formally become a member of the company. But, in 1613, disaster struck. The theatre burned down. I fled to Southampton, and there I set myself up as a cooper. After seven years, some men came, and hired me to serve them on their voyage to the New World. My heart jumped. I immediately accepted, thinking I would be reunited with my old tribe. But we landed very far to the south. I decided to accept that, and just went along with my life. I married in 1623, and had twelve children, ten of whom survived to adulthood. We moved up the coast a ways, and founded the town of Duxbury. After some time, I became deputy governor, and one of the most respected members of the colony. But my family was starting to get old. In 1687, I faked my death. But the problem is they buried me. It took me a while to get out of the grave. After I ran out of air after the first half hour, I had to hold my breath for I think a day and a half. Luckily it was dark when I emerged, and I went to the north, to Boston. I arrived in London to find the rebirth of the arts taking a wonderful new form: theatre. Up until now, I hadn't had much experience with theatre, but that really wasn't my primary concern. The primary concern was because I hadn't been in England for so long, that English was completely foreign to me. So I just sat in a pub for days on end, just listening to the language. On the first day, I was able to make out a few words, but not many. By the seventh day, I, using my existing knowledge of other European languages, had a good grasp of the language. But it wasn't for another three weeks that I became fluent, at least fluent by my standards. And after that, I decided to seek work at one of the theatre companies around London. I heard of open auditions for a new play, to be performed at the Globe. I went and auditioned. The playwright said that he was very impressed with my performance, and gave me more scenes to read. I noticed that this was very much like what I had experienced with another slave girl all those centuries ago, when I was Gregorios. So I was able to take that experience and apply it to the play. So because of that, I got the lead part. The character's name was Romeo. And I had great fun playing that part. So I decided to formally become a member of the company. But, in 1613, disaster struck. The theatre burned down. I fled to Southampton, and there I set myself up as a cooper. After seven years, some men came, and hired me to serve them on their voyage to the New World. My heart jumped. I immediately accepted, thinking I would be reunited with my old tribe. But we landed very far to the south. I decided to accept that, and just went along with my life. I married in 1623, and had twelve children, ten of whom survived to adulthood. We moved up the coast a ways, and founded the town of Duxbury. After some time, I became deputy governor, and one of the most respected members of the colony. But my family was starting to get old. In 1687, I faked my death. But the problem is they buried me. It took me a while to get out of the grave. After I ran out of air after the first half hour, I had to hold my breath for I think a day and a half. Luckily it was dark when I emerged, and I went to the north, to Boston.
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 ==== Session 28 ==== ==== Session 28 ====
  
-**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=1630441&postcount=279|James Smith (1687-1715 AD)]]**+**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/1/post-1630441|James Smith (1687-1715 AD)]]**
  
 My first view of Boston was coming up the Neck on my horse, Constantine. It was a village compared to my birth city. But nonetheless, it seemed a good place. I bought a house near Mills Pond in the north of the city. And I also heard of a college that had been founded 50 years prior to my arrival. I applied to teach there. They asked me what my specialty was, and I told them I knew many different languages, both living and dead. They asked for a demonstration, and I immediately switched to speaking Byzantine Greek without thinking twice. The interviewer was so impressed, he gave me a job there immediately. So, I took over all language studies at Harvard University. And through there, I learned even more languages from my studies, especially in Latin and Aramaic. I loved it there. It was one of the easiest lives I had had to date. I married soon after, and created a nice little life for myself. I had 14 children over the course of my life there, several of whom I ended up having in classes at Harvard. I loved it there. But time went on, and people started giving me looks again. So, I booked passage on a ship bound for Europe, saying I was going on sabbatical. However, I faked my death in a storm during the crossing. And I had to swim all the way back to England. My first view of Boston was coming up the Neck on my horse, Constantine. It was a village compared to my birth city. But nonetheless, it seemed a good place. I bought a house near Mills Pond in the north of the city. And I also heard of a college that had been founded 50 years prior to my arrival. I applied to teach there. They asked me what my specialty was, and I told them I knew many different languages, both living and dead. They asked for a demonstration, and I immediately switched to speaking Byzantine Greek without thinking twice. The interviewer was so impressed, he gave me a job there immediately. So, I took over all language studies at Harvard University. And through there, I learned even more languages from my studies, especially in Latin and Aramaic. I loved it there. It was one of the easiest lives I had had to date. I married soon after, and created a nice little life for myself. I had 14 children over the course of my life there, several of whom I ended up having in classes at Harvard. I loved it there. But time went on, and people started giving me looks again. So, I booked passage on a ship bound for Europe, saying I was going on sabbatical. However, I faked my death in a storm during the crossing. And I had to swim all the way back to England.
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 ==== Session 29 ==== ==== Session 29 ====
  
-**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=1840054&postcount=285|Richard Jones (1715-1768 AD)]]**+**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/1/post-1840054|Richard Jones (1715-1768 AD)]]**
  
 I came ashore near Bristol, England. I did my best to make a comfortable life for myself, but it was much more difficult than earlier. I decided, then, to go to university for the first time in my life. I enrolled in Oxford Uiversity, and got my doctorate in medicine. In 1723, I graduated in the top 10 of my class. And I decided that I wanted to go back to the colonies. So, I boarded a ship bound for America. That September, I landed in Williamsburg, Virginia. I had not been to this area of America for nearly 200 years, and it had changed drastically. I went to the provincial governor's office, and volunteered my services as a doctor. So, I became the governor's personal physician. I lived in very nice house in central Williamsburg, and became a very wealthy man. I married, and had several children. I served several governors, until 1758, when I began riding circuit in the western areas of the colony, to help alleviate the civilian toll in the Seven Years' War. I did this throughout the war, and even after. There was one incident, however, on a plantation on my circuit in 1767. A man was riding by, and was thrown from his horse. I examined him, and declared him dead. But, that wasn't the end of it. He revived when I was cleaning up. It was then, that I knew that I was not the only one. I took him into a side room and talked to him about his condition, and also the importance of hiding it from the mortals. I haven't seen him since. I came ashore near Bristol, England. I did my best to make a comfortable life for myself, but it was much more difficult than earlier. I decided, then, to go to university for the first time in my life. I enrolled in Oxford Uiversity, and got my doctorate in medicine. In 1723, I graduated in the top 10 of my class. And I decided that I wanted to go back to the colonies. So, I boarded a ship bound for America. That September, I landed in Williamsburg, Virginia. I had not been to this area of America for nearly 200 years, and it had changed drastically. I went to the provincial governor's office, and volunteered my services as a doctor. So, I became the governor's personal physician. I lived in very nice house in central Williamsburg, and became a very wealthy man. I married, and had several children. I served several governors, until 1758, when I began riding circuit in the western areas of the colony, to help alleviate the civilian toll in the Seven Years' War. I did this throughout the war, and even after. There was one incident, however, on a plantation on my circuit in 1767. A man was riding by, and was thrown from his horse. I examined him, and declared him dead. But, that wasn't the end of it. He revived when I was cleaning up. It was then, that I knew that I was not the only one. I took him into a side room and talked to him about his condition, and also the importance of hiding it from the mortals. I haven't seen him since.
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 ==== Session 30 ==== ==== Session 30 ====
  
-**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=1952845&postcount=292|Thomas Faulkner (1773-1795 AD)]]**+**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/1/post-1952845|Thomas Faulkner (1773-1795 AD)]]**
  
 I wandered up and down the colonies for several years, before ending up in Boston once again. It was July, I remember. I found a job down at the docks, unloading ships coming from England. It was a bit boring, until December, when three ships came in. The Dartmouth, the Beaver, and the Eleanor. A bunch of my friends told me that they carried tea that had been taxed against our will. And they invited me to a meeting they were having that night. Before I knew it, I found myself on the deck of the Dartmouth, dressed as an Indian, throwing the tea overboard. It was invigorating, but at the same time strange. I had been loyal to the British crown for well over a century, and here I was rebelling against them. But that was nothing. It so happened that about a year later, I remember because it was soon after I was married that the British soldiers marched on Lexington and Concord. I enlisted with the local militia and ended up having to leave Boston for the outlying towns, before the siege began. Fortunately my wife was able to come with me. We relocated to Brookline, and I went back to help in the siege. I participated in many more battles during the Revolution, including New York, Trenton, Pinceton, Monmouth, Saratoga, and Yorktown to name a few. Once the treaty with Britain was signed, my wife and I rejoiced. We could finally be together. However, in 1786, our dreams were shattered. A farmer by the name Daniel Shays led an uprising in the west of Massachusetts. More upheaval followed. So, my small family and I fled to Nova Scotia. But, we were only safe there for 4 years. In 1790, we entered into a treaty with several other European nations against France. That meant I was conscripted. I served in several battles against the French, until I took a musket ball to the head in 1795 in Holland. I wandered up and down the colonies for several years, before ending up in Boston once again. It was July, I remember. I found a job down at the docks, unloading ships coming from England. It was a bit boring, until December, when three ships came in. The Dartmouth, the Beaver, and the Eleanor. A bunch of my friends told me that they carried tea that had been taxed against our will. And they invited me to a meeting they were having that night. Before I knew it, I found myself on the deck of the Dartmouth, dressed as an Indian, throwing the tea overboard. It was invigorating, but at the same time strange. I had been loyal to the British crown for well over a century, and here I was rebelling against them. But that was nothing. It so happened that about a year later, I remember because it was soon after I was married that the British soldiers marched on Lexington and Concord. I enlisted with the local militia and ended up having to leave Boston for the outlying towns, before the siege began. Fortunately my wife was able to come with me. We relocated to Brookline, and I went back to help in the siege. I participated in many more battles during the Revolution, including New York, Trenton, Pinceton, Monmouth, Saratoga, and Yorktown to name a few. Once the treaty with Britain was signed, my wife and I rejoiced. We could finally be together. However, in 1786, our dreams were shattered. A farmer by the name Daniel Shays led an uprising in the west of Massachusetts. More upheaval followed. So, my small family and I fled to Nova Scotia. But, we were only safe there for 4 years. In 1790, we entered into a treaty with several other European nations against France. That meant I was conscripted. I served in several battles against the French, until I took a musket ball to the head in 1795 in Holland.
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 ==== Session 31 ==== ==== Session 31 ====
  
-**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=2459275&postcount=326|Jan van den Ende (1795-1827 AD)]]**+**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/1/post-2459275|Jan van den Ende (1795-1827 AD)]]**
  
 I found myself in the middle of a war zone in my new life. I fled the front lines, and eventually settled in a village outside the Hague, where I felt I'd be moderately safe. My feelings proved to be correct, and I lived as a comfortable merchant there for over a decade. I took a wife, and I began to raise a family. That is to say, we did have to deal with certain raids, invasions, and coups over the years, but we were able to survive. Then, in 1806, the Batavian Republic fell, and we fled the Hague. I uprooted our family, and we moved to Amsterdam, thinking that we'd stay far away from the wars to the west. However, that didn't last long. In 1810, we were annexed by France. We were not at all supportive of this move by the French. We had done our best during the Batavian years to remain independent of the French, and now we were outright annexed. My wife and I had a long discussion one night, and it was decided that we'd have to flee Holland. It took several years to orchestrate, but in 1813 w were able to cross the North Sea to Great Britain. We settled in Essex, and built a new life there. Finally, I thought we could be happy. And we were. However, by 1827, I looked too young for my age. I thought to myself that it was time to move on once again. I found myself in the middle of a war zone in my new life. I fled the front lines, and eventually settled in a village outside the Hague, where I felt I'd be moderately safe. My feelings proved to be correct, and I lived as a comfortable merchant there for over a decade. I took a wife, and I began to raise a family. That is to say, we did have to deal with certain raids, invasions, and coups over the years, but we were able to survive. Then, in 1806, the Batavian Republic fell, and we fled the Hague. I uprooted our family, and we moved to Amsterdam, thinking that we'd stay far away from the wars to the west. However, that didn't last long. In 1810, we were annexed by France. We were not at all supportive of this move by the French. We had done our best during the Batavian years to remain independent of the French, and now we were outright annexed. My wife and I had a long discussion one night, and it was decided that we'd have to flee Holland. It took several years to orchestrate, but in 1813 w were able to cross the North Sea to Great Britain. We settled in Essex, and built a new life there. Finally, I thought we could be happy. And we were. However, by 1827, I looked too young for my age. I thought to myself that it was time to move on once again.
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 ==== Session 32 ==== ==== Session 32 ====
  
-**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=3606851&postcount=489|Richard Stevens (1828-1831 AD)]]**+**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/1/post-3606851|Richard Stevens (1828-1831 AD)]]**
  
 Now I will tell you of my encounter with the Blood Knight. Now I will tell you of my encounter with the Blood Knight.
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 ==== Session 33 ==== ==== Session 33 ====
  
-**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=4015727&postcount=702|Gregory O'Connor (1851-1889 AD)]]**+**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/1/post-4015727|Gregory O'Connor (1851-1889 AD)]]**
  
 I spent several years convalescing at the Trust after my run-in with the Blood Knight, and then over a decade wandering the world, but always coming back to the Trust at the end. When I finally felt ready enough, though, I employed the ephemerals at the Trust to aid me in constructing a new life for myself. I became Gregory O'Connor, an American hailing from Cairo, Illinois. My youth allowed me to pass as someone around university age, and I decided to enroll in West Point. I graduated in 1855, in the top 10% of my class. I had decided to take a much more martial approach to life, in case the Blood Knight were to ever come calling again. Or if war were to break out again. I spent several years convalescing at the Trust after my run-in with the Blood Knight, and then over a decade wandering the world, but always coming back to the Trust at the end. When I finally felt ready enough, though, I employed the ephemerals at the Trust to aid me in constructing a new life for myself. I became Gregory O'Connor, an American hailing from Cairo, Illinois. My youth allowed me to pass as someone around university age, and I decided to enroll in West Point. I graduated in 1855, in the top 10% of my class. I had decided to take a much more martial approach to life, in case the Blood Knight were to ever come calling again. Or if war were to break out again.
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 ==== Session 34 ==== ==== Session 34 ====
  
-**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=4077521&postcount=750|James McNichols (1894-1918 AD)]]**+**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/1/post-4077521|James McNichols (1894-1918 AD)]]**
  
 I spent a few more years at the Trust creating a new life for myself before venturing out again. This time, I settled in Ireland, specifically in the coastal town of Ballina in the west. It had been over a thousand years since I had been back to Ireland, and it was vastly different. I took a job as a fisherman, and settled down. I took a wife and had five children with her. Life was wonderful for a time. But unfortunately, that all came to a halt. Around 1910, pro-independence violence really started to pick up. I felt like it was not safe to stay in Ireland anymore. I spoke with my wife quite extensively, and decided that I should go along ahead of the rest of my family, and get established in New York City before I sent for them later. By 1912, I had saved up enough money to book passage to New York. I travelled to Queenstown to meet the ship. It was called Titanic. When it sank, I was trapped in the stern section. But I was able to scramble back to the surface and grab onto a piece of debris before I froze to death. I was picked up by the Carpathia, but I have no idea why. I ended up reviving in the arms of another steerage passenger. She kissed me. She started speaking very quickly in Norwegian about how thankful she was and how concerned she was about me. But I had to make sure that she knew that I was a married man. She looked at me, quite dejected. That was the last time I saw her. I spent a few more years at the Trust creating a new life for myself before venturing out again. This time, I settled in Ireland, specifically in the coastal town of Ballina in the west. It had been over a thousand years since I had been back to Ireland, and it was vastly different. I took a job as a fisherman, and settled down. I took a wife and had five children with her. Life was wonderful for a time. But unfortunately, that all came to a halt. Around 1910, pro-independence violence really started to pick up. I felt like it was not safe to stay in Ireland anymore. I spoke with my wife quite extensively, and decided that I should go along ahead of the rest of my family, and get established in New York City before I sent for them later. By 1912, I had saved up enough money to book passage to New York. I travelled to Queenstown to meet the ship. It was called Titanic. When it sank, I was trapped in the stern section. But I was able to scramble back to the surface and grab onto a piece of debris before I froze to death. I was picked up by the Carpathia, but I have no idea why. I ended up reviving in the arms of another steerage passenger. She kissed me. She started speaking very quickly in Norwegian about how thankful she was and how concerned she was about me. But I had to make sure that she knew that I was a married man. She looked at me, quite dejected. That was the last time I saw her.
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 ==== Session 35 ==== ==== Session 35 ====
  
-**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=4104841&postcount=795|Jamie O'Rourke, 1918-1944 AD)]]**+**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/1/post-4104841|Jamie O'Rourke, 1918-1944 AD)]]**
  
 Thankfully, when I returned to Jamie's home, two strokes of luck turned in my favour: first, that I bore quite a bit of resemblance to Jamie, and that the family lived in London. But what intrigued me was the first stroke of good luck. I decided to look into the question. I started probing into the city's records: birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates. What I found was a bit surprising. I was able to trace the records back to a Lucy Stevens, born in the 1820s. I suppose it could have been any Lucy Stevens, but my heart jumped upon reading that name. I immediately thought that it could be none other than my daughter. It made me happy to learn that she at least survived long enough to have children of her own. It got me thinking. Jamie had had a sweetheart of his own before he went off to war, and so I thought to myself that I should take up with her myself in order to completely step into my descendant's life. Everything went very well with that. I was surprised with myself in how easy it was for me to step in like that. But I suppose it was to be expected. After all, I had 14 centuries of experience under my belt at this point. We married in 1920, and our first child, Ariadne, was born the following year. Life was harder after the war than it was beforehand, but we were able to make do. We bought a house in Aldgate, and had a good life. We had three other children, two more girls, and a boy. It went well, until 1929, when America's stock market crashed. That caused the already fragile British economy to drop off as well. I had to dip into the savings I had from previous lifetimes, on the premise of receiving an unexpected inheritance. This was harder to orchestrate than it might've been, since my wife and children knew my family personally. But I got it to work. We were able to continue on getting by. Thankfully, when I returned to Jamie's home, two strokes of luck turned in my favour: first, that I bore quite a bit of resemblance to Jamie, and that the family lived in London. But what intrigued me was the first stroke of good luck. I decided to look into the question. I started probing into the city's records: birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates. What I found was a bit surprising. I was able to trace the records back to a Lucy Stevens, born in the 1820s. I suppose it could have been any Lucy Stevens, but my heart jumped upon reading that name. I immediately thought that it could be none other than my daughter. It made me happy to learn that she at least survived long enough to have children of her own. It got me thinking. Jamie had had a sweetheart of his own before he went off to war, and so I thought to myself that I should take up with her myself in order to completely step into my descendant's life. Everything went very well with that. I was surprised with myself in how easy it was for me to step in like that. But I suppose it was to be expected. After all, I had 14 centuries of experience under my belt at this point. We married in 1920, and our first child, Ariadne, was born the following year. Life was harder after the war than it was beforehand, but we were able to make do. We bought a house in Aldgate, and had a good life. We had three other children, two more girls, and a boy. It went well, until 1929, when America's stock market crashed. That caused the already fragile British economy to drop off as well. I had to dip into the savings I had from previous lifetimes, on the premise of receiving an unexpected inheritance. This was harder to orchestrate than it might've been, since my wife and children knew my family personally. But I got it to work. We were able to continue on getting by.
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 ==== Session 36 ==== ==== Session 36 ====
  
-**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=4110013&postcount=801|Thibaud Daudens (1946-1969 AD)]]**+**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/1/post-4110013|Thibaud Daudens (1946-1969 AD)]]**
  
 After reaching the Trust headquarters in Lausanne, I decided that I didn't want to stay there very long. I immediately started in creating a new life for myself, and bought a flat in Paris. The city had seen better times, but then so did most of the continent. Eventually, I took a job as a clerk in the office of the Prime Minister. It was mostly a paper-pushing position, but it was exciting to be working in the office of the Prime Minister at this time. From this position, I was able to watch what would one day become the European Union begin forming around me. It warmed my heart to see that the people of Europe, after so many centuries, were finally putting their differences behind them. I had been embroiled in so many wars on this continent over the centuries, and it restored my faith in mankind to see them working together, rather than trying to kill each other. After reaching the Trust headquarters in Lausanne, I decided that I didn't want to stay there very long. I immediately started in creating a new life for myself, and bought a flat in Paris. The city had seen better times, but then so did most of the continent. Eventually, I took a job as a clerk in the office of the Prime Minister. It was mostly a paper-pushing position, but it was exciting to be working in the office of the Prime Minister at this time. From this position, I was able to watch what would one day become the European Union begin forming around me. It warmed my heart to see that the people of Europe, after so many centuries, were finally putting their differences behind them. I had been embroiled in so many wars on this continent over the centuries, and it restored my faith in mankind to see them working together, rather than trying to kill each other.
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 ==== Session 37 ==== ==== Session 37 ====
  
-**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=4110013&postcount=801|Paul Fitzroy (1977-2006 AD)]]**+**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/1/post-4110013|Paul Fitzroy (1977-2006 AD)]]**
  
 After staying on at the Trust for a few years, I decided it was time to step into my new life once again. I caught a plane to London, and bought myself a comfortable flat. Afterward, I decided that I hadn't been to university in quite some time. What great breakthroughs had been made in the past centuries without my knowing? I had to know. I compared the city universities, and decided on the London Film School, because I wanted to learn how to make those wonderfully ingenious forms of entertainment that had popped up over the past few decades: films. At the same time, a comepletely new form of music was finding its way into the hearts of people 'my age:' disco. So, to keep up appearances, I went along with some of my friends to a local disco club in my first year at university. It was a strange experience. I hadn't been up on all the new musical movements, preferring classical music over the new stuff. But it was a good kind of strange. It had a great beat, and it was fun to dance to. I ended up becoming a regular throughout my university career. And it was there that I met Maria. The daughter of Caribbean immigrants, she worked at the club that I frequented. Though the question of interracial marriage had been declared legal in Parliament, there were still many people who didn't believe that a fine upstanding white British man like myself should be dating a black girl with immigrant parents. Unfortunately, one of the people who thought that way was her boss, and so she was eventually fired for dating me in 1979. After staying on at the Trust for a few years, I decided it was time to step into my new life once again. I caught a plane to London, and bought myself a comfortable flat. Afterward, I decided that I hadn't been to university in quite some time. What great breakthroughs had been made in the past centuries without my knowing? I had to know. I compared the city universities, and decided on the London Film School, because I wanted to learn how to make those wonderfully ingenious forms of entertainment that had popped up over the past few decades: films. At the same time, a comepletely new form of music was finding its way into the hearts of people 'my age:' disco. So, to keep up appearances, I went along with some of my friends to a local disco club in my first year at university. It was a strange experience. I hadn't been up on all the new musical movements, preferring classical music over the new stuff. But it was a good kind of strange. It had a great beat, and it was fun to dance to. I ended up becoming a regular throughout my university career. And it was there that I met Maria. The daughter of Caribbean immigrants, she worked at the club that I frequented. Though the question of interracial marriage had been declared legal in Parliament, there were still many people who didn't believe that a fine upstanding white British man like myself should be dating a black girl with immigrant parents. Unfortunately, one of the people who thought that way was her boss, and so she was eventually fired for dating me in 1979.
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 ==== Session 38 ==== ==== Session 38 ====
  
-**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=4154753&postcount=839|David Hoffman (2008 AD-Present)]]**+**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/1/post-4154753|David Hoffman (2008 AD-Present)]]**
  
 Rather than moving abroad from the Trust, I decided to try something different. I had spent some years in Switzerland at the Trust over the centuries, but had never actually spent that much time in the country proper. So once my new identity was complete, I bought a flat in the Lausanne city centre, with my cover story saying that I had just graduated university and had moved there from Zurich, explaining my somewhat Germanic name. I also decided that it might be time to part with some of the less sentimental things that I'd accumulated over my life. So, for the first time in centuries, I opened up a shop. This time, it was an antiques shop. Business over the past few years, while slow because of the higher prices that some of my belongings have been appraised for, has been steady. I still like to travel around when I can, including looking in on my children that are still living, but always making sure that they don't know that I'm there. I'm not yet comfortable revealing myself to the wide world as an Eternal, and am trying to keep myself under the radar as best as possible. But after all I've seen, it might be that humanity is in fact ready to deal with us the way we are. Only the progress of the next few years will tell us for sure. Rather than moving abroad from the Trust, I decided to try something different. I had spent some years in Switzerland at the Trust over the centuries, but had never actually spent that much time in the country proper. So once my new identity was complete, I bought a flat in the Lausanne city centre, with my cover story saying that I had just graduated university and had moved there from Zurich, explaining my somewhat Germanic name. I also decided that it might be time to part with some of the less sentimental things that I'd accumulated over my life. So, for the first time in centuries, I opened up a shop. This time, it was an antiques shop. Business over the past few years, while slow because of the higher prices that some of my belongings have been appraised for, has been steady. I still like to travel around when I can, including looking in on my children that are still living, but always making sure that they don't know that I'm there. I'm not yet comfortable revealing myself to the wide world as an Eternal, and am trying to keep myself under the radar as best as possible. But after all I've seen, it might be that humanity is in fact ready to deal with us the way we are. Only the progress of the next few years will tell us for sure.
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 **[[AH.com Eternals]]** **[[AH.com Eternals]]**
 +
shared_worlds/gregorios.txt · Last modified: 2020/02/02 23:48 by eofpi
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