#petrus steele

[galleryblue]

My Girlfriend's Girlfriend,1996

[k-i-l-l-e-r-b-e-e-6-9]

[pileojunk]

I am completely normal for this man

[vodkaandsnakes]

On this day, January 4, in Type O Negative history:

If today is your birthday, you share your special day with the man who was primary among THOSE AT FAULT. Happy Birthday to you, and to left-handed raconteur Peter Steele!

Left-handedness is a spectrum of ambidextrousness- some left-handed folks need the left-handed scissors, while some only use their left hand for writing, or, to some degree, can write with either hand. In any case, left-handers are typically doomed to never being able to properly read the logo on a pencil or pen.

While certainly an annoyance, what does this mean in the larger scope of things in the life of a left-handed person? It means having to face each new task or situation trying to determine how to safely and efficiently accomplish that which right-handers undertake with ease. This, quite obviously, leads left-handers to a lifetime of 'thinking outside of the box'. One wonders if Peter's left-handedness didn't have a significant impact on his powers of creativity- and his legendary wit. When you're born into a world that is not really interested in accommodating your unique challenges, one learns early on to accept it, get over it, adapt accordingly, move on, and have a chuckle or two at the absurdities of life.

The Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial Arch near Prospect Park in 1900, Courtesy of the Library of Congress

[triste-guillotine]

CARNIVORE "Retaliation" LP 1987 (If you can't eat it or fuck it... Then kill it !)

1. Jack Daniel's and pizza 2. Angry Neurotic Catholics 3. S.M.D. 4. Ground Zero Brooklyn 5. Race War 6. Inner Conflict 7. Jesus Hitler 8. Technophobia 9. Manic Depression (The Jimi Hendrix Experience cover) 10. U.S.A. for U.S.A. 11. Five Billion Dead 12. Sex and Violence

"Hear thee my fellow Nazolics Come join the Neotheofacists Keep the race pure, practice eugenics And swear to the holy swazafix"

[decagondice]

༓ Too Busy Being Yours ༓

༓ Pairing. Soft!Sylus x f!Reader

༓ Synopsis. In the stillness of a world built on shadow and steel, Sylus stands alone, the weight of her absence pressing against his chest. She lingers in every corner, in every detail — the gleam of his eyes, the quiet hum of the city, the cold touch of his sidearm.

༓ Content. Soft!Sylus, sfw, F!Reader, Established Relationship (?) comfort, Loneliness (?), Sylus misses you whilst you're away, fluff, Yearning, Domestic (?), Not proofread.

༓ Word Count. 1.3k

༓ A.N. This was super rushed but its almost 5am and I have been stuck with thoughts of Soft!Sylus whilst having Hozier's cover of 'Do I wanna know?' on constant loop. (I would recommend listening to that while reading this piece)

[Artwork by Petrus Van Schendel - 'Dutch Market by Moonlight', 1853]

The window was a fractured sheet of black glass, and beyond it, the vast sprawl of Onychinus bloomed in shades of dull copper and cold mercury. The city never slept — it simply lulled into a different kind of wakefulness, one that hummed with the murmur of distant engines and the low, syrup-thick din of voices lost between floors, beneath flickering neon eaves. Sylus stood before it, shirt unbuttoned at the collar, sleeves rolled up over the worn sinew of his forearms, a coin flipping between his fingers. The metal gleamed faintly in the dim light, its rhythm steady and almost meditative, like thoughts drifting into the quiet of the room, rising and fading into nothing. 

He was waiting, though he would never call it that.

The apartment was too still without her, the silence swallowing the edges of the hours until they blurred together into one endless dusk. She’d been gone for days — maybe weeks — and though they had lived apart before, this time the absence ached differently. This time, she left her fingerprints on every surface she’d touched, and even in her absence, he felt her. In the hollow press of his pillow, in the half-drunk cup left on the counter, in the way her voice seemed to echo up from the floors themselves.

He wasn’t the kind of man who fumbled for words, but she had built herself a shrine in his mind without even trying. And it would be his curse — perhaps his only one worth bearing — to kneel before it willingly.

The phone buzzed on the glass table beside him, the screen illuminating briefly before dimming into a soft reflection of the room. Her name. A tether to the living world.

He let it ring once — twice — before answering, his voice low and indifferent, a thin veil over the frayed edges of his waiting.

"How are you?" Her voice was a warmth too tender for a world like his, too light to belong in the grip of a man like him.

Sylus laughed, a breathy, unguarded thing that slipped out before he could smother it. The kind of laugh that belonged in dark hallways or against the curve of her neck, close enough that no one else could steal it.

The phone rested lightly against his ear, but his gaze was fixed somewhere far beyond the windowpane, to where the sky peeled itself apart over the distant harbour, light bleeding into water like ink into silk.

He didn’t answer right away.

Because how could he tell her —

That every day without her was a hollow stretch, a penance paid in silence. That no matter how he occupied his hands — in deals, in schemes, in fights where blood became the only language spoken — she followed him. 

She was in the weight of the guns he cleaned with meticulous fingers, in the cold press of steel that always reminded him of how her hands felt against his jaw — not soft, not fragile, but deliberate, certain, like she knew exactly what kind of man she was holding and didn’t flinch. She lingered in the polished chambers, in the oil-slick sheen of metal under dim light, each piece of his arsenal now a reliquary touched by her presence. Even the treasures he hoarded — the rings, the loose chains, the antique blades and strange glimmering artefacts collected in careless greed — all of it, touched now by her absence. 

She was in the rain-slick streets beneath his shoes, the reflections of passing headlights gliding like ghosts beside him, the pulse of the city now syncopated to the memory of her heartbeat against his. A curse, perhaps. But if this was damnation, he’d bear it with the grace of a condemned man walking willingly into the mouth of hell.

Because Sylus — sharp-edged, gloved in the faint trace of dark woods and leather, the cool weight of steel a constant companion, with hands that had taken lives and seized fortunes — had known love first as a weakness. A blade turned against its wielder. A story with a ruinous end. But then there was her. Love, in the shape of her name. Love, not a thing that devoured, but something that held. Not a soft surrender, but a reckoning — two hands reaching into the dark and pulling him out without flinching at what they found.

He had told himself once that love was a thing best kept at a distance, lest it burn the house down around him. But now, even knowing the smoke would always follow, he could no longer resist standing in the heart of it.

She was there in the smallest details — the gleam of his carmine eyes when the light caught them just right, the weight of his jacket settling over his shoulders, the angle of his chair at the table where they sat together, knees brushing beneath wood. She was in the stories the city whispered, in the scars on his knuckles and the lingering taste of her on his tongue.

Her dragon, she had called him once — smoke and fire and ruin. And yet, it was she who wandered into his den, fearless and bright, leaving the scent of flowers in her wake. Perhaps he was the storm she wandered into — all steel winds and unyielding sky — and perhaps she was the quiet omen he had ignored until it was far too late to turn back. Or perhaps they were simply two souls damned to meet again and again, drawn together not by fate but by the quiet hunger of the earth itself.

It would not matter. If every lifetime led him back to this — the shape of her back beneath his hand, the sound of her voice softened by sleep, the way she pulled apart the silence between them with nothing but a glance — then Sylus would walk every damned path willingly. Sin, virtue, heaven, hell — none of it mattered if it meant keeping her. Not locked away, but free — because she chose to stay.

And what a thing that was. To be chosen by her.

"Did you miss me?" she asked, her voice a gentle needle, sliding between his ribs.

The window, cold against his fingertips. The city breathing outside. The distant gleam of headlights trailing like unspoken words between them.

"Haven’t had time to think about it," he said, his voice low, teasing, smooth as a blade sharpened on stone.

But they both knew.

And so the conversation slipped into silence — not uncomfortable, not empty — but the kind of silence built by people who knew every corner of each other. Her breath through the speaker, soft and even, and then — a quiet laugh, low and effortless, like a hand brushing through water. It was the kind of sound that lingered, curling around him even after it was gone. His fingers traced idle circles against the glass. They did not need to speak of longing. It was already there, woven into the space between every word, every inhale.

They existed in that place — a liminal space where shadow and steel met sunlight and skin, where dragon and archnemesis tangled together not in ruin, but in something softer. Something whole. And as the call ended, as the city stretched before him and the cold air pressed against the glass, Sylus stood alone — but not empty. Never empty.

Because even when she was gone, she was still there, as sure as the weight of his weapon resting within reach, as sure as the steady beat of his pulse in the quiet of the room.

Everywhere he went, she was already there.

And in every lifetime to come, in every heaven or hell, he would walk willingly beside her again.

Just to see her.

To have her, as she is — treasured and whole, free to be herself.

And for Sylus, that was enough.

A.N. I have been putting off reading Sylus' dragon myth for the longest time, so my details here might be a bit off, so please excuse me there! Hopefully my brain can generate more Sylus stuff :D Thank you for reading!!!!

[vladdocs]

List of Documents you can Find In Corpus Draculianum vol 1,1 and 1,2 books:

Corpus Draculianum Vol I,1 -All the internal sources about Vlad

[Controversial attribution] [14]48 October 31, Târgoviște Vlad Țepeș, Voivode of Wallachia, informs the council of Brașov that they must reject the request of the Vice-Voivode of Transylvania, Nicolae de Vizakna, as it is still unknown what has happened to Iancu of Hunedoara. Informants from the Ottoman Empire keep him updated on the progress of the war.

[September 1456 – December 1461] Vlad Țepeș, Voivode of Wallachia, sends a mandate to the customs officers in Rucăr, stating that an envoy should inform the Brașov council that the news about the Ottoman advance is false. The expected envoy from Brașov may still come, and the customs officer on his way to Brașov should be escorted back.

September 6, 1456, Târgoviște Vlad Țepeș, Voivode of Wallachia, issues a diploma for the representatives of Țara Bârsei, granting them extensive trade privileges in Wallachia. In return, they are to offer him asylum in case he loses the throne. Both parties commit to providing mutual military support.

September 10, 1456, Târgoviște Vlad Țepeș, Voivode of Wallachia, informs the Brașov council that an Ottoman envoy is demanding the right for Ottoman troops to pass through Wallachia into Transylvania. He asks the Brașovians to send armed men to help him deter the Ottoman envoy.

[1456 – 1461] December 8 Vlad Țepeș, Voivode of Wallachia, requests that the Brașov council return the steel confiscated from his man, Dimitru, or reimburse him for it.

March 14, 1457, Târgoviște Vlad Țepeș, Voivode of Wallachia, reminds the Sibiu council that, according to agreements made, they should cease supporting a pretender to the throne residing in the Amlaș region.

April 16, 1457, Târgoviște Vlad Țepeș, Voivode of Wallachia, issues a confirmation for the Cozia Monastery regarding the village of Troienești, exempting it from services and taxes.

[1457] December 1, Rucăr Vlad Țepeș, Voivode of Wallachia, confirms to the Brașov council and the inhabitants of Țara Bârsei the observance of the armistice negotiated by Mihail Szilágyi and ensures trade freedom based on reciprocity. He agrees to uphold the agreement as long as peace between Szilágyi and the Brașovians lasts.

March 5, 1458, Tismana Monastery Vlad Țepeș, Voivode of Wallachia, issues a confirmation to Tismana Monastery regarding its ownership over all villages it possessed since the time of his father, Vlad Dracul, exempting them from services and princely burdens.

[Between March 28 and July 4, 1458] Vlad Țepeș, Voivode of Wallachia, issues a credential for Ivan Polivar to the Brașov council, also requesting them to expel his enemies, Mihail the Chancellor and Pardoi, from the Brașov region.

May 18, 1458, Gherghița Vlad Țepeș, Voivode of Wallachia, asks Gaspar, the steward of Brașov, to vouch for the Brașov craftsmen who will be sent to Wallachia.

June 13, 1458, near Dâmbovița Vlad Țepeș, Voivode of Wallachia, issues a credential for Petrus Sor to the Brașov council.

[January 21, 1459, near Sighișoara] Basarab, a pretender to the Wallachian throne, promises the Brașov council his military support against the city's enemies.

[Before April 2, 1459] Dan, a pretender to the Wallachian throne, informs the Brașov council that, under the commission of the King of Hungary, he is coming to seize Wallachia and seeks their support.

15a-b. April 2 and April 5, 1459, Feldioara Dan, a pretender to the Wallachian throne, grants the judge and the Brașov council the goods left in the city by Wallachian merchants as compensation for the damages caused by Vlad Țepeș.

September 20, 1459, Bucharest Vlad Țepeș, Voivode of Wallachia, issues a confirmation for Andrei and his sons regarding their estate in Poiana lui Ștev and Ponor, exempting them from taxes and services.

March 1, 1460, [Brașov] Dan, a pretender to the Wallachian throne, issues a mandate to the inhabitants of Wallachia, forbidding them from harassing the Brașovians for confiscating the goods of Wallachian merchants.

June 4, 1460, the fortress of [Bucharest?] on the Dâmbovița Vlad Țepeș, Voivode of Wallachia, requests the Brașov council to send back to Wallachia, along with his envoy Voico Dobrița, the boyars who took refuge in Brașov and wish to submit to him, or to expel those who refuse.

July 26, 1460, [Wallachia] Vlad Țepeș, Voivode of Wallachia, informs the Brașov council that he wishes to maintain peace as long as the city does not support the people of Făgăraș, against whom he announces a punitive expedition.

August 10, 1460, the fortress of [Bucharest?] near the Dâmbovița Vlad Țepeș, Voivode of Wallachia, writes to the Brașov council regarding certain disputes.

October 11, [14]60, Wywar/[Bucharest] Vlad Țepeș, Voivode of Wallachia, complains to a high-ranking Transylvanian official that the Brașovians are not honoring the treaty concluded a few weeks earlier.

February 10, 1461, Bucharest Vlad Țepeș, Voivode of Wallachia, issues a confirmation for Bâra and his brother, Godea, regarding the village of Godeni, exempting it from taxes and duties.

[Disputed authenticity] February 11, 1462, Uywar/[Bucharest] Vlad Țepeș, Voivode of Wallachia, reports to Matthias Corvinus, King of Hungary, that the Ottomans attempted an attack against him and that, as a result, he took up arms against them. Describing the military operations in detail, he requests Matthias to send an army in his support. The letter includes a meticulous count of the Turks and Bulgarians killed.

[1464/1465] February 19 Radu the Handsome, Voivode of Wallachia, responds to the Brașov council regarding their repeated requests for trade privileges, stating that first, the compensations established during Vlad Țepeș’s rule must be repaid.

June 2, 1475, [Moardăș] Vlad Țepeș, a pretender to the Wallachian throne, issues a credential for his boyar, Cristian Pârcălab, to the Sibiu council and requests that a house in the city be made available to him.

October 13, 1475, Bălcaciu Vlad Țepeș, a pretender to the Wallachian throne, issues a confirmation to Thomas Altemberger, mayor of Sibiu, for the receipt of 200 Hungarian florins.

[After July 22 – Before August 1, 1476], Cipău Vlad Țepeș, Voivode of Wallachia, issues a safe-conduct for Sebastian, who is traveling to Brașov.

October 7, 1476, Brașov Vlad Țepeș, a pretender to the Wallachian throne, issues a charter to the Brașovians granting them privileges, ensuring free trade without limitations resulting from the right of scale and with fixed customs duties.

November 8, [1476], Târgoviște Vlad Țepeș, Voivode of Wallachia, informs the Brașov council of his victory over Basarab Laiotă and the latter’s flight to the Ottomans, urging the Brașovians to resume trade. Lord Rătundul is accredited as an envoy.

[November 8 – 26, 1476] Vlad Țepeș, Voivode of Wallachia, asks the Brașov council to support him in recruiting Transylvanian mercenaries.

[November 8 – 26, 1476] Vlad Țepeș, Voivode of Wallachia, asks the Brașov council to confirm the receipt of the oxen and cows he gifted, justifying this by freeing the cattle herders.

[November 8 – 26, 1476] Vlad Țepeș, Voivode of Wallachia, issues a credential to the Brașov council for Lord Stoica armaș (a high-ranking military officer).

[November 8 – 26, 1476] Vlad Țepeș, Voivode of Wallachia, requests the Brașov council to grant justice to Lord Stoica armaș regarding the goods left with Paul Kewer.

[November 17, 1476], Târgoviște Cristian Pârcălab reports to the judge and council of Brașov about the capture of Bucharest and the submission of the boyars under Vlad Țepeș, while also requesting more carpenters.

[From November 26, 1476] Vlad Țepeș, Voivode of Wallachia, informs the Brașov council about the submission of the Wallachian boyars, inviting them to once again use the trade routes.

[After October 27, 1479] Basarab the Younger, Voivode of Wallachia, requests the Brașov council to stop supporting any pretender to the throne.

[After February 24, 1480], Bucharest Lord Neagu requests the Brașov council to release the wife of Basarab the Younger, Voivode of Wallachia, who is being held hostage, and to cease supporting any pretender. He also reminds them of Vlad Țepeș’s punitive expeditions.

April 1, 1551, Bucharest Mircea Ciobanul, Voivode of Wallachia, confirms the Monastery of Govora’s ownership over the villages of Glodul and Hințea. On this occasion, he recalls the destruction of the monastery by the boyar Albu cel Mare and his defeat at the hands of Vlad Țepeș.

January 20, 1604, Târgoviște Radu Șerban, Voivode of Wallachia, issues a confirmation to Vintilă of Satu Mare and his brothers for their ownership of the villages of Satu Mare and Vâlcana.

Complementary Sources

Documents No. 40 – 59

Annex: Documents of Controversial Attribution

[Controversial Attribution and Authenticity] August 8, 1447, Târgoviște Vlad, Voivode of Wallachia and son of Voivode Vlad, issues a confirmation to Taeâncoș, Stan, and Colțea for their estate in Coteana, over which they had established kinship.

[Controversial Authenticity] November 7, 1462, [Rucăr] Vlad Țepeș, Voivode of Wallachia, informs Sultan Mehmed II about a planned march into Wallachia, requesting permission for the free passage of his envoys who were to deliver his declaration of submission. In return, the Voivode offers his support to the Ottomans for the conquest of Transylvania and the rest of Hungary.

______________________________

Corpus Draculianum Vol I,2 - All the external sources about Vlad

62. February 6, 1452, Buda John Hunyadi, Governor of Hungary, informs the Brașov Council about the armistice concluded with the Ottomans, sending them a mandate to refrain from supporting the pretender Vlad because of this agreement.

63. March 30, 1452, Săcălaz John Hunyadi, Governor of Hungary, informs the Brașov Council about certain decisions made at the Vienna meeting, as well as about the expulsion of the pretender Vlad from the kingdom, issuing a mandate instructing the Brașovians not to extradite the wives of Wallachian fugitives.

64. July 3, 1456, Cuvin John Hunyadi, Count of Bistrița, issues a mandate for the Saxons of the Seven Seats to urgently join him with their troops and reports that he has entrusted the defense of the region to Vlad Țepeș, Voivode of Wallachia.

65. December 17, 1456, Kecskemét Ladislaus Hunyadi, Count of Bistrița, etc., issues a mandate to the Brașov Council to support the pretender Dan, designated by Ladislaus the Posthumous, King of Hungary, against the unfaithful Vlad Țepeș, Voivode of Wallachia.

66. November 23, 1457, Sighișoara Mihály Szilágyi, Ban of Macsó and commander of Belgrade, certifies the armistice agreement between himself and his supporters and Ladislaus the Posthumous, King of Hungary. This armistice involves Vlad Țepeș, Voivode of Wallachia, and the Burzenland region. The Brașovians are required to expel the pretender Dan and cease supporting him in the future.

67a-b. March 3 and 6, 1458, Buda Matthias Corvinus, King of Hungary, and Mihály Szilágyi, Governor of Hungary, each issue a mandate to the Council and the community of Sibiu, calling for an end to violent conflicts with Vlad Țepeș, Voivode of Wallachia, whom they have invited to maintain peace and order.

68. July 4, 1458, Buda Matthias Corvinus, King of Hungary, issues a mandate to the Brașov Council, ordering them to hand over the belongings of Mihail Logofăt, who was killed by Vlad Țepeș, to his servants.

69. September 10, 1458, Szeged Matthias Corvinus, King of Hungary, issues a mandate to the Brașov Council, instructing them to pay Benedict de Boythor, his envoy traveling to Wallachia to meet Voivode Vlad Țepeș, 48 florins from the revenues of the Hărman estate.

70. April 23, 1459, Buda Matthias Corvinus, King of Hungary, issues a mandate to the Brașov Council and the Burzenland community, ordering them to hand over to the Count of the Szeklers the properties located in Brașov that belonged to Codrea, who was executed by Vlad Țepeș, Voivode of Wallachia, as well as the pepper confiscated from the castellans of Bran.

71. April 22, 1460, Pest Blasius of Bardejov sends a report to the Council of Bardejov about the defeat of the pretender Dan and the execution of his men by Vlad Țepeș, Voivode of Wallachia.

72. April 28, 1460, Vingard János Geréb de Vingard, Vice-Governor of Hungary, orders the Brașov Council to confirm the news that Vlad Țepeș, Voivode of Wallachia, is allegedly preparing an incursion into Transylvania alongside the Ottomans.

73. [After October 11, 1460, Brașov] The recording of the proposals made by the envoy of Vlad Țepeș, Voivode of Wallachia, regarding an agreement with the Two and Seven Saxon Seats, the city of Brașov, the Burzenland region, and the Szeklers.

74. [After March 4 – Before April 3, 1462, Vác] Matthias Corvinus, King of Hungary, informs Girolamo Lando, Bishop of Crete and Papal Legate, about his alliance with Vlad Țepeș, Voivode of Wallachia.

75. March 21, 1462, Nyirád Blasius of Bardejov informs János of Sunja, the tax collector in Sáros County, about the killing of "24,000 Turks" by Vlad Țepeș.

76. [Mid-March 1462, Buda] Instructions for Ladislaus de Vesen, envoy of the Hungarian royal court, regarding his mission to the Doge of Venice and Pope Pius II. He is tasked with requesting subsidies for the Kingdom of Hungary, anticipating Ottoman retaliation for Vlad Țepeș's attack in the previous winter.

77. April 2, 1462, Caffa Raffaele Monterosso, Consul of Caffa, offers the city's vassalage to Casimir IV, Grand Duke of Lithuania and King of Poland, requesting in return that Caffa be included in a peace treaty or armistice with the Ottomans or placed under his protection.

78. [After July 1, 1462] ? Sultan Mehmed II sends a fetih-name (conquest decree) about the campaign in Wallachia to Prince Damad II İbrahim Beğ of Karaman.

79. 1462/63, Caffa Accounting records from the Genoese colony of Caffa regarding the stay of a Wallachian delegation.

80. August 15, 1462, Cluj Albert of Istenmezeje, Vice-Count of the Szeklers, issues a mandate to the Brașov Council for maintaining the armistice with Radu the Handsome, Voivode of Wallachia.

81. December 3, 1462, Brașov Matthias Corvinus, King of Hungary, confirms the privileges of the new settlers in Șercaia and Părău, following significant destruction.

Here is the English translation:

71. April 22, 1460, Pest Blasius of Bardejov sends a report to the Council of Bardejov about the defeat of the pretender Dan and the execution of his men by Vlad Țepeș, Voivode of Wallachia.

72. April 28, 1460, Vingard János Geréb de Vingard, Vice-Governor of Hungary, orders the Brașov Council to confirm the news that Vlad Țepeș, Voivode of Wallachia, is allegedly preparing an incursion into Transylvania alongside the Ottomans.

73. [After October 11, 1460, Brașov] The recording of the proposals made by the envoy of Vlad Țepeș, Voivode of Wallachia, regarding an agreement with the Two and Seven Saxon Seats, the city of Brașov, the Burzenland region, and the Szeklers.

74. [After March 4 – Before April 3, 1462, Vác] Matthias Corvinus, King of Hungary, informs Girolamo Lando, Bishop of Crete and Papal Legate, about his alliance with Vlad Țepeș, Voivode of Wallachia.

75. March 21, 1462, Nyirád Blasius of Bardejov informs János of Sunja, the tax collector in Sáros County, about the killing of "24,000 Turks" by Vlad Țepeș.

76. [Mid-March 1462, Buda] Instructions for Ladislaus de Vesen, envoy of the Hungarian royal court, regarding his mission to the Doge of Venice and Pope Pius II. He is tasked with requesting subsidies for the Kingdom of Hungary, anticipating Ottoman retaliation for Vlad Țepeș's attack in the previous winter.

77. April 2, 1462, Caffa Raffaele Monterosso, Consul of Caffa, offers the city's vassalage to Casimir IV, Grand Duke of Lithuania and King of Poland, requesting in return that Caffa be included in a peace treaty or armistice with the Ottomans or placed under his protection.

78. [After July 1, 1462] ? Sultan Mehmed II sends a fetih-name (conquest decree) about the campaign in Wallachia to Prince Damad II İbrahim Beğ of Karaman.

79. 1462/63, Caffa Accounting records from the Genoese colony of Caffa regarding the stay of a Wallachian delegation.

80. August 15, 1462, Cluj Albert of Istenmezeje, Vice-Count of the Szeklers, issues a mandate to the Brașov Council for maintaining the armistice with Radu the Handsome, Voivode of Wallachia.

81. December 3, 1462, Brașov Matthias Corvinus, King of Hungary, confirms the privileges of the new settlers in Șercaia and Părău, following significant destruction.

82. July 6, 1464, Lipova Ferenc Literatus de Kezy, castellan of Hunedoara, writes to the Sibiu Council regarding the sum of money owed to him by the late citizen Iacob Sor.

83. October 8, 1464, Deleni Ștefan de Héderfája allows the inhabitants of the Miercurea Sibiului seat to graze their pigs in the forests belonging to Amlaș.

84. June 25, 1475, Bistrița Dominicus, provost of Székesfehérvár, and Gasparus of Oradea, envoys of King Matthias Corvinus to Stephen the Great, send a letter to the king in which the voivode requests assistance against the Turks.

85. [Uncertain identification] [After July 12, 1475] Dominicus, provost of Székesfehérvár and apostolic protonotary, announces the fall of Caffa and the oaths of allegiance made by Stephen the Great and the "Transalpine voivode," possibly the pretender Vlad Țepeș, to King Matthias Corvinus.

86. August 15, 1475, Buda The second vassalage treaty between Matthias Corvinus, King of Hungary, and Stephen the Great, Voivode of Moldavia.

87. September 21, 1475, Buda Matthias Corvinus, King of Hungary, sends a mandate to Thomas Altemberger, Mayor of Sibiu, for the payment of a subsidy of 200 florins from the tridecima or vigesima (taxes) of the Baia de Arieș chamber for his loyal supporter Vlad Țepeș, pretender to the throne of Wallachia.

88. January 16, 1476, Stremț János Pongrácz, Voivode of Transylvania, writes to the Brașov Council about the alliance between King Matthias Corvinus and Basarab Laiotă, Voivode of Wallachia, as well as the need to send Vlad Țepeș's supporters to him.

89. March 7, 1476, Buda Gabriele Rangone, Bishop of Eger, reports to Pope Sixtus IV about the capture of the fortress of Srebrenica by the Hungarian army, among whose commanders was Vlad Țepeș.

90. July 21, 1476, Șintereag Ștefan Erdély, Vice-Voivode of Transylvania, informs the Brașov Council that Transylvanian troops are summoned to Turda on July 25 to join the royal army led by Ștefan Báthory and Vlad Țepeș. Additionally, he orders envoys to be sent to Moldavia to gather news about the progress of the war.

91. July 22, 1476, Oradea The Brașov notary, Magistrate Paulus, writes to the Brașov Council about the preparations for restoring Vlad Țepeș to the throne of Wallachia, informing them that Stephen the Great would also accept Basarab the Younger.

92. August 7, 1476 A report on the war in Moldavia, based on the testimony of Ladislau, secretary of Vlad Țepeș.

93. September 16, 1476, Wrocław Balthasar de Piscia, papal legate, reports to Pope Sixtus IV about the Ottoman campaign in Moldavia and Vlad Țepeș’s victory in Wallachia.

94. [October–November 1476, Edirne?] The informant “Yusuf” reports on high-level changes in the Ottoman hierarchy and the situation of the Ottoman army in Anatolia. Vlad Țepeș’s campaign against Basarab Laiotă is cited as the reason for shifting Ottoman attacks toward Wallachia.

95. November 11, 1476, camp near Bucharest Ștefan Báthory, royal judge and supreme commander of the royal troops in Transylvania, sends a report to the Sibiu Council on the progress of the campaign in Wallachia and issues a mandate for the delivery of supplies.

96. November [2]5, 1476, Buda Matthias Corvinus, King of Hungary, informs Ernst, Elector Prince of Saxony, about the battle against the Ottomans, the conquest of Wallachia, and the reinstatement of Vlad Țepeș.

97. December 4, 1476, Buda Giustiniano Cavitelli, a counselor at the court in Buda, notifies Galeazzo Maria Sforza, Duke of Milan, about the enthronement of Vlad Țepeș.

98. December 8, 1476, Buda Matthias Corvinus, King of Hungary, reports to Pope Sixtus IV on the victory of the Hungarian armies against Basarab Laiotă, Voivode of Wallachia.

99. January 5, 1477, Hârlău Stephen the Great, Voivode of Moldavia, thanks the Brașov Council for the news about Vlad Țepeș and requests further information.

100. May 8, 1477, Venice Transcription of the speech given by Ioan Țamblac, envoy of Stephen the Great, before the Venetian Senate regarding the political and military situation of the Principality of Moldavia.

101. March 12, 1479, Buda Matthias Corvinus, King of Hungary, issues a grant to Royal Judge Ștefan Báthory and his brother Andrei, comprising several properties, in recognition of their service to the crown.

102. September 10, 1489, Pécs The chapter of Pécs Cathedral draws up a sale-purchase deed for the "Dracula House."

This section provides complementary sources related to historical events:

103. January 16, 1458, Brașov Mihail Masa, vice-comes of the Szeklers and castellan of Bran, commits to halving the customs duty levied on goods belonging to Brașov merchants with a value exceeding 1,000 florins.

104. March 28, 1458, Lipova Mihail Szilágyi, governor of Hungary, orders the people of Sibiu, Brașov, the Szeklers, and the Transylvanian nobility to accept refugees coming from Moldavia and Wallachia.

105. April 3, 1459, Buda Matthias Corvinus, King of Hungary, prohibits the export of weapons from Brașov to Wallachia and orders the punishment of those who violate this restriction.

106. May 26, 1460, Cistei Nicolaus, castellan of Vízakna, informs the Brașov Council that King Matthias and Mihail Szilágyi wish to conclude a treaty with Bohemia to fight against the Ottomans and asks for support for travelers heading to Wallachia.

107. April 12, 1461, Sniatyn Michał Mużyło Buczacki, castellan of the fortress of Kamianets-Podilskyi and hetman of the provinces of Sniatyn and Kolomyia, authenticates the loan of a sum of money from Mihail, the Moldavian logothete, during a diplomatic mission to Wallachia.

108. January 26, 1462, Kraków The inhabitants of Kamianets petition King Casimir IV of Poland to ensure the continuation of trade along the Luczko–Olesko route, given the ongoing war in Moldavia.

109. [April/May] 1462, Buda János Vitéz, Bishop of Oradea, informs Cardinal Juan Carvajal de Sant’Angelo about the peace agreement between King Matthias Corvinus and Jan Giskra, as well as the Ottoman war preparations along the Danube, requesting the cardinal’s intervention with the Pope to support the Kingdom of Hungary.

110. July 1462, Bistrița A section from a military register of the city of Bistrița, compiled in preparation for the Wallachian campaign announced for 1462.

111. August 1, 1476, Sighișoara Ștefan Báthory, royal judge and supreme commander of the Hungarian armies, orders all regional Transylvanian authorities to assist Brașov officials traveling on royal missions by providing them with horses and other necessities.

This section contains reports by Pietro di Tommasi and the Venetian Senate regarding military movements and political affairs:

112. March 10, 1457, Buda Pietro di Tommasi reports on the large concentration of Ottoman troops and their advance through Bulgaria and Wallachia.

113. April 16, 1457, Buda Pietro di Tommasi reports on Ottoman troop movements based on information from Serbian envoys.

114. March 4, 1462, Buda Pietro di Tommasi describes the conflict between Vlad Țepeș and the Ottomans, copies Vlad's letters to Matthias Corvinus, and advocates for Hungary's support.

115. May 27, 1462, Buda Pietro di Tommasi reports on the Ottoman incursion, the state of their troops, and the military measures taken by Vlad Țepeș.

116. May 27, 1462, Buda Pietro di Tommasi describes the march of Ottoman troops through Bulgaria.

117. May 29, 1462, Buda Pietro di Tommasi details the war preparations of both the Ottomans and Hungarians.

118. [Undated] Pietro di Tommasi reports on Mehmed II’s offensive in Wallachia, Vlad Țepeș’s preparations, and the number of troops on both sides.

119. June 15, 1462, Buda Pietro di Tommasi states that Sultan Mehmed II is personally leading the offensive in Wallachia.

120. July 19, 1462, Venice The Venetian Senate instructs Pietro di Tommasi to assure King Matthias Corvinus of Venice’s support in the fight against the Ottomans.

121. October 11, 1462, Venice The Venetian Senate permits Pietro di Tommasi to return home but orders him to continue drafting reports on Wallachia until officially relieved from his duties.

122. January 15, 1463, Venice The Venetian Senate confirms receipt of news regarding the arrest of Vlad Țepeș.

This section contains reports from Antonio Guidobono regarding the military conflict between Vlad Țepeș and the Ottomans, as well as the reactions in Venice and Hungary:

123. March 18, 1462, Venice Antonio Guidobono reports on the execution of the sultan’s envoys and the occupation of Ottoman territories by the Wallachians.

124. March 29, 1462, Venice Antonio Guidobono confirms the defeat of the Ottomans in battle with the Wallachians and mentions the dispatch of Hungarian troops to support Vlad Țepeș.

125. May 25, 1462, Venice Antonio Guidobono confirms the mobilization of Ottoman forces against Vlad Țepeș.

126. June 2, 1462, Venice Antonio Guidobono confirms Ottoman war plans against Wallachia.

127. June 9, 1462, Venice Antonio Guidobono reports on the Ottoman march against Wallachia and Vlad Țepeș’s defensive preparations.

128. June 12, 1462, Venice Antonio Guidobono reports on the Ottoman march against Wallachia and Hungary’s financial difficulties.

129. June 16, 1462, Venice Antonio Guidobono reports on the arrival of Ladislau de Vesen in Venice.

130. June 21, 1462, Venice Antonio Guidobono reports on the Ottoman advance toward Wallachia.

131. June 25, 1462, Venice Antonio Guidobono reports on Venetian fears of a possible Ottoman land invasion.

132. June 28, 1462, Venice Antonio Guidobono reports growing concerns in Venice that the Ottomans might attack within their territory.

133a-b. July 2, 1462, Venice Antonio Guidobono reports that Vlad Țepeș has been defeated and that an attack on Belgrade is expected.

134. July 7, 1462, Venice Antonio Guidobono reports on rumors of heavy Ottoman defeats.

135. July 12, 1462, Venice Antonio Guidobono states that he cannot confirm rumors of an Ottoman defeat in Wallachia.

136. July 20, 1462, Venice Antonio Guidobono reports that a battle between the Wallachians, Hungarians, and Ottomans is expected.

137. July 23, 1462, Venice Antonio Guidobono reports that the Venetians fear a truce between the Hungarians and Ottomans. In Wallachia, Radu the Handsome is recognized as ruler by the inhabitants.

138. July 30, 1462, Venice Antonio Guidobono reports on alleged Venetian financial aid to Matthias Corvinus and rumors of a major Ottoman defeat in Wallachia.

139. August 3, 1462, Venice Antonio Guidobono reports that Hungary is preparing for a confrontation with the Ottomans.

140. August 10, 1462, Venice Antonio Guidobono reports on the Ottoman retreat due to supply difficulties and the Hungarian offensive.

141. August 13, 1462, Venice Antonio Guidobono reports on news that the Ottomans may have been defeated in Wallachia.

142. August 20, 1462, Venice Antonio Guidobono reports on news that the Ottomans suffered significant losses and possibly a defeat in Wallachia, as well as on Hungary's offensive preparations and troop gatherings.

143. August 25, 1462, Venice Antonio Guidobono reports on the Ottoman retreat from Wallachia.

144. August 28, 1462, Venice Antonio Guidobono confirms the Ottoman retreat from Wallachia.

145. August 31, 1462, Venice Antonio Guidobono sends a copy of a letter from Bailo Balbi in Constantinople and confirms information about Ottoman losses, as well as Matthias Corvinus's intention to continue the fight.

146. September 2, 1462, Venice Antonio Guidobono sends a copy of a letter from Bailo Balbi in Constantinople and confirms information about Ottoman losses.

147. September 11, 1462, Venice Antonio Guidobono confirms the Ottoman retreat towards Adrianople.

148. October 19, 1462, Venice Antonio Guidobono reports on further attacks by King Matthias Corvinus's royal troops, who sought to fight against Radu the Fair and the Ottoman forces supporting him.

149. December 20, 1462, Venice Antonio Guidobono reports on an unsuccessful Ottoman attack in Hungary.

Chapter of Authors: Leonardo Botta

150. October 28, 1476, Venice Leonardo Botta reports on gifts from the King of Hungary, Matthias Corvinus, to his supporters.

151. February 1, 1477, Venice Leonardo Botta reports on the capture of a Hungarian fortress near Semendria and the death of Vlad Țepeș.

152. February 7, 1477, Venice Leonardo Botta reports on the return of Italian ambassadors from Hungary.

Individual Letters

153. December 7, 1448, Constantinople A French informant reports on the battles for the throne of Wallachia.

154. March 20, 1462, Venice The Venetian Senate informs Pope Pius II about Vlad Țepeș's military successes against the Ottomans.

155a-b. March 23 – July 17, 1462, Bologna Mention of the arrival of two letters containing news about the war between the Wallachians and the Ottomans.

156. March 30, 1462, Rome Cardinal Francesco Gonzaga reports to Luigi III Gonzaga, Marquis of Mantua, about discussions among cardinals regarding the battles fought by the Wallachians against the Ottomans.

157. April 12, 1462, Venice Cezar of Florence reports to Ludovico III Gonzaga, Marquis of Mantua, on Wallachian operations against an Ottoman transport fleet and their consequences.

158. May 26, 1462, Santa Maura Leonardo III Tocco, Despot of Arta, informs the Doge of Venice about the advance of Ottoman troops toward the Danube.

159. June 28, 1462, Venice The Venetian Senate informs Niccolò Sagundino, its secretary at the Papal Curia, about Mehmed II’s campaign and orders him to intervene to ensure the continued financial support for Hungary.

160. July 19, 1462, Venice The Venetian Senate assigns Niccolò Sagundino, its secretary at the Papal Curia, to continue negotiations for granting subsidies to King Matthias Corvinus.

161. July 28, 1462, Constantinople Domenico Balbi, the Venetian bailo in Constantinople, reports to Cristoforo Moro, the Doge of Venice, about the return of the Ottoman army from Wallachia.

162. August 3, 1462, Candia Aloysio Gabriel, rector of Candia, reports to Antonio Loredano, commander of Modon, about the defeat of the Ottomans.

163. August 13, 1462, Modon Antonio Loredano, commander of Modon, reports on the Wallachians’ victory over the Ottomans based on the account of an Albanian fugitive from Adrianople.

164. January 15, 1463, Venice The Venetian Senate thanks Matthias Corvinus, King of Hungary, for the news regarding Vlad Țepeș, the Voivode of Wallachia.

165. March 3, 1463, Venice The Venetian Senate instructs Bernardo Giustiniani, its envoy to the Papal Curia, to advocate for continued support for Hungary, citing the betrayal of Voivode Vlad Țepeș as evidence of the kingdom’s ongoing threat.

166. April 18, 1463, Venice Cristoforo Moro, the Doge of Venice, sends Giovanni Aymo as an envoy to the court in Buda, tasking him with gathering information regarding the arrest of Vlad Țepeș and a possible treaty between the King of Hungary and the Ottomans.

167. July 18, 1475, Buda Florio Reverella, the envoy of Ferrara at the Hungarian court, reports to Ercole I d’Este, Duke of Ferrara, about the alliance between Stephen the Great and Matthias Corvinus, as well as the designation of Vlad Țepeș as Voivode.

168. After February 15, 1476 – December/January 1477, Vienna A citizen from Krems reports on the successes and then the presumed death of Vlad Țepeș during the campaign in Serbia.

169. August 30, 1476, Florence The Florentine Chancellery thanks Francesco Vino, Florence’s ambassador in Venice, for the information about Vlad Țepeș.

170. October 8, 1476, Venice The Venetian Senate informs Emanuele Gerardo, the Venetian secretary in Moldavia, that efforts will be made to obtain subsidies for Stephen the Great.

171. December 24, 1476, Buda Heinrich von Milticz, the envoy of the Elector of Saxony at the court in Buda, reports to Ernst, the Elector of Saxony, and Albrecht, the Duke of Saxony, about the reinstatement of Vlad Țepeș on the throne.

172. January 7, 1477, Venice The Venetian Senate informs Jacobo de Medio, its envoy to the Roman Curia, about the victories of Stephen the Great and Vlad Țepeș.

173. January 10, 1477, Venice The Venetian Senate informs Emanuele Gerardo, the Venetian secretary in Moldavia, about the efforts to support Stephen the Great.

Complementary Sources

174. February 26, 1461, Venice A speech by the envoy of Stjepan Tomašević, King of Bosnia, in which the Venetians are asked to support him against the Ottomans.

175. March 22, 1462, Venice Cezar of Florence reports to Ludovico III Gonzaga, Marquis of Mantua, about the Wallachian army’s operations on the Danube and the defeat of the Ottomans.

176. June 25, 1462, Venice Giacomo Antonio della Torre, Bishop of Modena, and Giovanni Arcimboldi report to Francesco Sforza, Duke of Milan, about the Ottoman war preparations.

177. October 21, 1463, Rome A call from Pope Pius II for a crusade against the Ottomans, accompanied by a description of their campaigns and a mention of the "occupation of Wallachia" in 1462.

178. (Uncertain) August 23, 1476, Florence The Florentine Chancellery thanks Francesco Vino, its ambassador in Venice, for the news about the Ottomans.

179. (Uncertain) September 29, 1476, Florence The Florentine Chancellery thanks Francesco Vino, its ambassador in Venice, for the correspondence regarding the Ottomans.

180. (Uncertain) October 5, 1476, Florence The Florentine Chancellery sends instructions to Francesco Vino, its ambassador in Venice, regarding an audience with the Doge of Venice.

181. January 10, 1477, Venice The Venetian Senate orders Gabriel Bertucio, its envoy at the royal court in Buda, to send congratulations to King Matthias Corvinus for the victorious campaign in Wallachia.

182. January 10, 1477, Venice The Venetian Senate repeats the instructions from the previous letter to Gabriel Bertucio, its envoy at the royal court in Buda, and orders him to send 200 ducats to Emanuele Gerardo.

183. January 29, 1477, Venice The Venetian Senate confirms to Jacopo di Mezzo, its envoy to the Roman Curia, the successes in the fight against the Ottomans on the Danube, as well as in Wallachia.

______________________ And this is it for the volume I,1 and I,2. If you are curious about the content of those chronicle/letters (+Other hunadreds of things that are inside) buy the books which can be found in Romanian and Dutch only as of now. Also don't forget to follow Corpus Draculianum on Youtube:

[acynicalsweetheart]

Trying my luck: Peter Steele

FUCK YES PETER STEELE… was just thinking ab him not sure what i should reveal what i was doing but i was thinking ab him all right. LMFAO. ughh i am trying to keep my morals intact but.. i cannot. i must write for a dead man. sexiest dead man on earth. petrus thomas ratajczyk…

[vanalex]

For once and for all some myths about Peter Steele debunked.

I hate it when someone refers to him as Petrus... or even worse, Lord Petrus 🤦🏻‍♀️

This is from his family's official Facebook page. It's also on their blog.

His real eyecolor wasn't green, but a blue-greyish color, as seen on the picture below. He also dyed his hair black as he was a natural brunette 😊

[savage-kult-of-gorthaur]

A CARNIVOROUS BUNCHA STREET TOUGHS OUT FOR BLOOD, MEAT, & HEAVY THRASH.

PIC INFO: Spotlight on Brooklyn-based crossover thrash metal band CARNIVORE posing for a group portrait in a Brooklyn, NYC slaughterhouse, c. mid '80s. 📸: Richard Termini/Bonnie Graham.

Left to R: Marc Piovanetti (guitars), Peter Steele ✝ (bassist/vocals), & Louie Beato (drums). In memoriam -- "Lord Petrus" (1962-2010), another legend lost.

Source: www.picuki.com/media/3184540738754564167.

[jonathanvik]

Luyten V - Chapter 16

Rain pattered against Cecilia’s umbrella as she slipped through the empty streets. With the city in utter disarray after Okab’s attack, a curfew was imposed until the situation stabilized. It horrified her how some people had used the tragedy to steal or cause harm. Did they not care about their fellow humans? The current death toll of Okab’s attack was horrific, with over 3,000 casualties and  property damage in the tens of millions. It’d take decades for the small city to recover.

The dark clouds reflected Cecilia’s dreary mood, a gray storm that drowned everything in its path. Sometimes, she wished it’d keep raining until it washed everything away. Rose’s wasn’t good. Her left eye would never function again. And with the Altair infection—few were hopeful they could treat it in time.

Her best friend would die. It seemed inevitable to Cecilia. Yet, she clung to something foolish—a silly hope Macauley would somehow reverse this misfortune into a brighter future.

“This better work, Macauley!” Cecilia promised she’d make him suffer if this was some sick joke. Her steps faltered as she approached the apartment building. Except for a few lights, the squat building was dark. She had kept Macauley’s mysterious message to herself, not even telling Sandage. It was foolish and risky, but Cecilia wanted to confront Rose’s mysterious benefactor alone.

Her steps tapped against the wooden floor as she entered the building. It’d only taken a second for her to be buzzed inside. While somewhat worn down, the interior seemed inviting enough. She spotted a staircase and climbed the steps two at a time. Cecilia wandered the second floor until she reached 205. She didn’t bother knocking, trying the handle straight away. It opened with ease, and the door swung open.

The room that greeted her was dark and bare, her steps echoing as she entered. Her heart raced, fearing a possible trap. It’d be so easy to kidnap her. Nobody knew where she was. This was a stupid risk. Why was she doing this?

“Hello?” It was clear no one lived in this apartment. Dust covered the counters, and she found no sign of life as she explored further. Down the long hallway, she spotted a faint light seeping through a door crack. Steeling her nerves, she approached the door and pushed it open.

“Hello,” a man said, giving her a faint smile. He was overweight, though more bulky than fat. Cecilia guessed the man was in his middle years. He wore a white T-shirt with some superhero on it. 

“Hello, Macauley,” Cecilia said, returning his faint smile. She put a hand to her purse, palming the pepper spray she’d brought along, just in case. While it’d been a reckless and stupid risk coming here, Cecilia hadn’t come unprepared for trouble.

The bespectacled man laughed, amused by something. Cecilia frowned. “What is it?”

“Sorry to disappoint, but I’m not Macauley,” the man spoke with an accent Cecilia couldn’t place. “My name is Petrus Naboth.”

“What?!” Cecilia almost dropped her purse in surprise and glared at him when she recovered.

“Macauley is a mutual friend. He asked me to fly to your country to help. Sorry if it’s not what you were hoping for,” Petrus said, giving a self-deprecating laugh.

“You have got to be kidding me!” Cecilia said, fuming. Hadn’t Sandage complained about the constant misdirects when investigating Macauley?

“Ah, good. You’re here, Cecilia. Glad you could join us,” a distorted voice said, catching their attention. Distracted by Petrus’s sudden appearance, Cecilia hadn’t noticed the laptop sitting on a folding chair in an otherwise bare room.

“Will you ever show your face? How do you expect me to trust you?” Cecilia said, losing her temper. It was unlike her, but she’d had a difficult last few days.

The computer screen considered this. “I suppose it’s all about faith.”

“Faith is only blind trust. Rose will probably die,” Cecilia said.

“Yes.” Despite the distortion, the voice sounded sad. “She might. I’ve scanned the records Luyten V brought from the future. In the years humanity fought against the Altair, none ever survived exposure to the Altair infection.”

“So it is hopeless!”

“That’s not what I said. I think there might be a way, but it’s desperate,” Macauley replied.

“That’s where my expertise comes into play,” Petrus said, adjusting his glasses. “I’m a geneticist by trade.”

“And how do you know Macauley?” Cecilia asked, her voice wary.

“He contacted me with some interesting information. A complete genetic sequence of the Altair genome. It’s quite fascinating.”

“And?”

“And a sample of Project: Bird Bath. I’ve been studying how it might break down Altair cells into something harmless.”

“And it can cure Rose!” Cecilia’s heart blossomed with hope.

“No. I’m afraid the chemical is toxic to humans. Heck, it’s likely dangerous to the whole ecosystem. What was the US government thinking, using something so recklessly?” Petrus fretted as he caught Cecilia’s expression. “But we have another plan.”

“Well?”

“Did you know Rose shares a special connection with Luyten V?” Macauley said.

“I suppose,” Cecilia replied, perplexed by the change in subject. “How is that relevant?”

“Well I’ve been told that it can be very dangerous to her but I suspect what might kill Rose could actually save her. We can use it to exercise the infection plaguing her,” Macauley replied. “By entering Full Synchronization Mode to its final level, their bond should destroy the Altair corruption, like using chemotherapy to kill cancer.”

“Really? Won’t it kill Rose too? She can barely handle stage one. The fourth and final stage might kill her outright!” Cecilia said.

“I know,” Macauley said, genuine sadness entering his distorted voice. “But it’s a risk we’ll have to take.”

“What makes you sure it’ll even work?” Then a sneaking suspicion crossed Cecilia’s mind. “Or is there something you aren’t telling me?”

The shifty expression on Petrus’s face told her she was on the mark. They both knew something, and Cecilia glared at them. “Well?”

“The thing is, everyone’s so focused on understanding Luyten V’s operations, they’ve overlooked its origins. That’s why Macauley contacted me. I already know about the Luyten V being from the future.” Petrus replied. “See, Macauley and I have been suspicious about Luyten V from the start. It’s an impressive machine, but how was it developed in only twenty years? It’s a major boost in our current technological understanding, all while under an alien invasion?”

“Maybe I helped somehow?” She paused, realizing she’d almost spilled her secret to total strangers. Cecilia readjusted her words. “I mean, I do plan to become a scientist one day!”

But Macauley seemed amused by her comment. “Perhaps. But we have our suspicions. Did you know that Luyten V isn’t one hundred percent mechanical? That it has some biological components? From your expression, I see you do. Let me be frank with you, Cecilia. I believe Luyten V is an altered clone of an Altair.”

This took Cecilia’s breath away. “How is that possible?” Did that mean Luyten V wasn’t safe? Would it turn against its creators one day?

“I believe it possesses Altair and human DNA, specifically Rose’s. She used part of her genetic code to create it. Quite a genius, that girl is,” Macauley replied.

“Rose said they share a connection, but the Luyten V was created from her specifically? That’s insane!” Cecilia’s mind reeled, struggling to understand the implications of this.

“We hope the fusion will purge the Altair corruption. Only Rose is capable of doing that,” Macauley said.

“But what if they can’t split? What if the Altair corruption infects Luyten V too?” Cecilia said.

“It’s a dangerous risk, but I can’t think of another way to save your friend,” Macauley said, his words solemn.

“And what do you expect from me, exactly?” Cecilia said, crossing her arms. “To steal her body and put it inside Luyten V? Why not convince Sandage to do this? I’m just a girl.”

“Sandage doesn’t trust me,” Macauley said, his tone frank. “And I’m not sure if he’d authorize this risky experiment.”

“Well, you aren’t getting any help from me,” Cecilia replied.

“Sorry?” Macauley said, flabbergasted.

“You ask too much,” Cecilia said, pushing her advantage. She had no patience for Macauley’s games. She wanted him to commit for real. “And we’re not doing this alone. We’re getting Sandage involved in this. And it’s not just a meeting—you’re showing your true face as well. Enough hiding. Do that, and I’ll help you.”

The laptop stood silent for several long moments before a distorted chuckle escaped its speakers. “You drive a hard bargain, Cecilia. You have a point. Very well. Call Sandage. I’ll show my face when he arrives.”

“Really?” Cecilia blinked. She couldn’t believe that worked.

“You’re a good friend, Cecilia.” Macauley said after another moment of silence. 

“Well, uh.” Cecilia blushed, unaccustomed to compliments. “Thanks.” Still, she hardened her resolve. She couldn’t shake the feeling that Macauley might pull a trick on them. His secrecy made her instinctively distrust him. Hopefully, she’d finally get some real answers.

---

The mood among his kin was solemn as Tarazed floated into the hive home. Beyond the skittering of his siblings, the void was as silent as the grave. Throughout the hive mind, their grief was raw. The anguish of millions of souls drove even a being like Tarazed to heartache.

“I am here, Grand Intelligence,” Tarazed said to the air.

“Good. Much needs doing. I…” Through their link, rage bubbled within their leader, hotter than Tarazed had ever felt. Its usual brilliant, vibrant purple was corrupted with other colors, spilling into the mix. The grays and reds flowed and ebbed, chaotic and violent.

“Somehow, the race called human has destroyed Okab.” The Great Intelligence said. “Our connection was severed. It happened suddenly, too, like he’d been torn from our loving grasp violently. I don’t understand how this is possible. Even Death could not have caused this.”

He’d sensed his brother leave the link as well, but the Grand Intelligence had suffered the loss more keenly. Its pain had resonated throughout the hive mind, waking the entire swarm. 

“Indeed.” The news of Okab’s unusual fate surprised Tarazed. It was odd his fellow general would disappear from their link so abruptly. Surely they’d at least receive some dying message from him?

“The humans did something to him.” While Tarazed had no love for Okab, he acknowledged his brother’s skill as a hunter. 

“They did! Go! Find out how! Destroy them! Kill the one they call Rose!” The Grand Intelligence paused, mastering its emotions. The Altair hadn’t suffered such a grievous loss in years. Instead of letting its grief and anger roar out of control, the Grand Intelligence tempered them, stoking the flames for the moment they would exact a terrible vengeance on humanity for this crime.

“Somehow, humans have destroyed Okab,” the Grand Intelligence repeated, its tone icy. Wild emotion gave way to cold logic. Tarazed approved. “What happened is unclear, but the humans have created a new weapon against us. Investigate, sabotage it. Acquire a sample of the weapon they used against Okab. They have found a weakness that we must eliminate. Nothing must threaten the Altair hive.”

“And find this Rose and her Red Demon,” the Grand Intelligence commanded, anger rekindling in its voice. “Destroy them utterly. Make sure none of her kin survive.”

“Understood.” Tarazed spoke only was necessary.

“Now, my children,” the Grand Intelligence said, its tone soothing. “Patience. Your desire for vengeance is my desire. But not yet. The Altair are eternal. We can afford to be patient.” Through their connection, Tarazed sensed their frenzy, their hunger. The Altair were awake, and they were ravenous. “Worry not. The feast will come very soon. We shall suck the marrow from humanity’s bones.”

---

“Thanks for calling me, Cecilia. I’m glad we’re finally getting some answers.” Despite the late hour and being bone-weary from his pressing duties, the LUVOLT agent was alert and awake.

As Cecilia had expected, he was eager to learn their mysterious benefactor’s identity. He’d rushed over as soon as she’d called, no questions asked. Unsurprisingly, Sandage seethed in fury about Macauley going behind his back to have a secret meeting with Cecilia. He had made his opinion on the matter abundantly clear.

“Well, Macauley. How about you show yourself already? We’re all gathered together. Now, how about the grand reveal?” Sandage said, not hiding his impatience.

“Are you sure about this?” Petrus asked, mopping his brow with a handkerchief. “You realize who you’re revealing your identity to? This guy’s a fed.”

“A fed that could make your life very unhappy, Dr. Naboth.” Sandage had been less than impressed with the scientist since their introduction. “And I’ve heard of you. Your unethical experiments were the reason you were kicked out of your university.”

“What?” Cecilia said, shocked.

Petrus scrunched up his face before releasing a resigned sigh. “I suppose I deserve that. You’re right, I was. I’ve been trying to make up for it. Macauley offered me a second chance, and I took it.”

“Everyone deserves a second chance,” Macauley’s distorted voice said. “I understand your skepticism, Sandage. But I promise you, Petrus is quite sincere.”

“We shall see,” Sandage replied. “And now?”

“Don’t worry, Petrus. This is for the best.” Macauley said. “I want to do this. Trust is a two-way street. The stakes are too high. If I want them to trust me, I must show them I’m all in on this endeavor, too.”

The screen on the laptop turned totally black. They waited in silence, wondering what would happen next. Cecilia strained her ears, listening for Macauley to show up in person. Beyond her beating heart, she heard nothing—not even faint footfalls.

Cecilia flinched as the dark screen flashed back on, replaced by a colorful star field. It was awe-inspiring: a swirling nebula with a red splotch among countless pinpricks of beautiful lights. She blinked, confused about why it had switched to this image.

“Okay, here I am!” A familiar, cheery voice said. Cecilia’s eyes bulged, wondering if she’d lost her senses.

“It can’t be,” Sandage said, equally flabbergasted. “Aren’t you that streamer Rose is obsessed with?”

“Yep!” A blue-haired girl with twin starburst hairpins beamed, giving them a friendly wave. “Stella Kilonova, here at your service!”

“Y-you’re kidding me!” Cecilia stammered. “No way that’s true!”

Petrus adjusted his glasses. “Not quite what I expected.”

“Okay,” Sandage said, rubbing his temple, fighting off a massive headache. “This just creates more questions! It’s unbelievable to me that some random streamer has access to impossibly advanced technology beyond anything we have currently! Or that you know government secrets!”

“And hold on! You lied, Macauley!” Cecilia said, her temper flaring. She should have seen this coming—more games! “You said you’d show your face. A VTuber is just another mask, a cartoon avatar of a real person! Show yourself for real!”

But Macauley—or Stella—only laughed, amused by Cecilia’s outrage. Sandage didn’t seem impressed either.

“But Cecilia, this is what I look like,” Stella replied, performing movements that shouldn’t have been possible for a VTuber. It was too smooth, too seamless. The anime-like avatar moved like a real person. “This is my true appearance!” She gave them an exaggerated wink.

“What?!”

[vodkaandsnakes]

Across the Universe

"Like a flash of light

In the endless night..."

"Anesthesia" from Life is Killing Me

Amongst the twinkling stars of the universe, there exists the flickering fragments of a series of moving images in which a face looms from the darkness and celebrants dance around a group of musicians, doing the Batusi.

These flickering fragments join the ever-expanding bubble of commercial radio and television transmissions that have slipped loose of the bonds of the Earth's atmosphere and are moving outward to spread enigma through the universe.

Moving at the speed of light, these fragments have travelled further than Voyager 1, and, are presently lapping at the shores of whatever planets may be orbiting 61 Ursae Majoris.

And, from there, to the limitless cosmos.

Some day, some sentient being on another world will experience the moving images comprising the video for "Black No. 1" for the first time.

At least by that point in time, they will have also experienced The Three Stooges, Looney Tunes, and Monty Python's Flying Circus...

Requiescat in pace

Peter Thomas Ratajczyk

(January 4, 1962 - April 14, 2010)

The images of your looming "Great and Powerful Oz"-like visage, stripe-y pirate shirt (Yo Ho!), and ginormous... upright... bass.. will live on to eternity- or at least until they are lost to a black hole (or is that the album cover for Origin...?)

[o-santuario-do-rock-23]

Parabéns...

Peter Steele

[innerfeather]

Your spiritual bird

It is finally time to address one of my favorite issues: the spiritual bird.

I think this is an interesting introspection exercise, and somehow an easier question than the one on the spiritual animal, as there are less bird species. ‘Less’ doesn’t mean few, as it is estimated that there are 10,000 alive bird species around the world. Imagine if we considered the dinosaurs as well. I will use the classic bird definition, considering just modern species, but if you are a birdgeek you are free to go back to Archaeopteryx.

After a lot of thought, I have come to a system that, as arbitrary as it is, makes some sense to me. Just answer this simple questions:

Do you have some striking physical features? For instance, thick eyebrows, an original mouth, red hair…

Do you have any musical talent? I’m specifically interested in whistling. How is your whistle? Is it high or low? What about your voice?

What are you good at? Do you run? Swim? Can you jump very high, or dance, or play any sport?

How is your physical appearance? Do you look smaller than you actually are? Is your profile side particularly interesting? Are you strong?

How is your personality? Are you smart, rebellious, introverted? How could you define your character in a word?

What do you like to do? Do you like to travel?

Do you feel a connection to any ecosystem in particular (the sunny coast, the deep woods, the frosty mountains…)?

Have you had any personal experience with some kind of bird?

All this questions aim to be a guide to know what to look for in your spiritual bird: you can make up any question you find interesting. Sometimes thinking about others help as you have to find a way to describe yourself as a third person and then match the description to a bird.

I am going to introduce you to two truly-important-to-me people toillustrate this method.

Lisa the Nightingale

Lisa is one of the people I most admire in the world. She is personified joy. It doesn’t seem to be anything in the world that can take her down, not precisely because she is physically strong but because of her character. She is even shorter than me, I’d say 1,57cm. She has beautiful chestnut eyes, with green sparkles at the light. Her hair is shoulder length in a dark blond, or even a light brown. From her I learnt that live is what happens when you say yes to new things. Last time I saw her, I discovered her talent: she whistles soooo well it’s crazy!! She outshines any other bird I could hear in the forest. That is why she is a nightingale. A small, brown bird with the most angelic song.

Petru the gyrfalcon

Petru is a handsome East European man: tall, fair skin, dark hair. His most captivating feature is his stare. He has these bold eyebrows and intense, mesmerizing emerald eyes. The second I saw him I fell in love; I got lucky because he also found me kinda cute. After almost 7 years, I am still amazed about his strength of will, how hard he works and how intelligent he is. He acts goofy most of the time (literally laugh tears) but beneath this there is something hard as steel, something wild, indomitable and somehow unreachable. He could be described in a word as “mysterious”. I am constantly learning from him. That some things are just the way they are and I cannot control them. Further than this, this uncontrollable things don’t necessarily have to be harmful, as even if sometimes I’m frustrated because I don’t understand him I am confident that he loves me with all his heart. Makes me lose fear of being hurt. For all this reasons, being inaccesible yet magnetic, with a mesmerizing gaze, definitely his spiritual bird is the gyrfalcon.

And what about me? The most difficult part of this issue is that I have trouble keeping things simple. Maybe that is why I find easier to talk about others rather than myself. Maybe, for the sake of simplicity, I’m just going to answer the questions. I am physically average: kind of shortish, long brown hair, brown eyes, light skin. I do have to say that I really like my eyes: though I don’t have a strong jawline or very defined features, I find them quite hypnotizing, and it’s something that others have told me as well. I have quite juicy lips, and it’s is something that people notice too. I do think I am pretty, though I have to confess that I may be a little delusional. For all this, at least I think I don’t deserve an ugly bird, like a turkey, or a big bird, like a condor. I don’t have any musical talent at all, and I have been trying for weeks to learn how to whistle, but it’s just imposible for me. My spiritual bird, unlike Lisa, doesn’t sing. Or run. Or jump. I’m just not very athletic. So no ostriches for me. I do swim, but it’s not really my cup of tea, so goodbye penguins and puffins. My profile side shows a slightly big nose, but doesn’t match to any beak shape. I do like to travel a lot, so I guess my spiritual animal knows how to fly well, even long distances. I do feel very connected to the sea, but I think I’m just energized by nature, as I also love walking on the country side. Regarding my personality, I am extroverted but run low in social battery and some days I am the excuses queen. I consider myself a smart gal, my spiritual bird has to be intelligent, or at least not dumb like a dodo. And my favourite thing in the world is sleeping. Taking nap is my passion. Most importantly, I have an anecdote to tell:

I was 8 y.o. when I changed school: the first day the teacher asked the classroom how to decorate the classroom. I, even as shy as I used to be, was so excited that couldn’t help to tell the story I’d recently read about how the Native Americans thought that the owls represented wisdom. We should decorate the class with owl pictures! The teacher was quite fascinated but asked me how could I draw an owl? It seemed kind complicated. I am not very skilled in drawing but managed to make an easy doodle that my mates could copy. The whole class ended up being the owl class, aspiring for wisdom.

For this motives, I think a barn owl does suit me. Kind of shy, kind of sleepy, looks intelligent, quite cute. Though probably next week I’ll end up doubting again about my spiritual bird and change it to the crow or the heron.

[xqueencvntx]

𝕻𝖊𝖙𝖊𝖗 𝕾𝖙𝖊𝖊𝖑𝖊 🖤

pt. 3

[kvarforthsdurag]

Are you ready? Will you be? Will you fight World War III? Are you ready? Are you sure? Will you fight World War IV? WE HATE THIS PLANET Are you ready? Silence and darkness, the species of man is extinct The boiling oceans into which the continents sink Gravity gone, the moon collides with a dead Earth Flaming world out of orbit, flying into deep space Pray for your death 'cause if you survive You'll die in pain In World War V!

Petrus Steele of Carnivore (MCMLXII - MMX)