Angevin Codex

In the sacristy of the Cathedrale St-Julien in the city of Le Mans, there was a book. It had sat on its shelf for ages, ignored by most, until one day when a young canon took it down and read it. At first, it was an interesting curiosity, then a gripping read, and at last, the young canon sat up with a single lamp, reading the text through the night. In the morning, the first thing he did was compose a long letter to the Cardinal.

That letter was intercepted by spies, who relayed the news to their masters.

The Cardinal learned of the letter's capture from his own spies.

Before long, the letter and its contents were known to the most important people in Europe. Agents descended upon Le Mans, a quiet avalanche of spies and assassins, trusted loyalists and ruthless mercenaries. But the young canon and the book, which he called the Angevin Codex, had disappeared.

Of the legion of spies, assassins, and pawns of the powers, three groups in particular surmised the young canon must have been ambushed by thieves.