By Jamie Seidel

Contents

• Uniform and Equipment
• Fighting Techniques
• The Holy City
• The Vatican City

"The Templars are ready and armed at whatever time of the day or night they may be called, either to fight or to accompany travellers; and when they pursue the enemy, they do not ask 'how many are they?', but only, 'where are they?'."
-- Jacques de Vittry, 12th century.

Formality, ceremony and ritual is much a part of a knight's and novice's daily life. An integral part of such formality is dress -- a means of proclaiming identity, philosophy and status while generating a strong sense of esprit-de-corps. Clothing can also reinforce in the wearer's mind a sense of purpose and mood: thus the designation of ceremonial and combat uniforms. Monastic habit for all Orders is simple but of good quality. The spartan robes merely reflect the Order to which they belong -- signs of rank being considered unnecessary. Once Outremer fell about 1300, a crusading treatise established by the Church recommended all three Militant Orders be combined. A similar move was made during the Malta Synod of the 1980s. Both proposals saw the new order wearing black robes with a red cross. Neither move was successful, however, and the Orders remain independent.

The monastic habit of the Templars is basically a white woollen tunic, white mantle and a skull-cap. This uniform was granted to the Order upon their papal recognition in 1128. In 1146, the Templars were given the right to wear a red cross on their left breast or shoulder. Initially a simple intersection of lines, the cross later developed to become what is known as the "crosse formee." Sergeants (now novices) wore a similar habit, though it was colored brown.

Monastic dress is a black hooded mantle known as the cappa clausa. The white eight-pointed Maltese cross is sewn on either the left breast or across the whole chest. Officers of the Order have the right to wear red in place of black, though the cross remains the same. Sergeants (now novices) wore the same black garb as the knights.

The white habit of the Teutones was very similar to that of the Templars (much to the latter's disgust). This right was granted them by the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II. Their black cross (sometimes with yellow border) was similar in shape to that of the Cross of Jerusalem (four T's radiating from a centre-point). In the late-13th century they were also granted the right to place the German Royal Eagle at the heart of the cross -- though this practice has since been discontinued. Teutone sergeants (equivalent to modern novices) wore a Tau cross (looking like a single capital T). This cross was also known as a crux commissa.

As all Militant Orders are derived from cavalry fighting units, each has its own battle standard which acted as a rallying point after the charge. The standards still exist, though are used only for ceremonial purposes such as "showing the flag."

The Templars held particular reverence for their battle standard, otherwise known as Bauseant. It was in use from at least 1128. The standard is a simple one -- a white field with the upper quarter filled in black. It was the responsibility of the Gonfanonier knight who was supported and protected by the squires. In battle the standard was often protected by up to 10 knights and its loss by a brother would result in his expulsion from the Order. Secondary commanders and preceptories used a flag of a red cross on a white field. Both designs were used on individual knight's shields.

The standard of the Knights Hospitaller was a white "splayed" cross on a red field -- or the reverse. The most common example is set rigid between two light poles with five red tails hanging from the trailing edge. The standard, first seen in 1182, was the responsibility of the Order's Gonfanonier, but generally carried by a squire. The colour of the knight's shield depended upon the colour of his surcoat. Originally, the eight-pointed cross was only worn by non-combatants.

In the early days of the Order the Teutones' battle standard was simply a black cross on a white field. But as they successfully established a principality in the Baltic States, the cross was dressed up. By 1330 the Order had adopted the yellow cross of Jerusalem bordered in black for their standard, with the German royal eagle at its heart. This was placed on a white field. Shields mostly held a simple black cross on white.

Knights require proper clothing and equipment for a successful conclusion in a "cleansing" operation. All weapons, clothing and equipment are supplied by the knights' Order -- and remain the property of the Order. For fully-ranked knights, personal possessions are forbidden. Novices may use privately owned equipment -- if they have demonstrated both proficiency and need.

The troops wear a dark grey one-piece suit, made from fire-retardant material, together with heavy combat boots. A bullet-proof, sleeveless jacket is still often worn, comprising a casing into which ceramic kevlar armoured plates are inserted front and rear. Similar to flak-jackets in basic design, they are tailored to meet individual requirements. This includes pockets for to contain ancillary equipment such as radios and grenades. This body armour is being replaced by a new, individually moulded armour which also covers the arms and legs while allowing full freedom of movement. Gloves are worn to ensure a good grip on weapons and other items of equipment. In addition, a belt rig, usually made of ballistic nylon or tough hide is worn around the waist and comprises a personal selection of pouches -- usually for St George's oil dischargers, air-dart flingers, sun-torches etc. The ballistic-belt also has clips to allow a sword scabbard to be attached, though most knights prefer to have their sacred weapons slung on their back over the right shoulder. A drop holster for the Glock 18a rides low on the right leg, with spare magazine pouches worn on the other leg. In addition, a spare magazine is often worn on the left wrist for a rapid magazine change. Strap-on seat-type harnesses are often worn in case abseiling is necessary. Used in conjunction with stabilised descenders, quick-release fittings and a rope bag on the leg (to prevent those below seeing the rope), it is worn only when its use is likely. Other items of equipment placed on the body and webbing include spare magazines for the SMGs, bolt-cutters, hand hammers, axes and glass cutters.

Sewn-on patches for bayonet scabbards complete the rigs and are attached either to the upper arm or thigh, upper chest or body armour waistcoat. Specialised equipment such as flares, flash darts etc are stored in a similar manner. Experience has taught that only materials of the highest quality are suitable for anti-vampire operations. Knights are often fighting in situations where they are physically inferior to their quarry. Only the best quality equipment can reduce this deficit.

The following is a list of basic equipment, issued as standard to all knights. Further weapons and items are available from each Order's stores upon request, and are outlined in Apendice 1.

Equipment:

MPK2000 -- submachinegun
Glock18a -- automatic pistol
Sword
Bayonet
Dart Knife
Small wooden stakes
Bodymould armour
Night vision goggles/scopes
Telemetry unit
Flashdart pack (6x2)
Flare pack (6x2)
Stun Grenade (x2)
Grenade (x2)
Combat coveralls
Belt rig / webbing
First Aid Kit
Gloves
Monastic habit and dress

Each knight is responsible for his personal kit, while the commander is responsible for checking each man's individual equipment and dividing the specific-to-task kit throughout the patrol -- ensuring each man knows what the others are carrying.

Individual check lists would include personal weapons, ruck-sack and belt kit and spare ammunition for their personal weapon (normally carried in pouches in belt kit or in webbing). Other equipment such as "bang" darts and stick flares are usually attached to various parts of the arms and legs. Each man's personal belt kit would also contain additional survival and medical gear, stun grenades, water bottles and emergency rations. Passive night vision goggles are strapped here when not in use. The ruck-sack carries everything else: radios, batteries, ammunition, explosives, rations, water, sleeping bags and clothing.

The knight-lieutenant and the second-in-command would usually carry items specific to their roles, like command and navigational equipment. Detailed maps, night vision binoculars and a hand-held thermal imaging device or sunlamp/camcorder unit.

The point man carries more night vision aids than the standard low-light goggles, wire cutters and an electronics kit to defeat high-tech security devices. He may also have a grenade launcher attached to his weapon to put down suppressive fire in the event of a contact. When contact is made, the other knights must get into position as quickly as possible -- ensuring their point man is not left alone.

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"At the will and command of their leader, they proceed to battle, not in an impetuous or disorderly fashion, but prudently and with all caution, being the first to go forward and the last to retreat -- which is why they became so dreaded by the enemies of the faith of Christ."
-- Jacques de Vitry, Bishop of Acre, 1227

The four-man team has historically been the basic fighting unit of the Church Knights. The unit of four originated during the Crusades when it was stipulated that each knight must equip from his own estate three armed sergeants. These sergeants were given basic weaponry and protection, as well as one or two horses each. While rarely fighting alongside their knight on the field, a knight and his sergeants usually formed a patrol.

In large-scale combat, the sergeants fought as heavy troops and commanders among the mercenaries, while the knights grouped together and fought as heavy cavalry. It was quickly found that the small, self-contained nature of the four-man team was the most efficient and practical fighting unit -- allowing high mobility, speed, surprise and hitting power. Less than this number is obviously too few, restricting what can be carried and limited in the amount of firepower brought to bear. Four warriors are capable of defending themselves if ambushed, as well as continuing the mission if one of their members is killed or wounded. More than four becomes unwieldy, harder to coordinate and conceal from the enemy.

The unit is also an ideal size for large scale operations, with each group of four being the basic components of highly flexible larger forces. Most major assaults are actually conducted by four or five such units working in concert to a thoroughly pre-planned operation.

The modern four-man team is made up of a leader, a pointsman, a defenseman and someone responsible for watching the rear. The leader is responsible for the team's assault, and also liaises with other combat units and officers. The pointsman leads the team during the approach and lays entry charges if necessary. The supportman does just that: back up one of the others as they carry out their task. The defenseman provides security for the pointsman and serves as second-in-command while carrying any additional equipment -- typically explosives or high-calibre weapons.

The four-man unit is designed to operate primarily on its own, often in remote areas and frequently on hostile ground. In addition to general reconnaissance and investigation, it can perform sabotage and ambush missions. While the four-man unit is not exactly an aggressive fighting unit, large scale ambushes can be conducted with eight or 16 man combined teams. Every unit member has his own speciality -- such as signals, demolitions, medicine or languages.

Communications is one of the most important skills among the Church Knights, acting as an efficient force-multiplier for their limited numbers. Every knight must have skills including high-standard field communications, code and ciphers. Despite this general knowledge, each unit has a specialist signaller responsible for calling in aerial support, casualty evacuation, patrol coordination and regular contact. Morse is the basic method of communications, allowing quick messages under difficult transmission circumstances. The Orders have adopted Latin as the standard language of communication as a simple measure of security. When combined with Morse, messages would be beyond the scope of most untrained cryptologists.

Demolition skills are also an important part of the four-man unit. Explosives are useful in opening up secure entrances, sabotaging transport or supplies, as well as causing general confusion.

The last of the four main skills is medicine. A unit's medic can perform surgery and cure common diseases, as well as helping win the "hearts and minds" of primitive societies. There are two basic medical kits carried while on operations: individual medical packs and patrol medical packs. The individual kit is usually a part of a knights webbing, containing essentials for first aid and mild drugs. Patrol medical kits are far more comprehensive and carry a wide selection of drugs, dressings and surgical packs. All members of the Church Knight units must have more than just one patrol skill. Therefore, a knight may be trained as an investigations specialist, but also have the ability to competently handle explosives. A communications officer may also be trained as a medic, supplementing or replacing the units official medico when necessary.

Essentially, each unit member receives cross-training in each other's individual specialisations. Tertiary skills such as sniping, hacking, shadow driving etc are trained according to the individual abilities of each knight.

Individual knights are taught to take no chances. Given a clear shot at a vampire he will often empty an entire magazine into the target. There is good reason for this: the vampire can heal itself, given time. The more damage, the more time it takes to heal. If a knight is given enough time, he can reach a position to decapitate the creature. A double tap (two quick shots) on its own is often insufficient to stop even a mortal from detonating hidden explosives or pulling a weapon. Sustained and accurate firepower keeps the vampire or ghoul's hands away from his body, making it impossible to reach a gun or button. Knights employ body-line shooting in close combat situations, not head or heart shots. Where possible, shots are aimed at the trunk of the body (Vampires have no vital organs anyway). Head shots usually require only one bullet to kill a mortal or do severe damage to a vampire, but the target area is smaller. In a darkened, smoky room full of people the chances of shooting accurately are greatly reduced. However, knights are trained to shoot accurately at heads and hearts in ambush situations, and if such is the only target presented to them.

Once the pointsman has defeated the building's security or blown open an entrance, the assault team will quickly and systematically begin to clear the rooms, hallways and stairs of enemy. Preferably, snipers from a second "perimeter' combat team will provide covering fire and prevent anyone escaping the building. The assault team will also be carrying stun/flash grenades to disorient vampires, making them incapable of effective concerted action. Room clearance drill is simple. Each knight has his own arc of fire. He must be adept at calculating his arc of fire to encompass any area in which he is operating in. For example, in a corridor the field of vision is limited and consequently arcs of fire are reduced, but there are doors on each side -- each a possible threat. Each room must be approached and cleared, under cover of a comrade. If any doors are locked, then one of the four-man team will blow off the door hinges using a shotgun; the door will be kicked in and shock grenades tossed in. A two-man team will immediately follow, killing any hostiles with almost full-magazine bursts. The initial action should be over within four seconds, with the two knights following up their action by decapitating all present vampires, ghouls and allied mortals. The team will then immediately move on to any other rooms, repeating the process. If in a large building, different teams will have specified areas to clear -- assigned before the action. When attacking an aircraft or railway carriage, all entrances are attacked at the same time.

A high standard of shooting skills is required from all knights, and all are expected to be marksmen with any weapon they may have to carry. They must be excellent shots from the prone position, and also capable of sustained and accurate fire at close quarters. Ambush fire control procedures, contact drills, fire and movement routines and night firing must all be second nature. Specialist weapons skills are easily researched, but one is included here as an example of the careful integration of such training in a combat team. The sniper, operating either alone or with a partner, can pin down a large enemy force by killing its leaders and communications specialists. In a vampire "cleansing" action, snipers and support crew are often placed in buildings around the targets location. Snipers add to the confusion by firing through the windows as the assault team bursts in. Once the assault team is inside, snipers do not fire into the building. However, they are ideally placed to supply fire support under direct instruction of the assault team, and pick off any enemy trying to escape the building. They also provide a perimeter defense, warning the assault team of new arrivals.

Marksmanship is not enough alone; a high level of camouflage and concealment skills, plus advanced field craft, are vital to a sniper if they are to be effective. Snipers must be able to move across open terrain without being spotted, select concealed firing positions and have an avenue of escape once the action is completed.

In return for the sacrifices made through taking their monastic vows, and their high faith, the knights have been blessed with "supernatural" powers. These powers are a vital component in the war against Corruption, as vampires outmatch even the best trained mortal. However, these powers do not belong to the knight -- but to God. The blessing of supernatural powers must only be used under the guidelines of the Rule -- a knight cannot use them for selfish or vain purposes such as in revenge, laziness or personal profit. While some specific abilities are granted for specific purposes, they may not necessarily be carried out the same way every time. Miracles are a prime example of this. A desperate knight may beg for a miraculous obstacle to appear between him and an advancing vampire. This "barrier" could, by God's will, be anything from a wall of fire, a collapsing tree, a swarm of bees or the souls of the vampire's victims. The powers embodied in Faith, The Gifts, Prayers and Rituals all assist in all aspects in the battle against the Cainites. Investigation of, protection from and combating vampires all benefit in different ways.

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"Whatever the Church is doing wrong, it's done it for 2000 years."
-- Roman saying.

A controversial figure in Christendom, only Catholics believe in his "divine" right to "rule" the church. Nevertheless, he is the single-most highly recognised Christian church leader in the world. No other has his international political or public profile. No other Western position of public office has lasted as long as the Pope. He is a living symbol of the power of the Church. The succession from St Peter to John Paul II as head of the Catholic church is said to be unbroken -- emphasising the strength and duration of the Church. The passageway leading from the Basilica to the sacristy bears the name of all 142 popes -- including St Peter himself. The idea of a Pope as a purely spiritual figure wielding power through his moral presence is only a modern development. For hundreds of years, Popes had been barely different from other feudal European princes and kings.

Before 1870, the Papal states measured 16,000 square miles in central Italy, and the Pope presided over these lands like any other feudal Lord. The modern Vatican State has only existed since 1929, upon the conclusion of a treaty with Italy.

The status and standing of the Popes change considerably with time. Recent Popes have sought to "humanise" the position, removing it from the "earthy" prince component and reducing the almost supernatural status exhorted during the Middle Ages. The role of Pope is not an easy one. Pope Pius VII was captured by Napoleon in 1809 and held prisoner for five years. He returned in triumph to Italy, drawing admiring throngs along the way. Throughout the past 2000 years, Popes have been called upon -- with varying degrees of success -- to act as mediators between feuding kingdoms, motivators of holy crusades, and tools of personal power struggles. Now he is considered Christ's vicar on earth: a personal representative of God. He is the most senior of the council of cardinals -- the highest rank within the church.

The Pope is addressed as Santissimo Padre -- Holy Father -- or in more formal situations as Sua Santita -- Your Holiness. His official title occupies nine lines of type, starting with: Bishop of Rome, vicar of Jesus Christ, and ending with: Servant of the Servants of God. However, within the State of the Vatican he is usually referred to as: this Pope -- reflecting the awareness that others have preceded him and others will succeed him.

The Pope is the only religious figure that holds power over the Militant Orders. All Orders are independent from the churches and denominations that support them -- a necessity in combating infiltration. Traditionally, the Orders have held the Pope as their supreme commander.

Now, this is not necessarily the case. The Templars are suspicious of the Holy See -- after all, it was Pope Clement IV who helped destroy their order in the early 14th century. The relationship between the Templars and the modern Popes is cordial, though no longer subservient. Requests from the Vatican are always considered by the Grand Chapter before any decision is made.

The Hospitallers still hold their traditional ties with the Pope, and the highest members of the Order often come from or move on-to the highest ranks of the Catholic Church -- the cardinals. Independent from all other bishops, cardinals and officers of the Church, the Hospitallers listen carefully to the wishes and orders of their Pope.

Like the other Orders, the Teutone's history places no-one above them but a Pope. However, the Teutones have often put their nation ahead of a Pope's wishes throughout history. With the arrival of Lutheranism, the Order was disbanded after many of its members converted. Now the Teutones are ideologically opposed to the "God-given" authority of the Popes. However, he is still recognised as one of the world's most powerful religious leaders.

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"A costly religious Disneyland, saddled with an overly complex and secretive bureaucracy."
-- National Geographic, December 1985

The Vatican City is the world's smallest State. Its national boundaries encompass 108.7 acres -- dating from 1929. This is when the Laterian Treaty between Mussolini's Government and the Holy See resolved a long dispute by recognising the Vatican's sovereignty. The next largest state -- Liechtenstein -- is almost 360 times larger. The Vatican retains all the signs of nationhood: its own postage stamps, its own diplomatic corps, its own flag, its own army, and the right to have a navy.

The city's total population -- including the transient workforce -- numbers 2000. More than 90 per cent of these are normal Romans who cross the national borders every day.

Only 400 people possess Vatican citizenship, two thirds of whom are Swiss Guard or members of the diplomatic corp. About 300 people sleep within the Vatican's walls -- 100 Swiss Guards along with a mix of cardinals, altar boys, members of religious orders, students at the Ethiopian and Teutonic Colleges, a few families of servants, and the Pope himself. Vatican Radio is one of the largest employers. Run by the Jesuit Order, it employs almost 400. Maintenance of the city is an honoured position, with the sampietrini (men of St Peters) probably the most revered janitors and cleaners in the world.

The Vatican's table of organisation and roster of leaders takes up 2000 pages of the Annuario Pontificio -- a book of rank. At the top of the ladder are the cardinals, bishops and monsignors of the Curia Romana (Vatican Bureaucracy). The most important body of the Curia is the Secretariat of State, responsible for coordinating the actions of the entire bureaucracy and foreign affairs. It is led by the cardinal equivalent of a secretary of state.

The workforce of the curia is the clerical and lay employees, segregated by the Annuario into "major officials of the second class", "minor officials of the first degree," etc.

Dozens of priests also reside in the city, serving the Basilica. They hear confessions in booths bearing placards announcing the languages they speak. They also conduct baptisms, celebrate Mass and participate in ceremonies -- such as the installation of a cardinal. Monks and nuns wander the corridors, with tasks ranging from librarians to restorers of old tapestries. The most numerous religious figures are the students, selected by bishops around the world for the right to study in Rome. There are five pontifical universities -- two of which can be found inside the Vatican itself: the Teutonic College and the Ethiopian College. The others are located in the hills around the ancient city.

Many people are surprised the Ethiopians have such a prominent position within the Vatican, especially the jealous Americans. For nearly 600 years Ethiopians had been undertaking pilgrimages to the Holy City. In the 1500s, their numbers grew so much that the impressed Pope Sixtus IV provided them a special house within Vatican grounds, and gave them St Stephens Church -- a 5th Century building behind the Basilica itself.

Altar boys rustle about the city in their red cassocks and white surplices, bearing chalices and swinging censers. Their residence -- or preseminario -- is hidden behind one of the Vatican's office buildings. It has airy classrooms and dormitories surrounding a terrace -- which has the unusual resident of an old land turtle lumbering about. Other pets include birds and cats. Most boys serve three years, drawn into the Vatican's fold when they are only 11 or 12. Their daily routine starts at 6:30 every morning to assist with services in the Basilica, and then back to the classroom at 9:30. The evening calls for further services in the holy places.

The oldest Christian church is not St Peters. Rather, it is St John Lateran -- on the other side of Rome. This is near where the original Popes (not given that status until long after their lifetimes) resided and worshipped for almost a thousand years. It is still the Pope's official seat as Bishop of Rome. Rome has almost always been considered the seat of Catholic authority -- except at the start when Rome's Bishop (now called a Pope) had to contend with the authority of Antioch, Alexandria, Constantinople and elsewhere. Also, Avignon in France served as the seat of the Pope for a time in the 14th century -- about the time as the dissolution of the Templars.

The whole of the Vatican City is Holy Ground. As the seat of Christendom's power for more than a 1000 years, its ground has been trod by many of the most faithful men on earth. Faith levels differ from sight to sight: being the highest in St Peters Basilica (10) and lowest among the service rooms of the sampietrini servants (2).

Tradition has it that the worlds largest church was built upon the last resting place of what Catholics consider to the paramount saint -- St Peter. In the early 1500s, Pope Julius II -- the warrior Pope -- deemed the original Basilica to be showing severe signs of structural decay. Designed and built by the best of Italy's Renaissance and baroque artists, St Peter's Basilica was consecrated in 1626 after more than a century of building and planning. Among those who worked on the edifice were Michelangelo, Bramante, Raphael, Bernini and many others. The modern structure replaced an ageing building which was raised by Emperor Constantine in the early fourth century. The modern Basilica is almost 700ft long and 450ft wide. The travertine stone church can contain almost 50,000 worshippers. On Holy Days, almost 250,000 people can mass in the church and in the enormous piazza outside -- designed in the mid-17th century. A lantern tower crowns Michelangelo's amazing dome -- standing more than 400ft high above St Peter's Throne. It also stands above the subterranean shrine of St Peter's grave. Bernini created a towering bronze baldachin -- a four-posted canopy above the high altar and St Peter's throne. He is also responsible for the grand colonnade, formed of two semicircular arms capped by heroic statues, which makes St Peter's Square one of the most imposing outdoor spaces in the world. A Christian cross stands triumphant upon an 82ft high Egyptian obelisk moved to the Piazza in 1586 from the site of the Roman circus where St Peter was believed crucified.

The whole of Michelangelo's Basilica is blessed with a Faith rating of 10. Only one other site in Christendom has the same figure: the tomb of Christ in the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.

The Basilica began in the fourth century AD, when Emperor Constantine built the first church on Vatican Hill. Why it was built on that hill has been a source of much debate. The main Catholic argument is that the hill was a burial ground above a Roman circus. Building on the circus would have been smarter -- a flat, stable area. But tradition and the illogical position of the building indicate another reason: that it was built over the tomb of St Peter. The effort was enormous: one million cubic feet of earth had to be moved to create a level building surface. Tradition has it that the Saint was crucified upside-down at the nearby circus about 65AD by Emperor Nero, and buried on the Vatican Hill cemetery. Some evidence emerged in 1939 to support this. Pope Pius XII approved a renovation of the grottoes beneath the Basilica where many Popes had been interred. But as soon as the workers began digging, they broke through to an ancient room.

Eventually, Pius XII ordered a thorough excavation of the area under the High Altar to determine whether there was any evidence of Peter's grave. For 10 years, in the utmost secrecy -- even during the war years -- a painstaking investigation was undertaken. Excavators uncovered the foundations of Constantine's original church -- eight or nine feet thick and still supporting the weight of the current Basilica. It was obvious the architects of the modern structure had based their plans about the position of the original nave and altar. Twisting stone passages led to an ancient Roman necropolis with highly preserved masonry. Chambers of 10ft to 15ft wide with frescoes and mosaics were uncovered. One of these -- the Christ Helios -- is the earliest depiction of Jesus, in a pose very similar to that of the Roman god Apollo. Other rooms still contain funeral urns or marble sarcophagi. Further stone-sided passages twist toward the site directly under the altar of Constantine's Basilica. Here is a modest shrine, marking the site as a Holy place -- but not extravagant. Ancient graffiti contains writing of Christian themes, and an old piece of plaster holds the text Petros eni -- Peter is within.

A cache of bones was found beneath the Red Wall of the shrine -- only to be assessed as the bones of goats, cows, horses, sheep and several different humans. Another group of bones was discovered in the 1960s in a repository near the Red Wall. These bones came from one individual: a man of robust build who had died aged 60 or 70. The description matched that of St Peter. There were also only fragments of a skull, matching the tradition that his scull had been preserved in St John Lateran church.

The bones were reinterred in 1968 -- along with those of a mouse which had at some time in the past 1800 years found its way into the repository and perished there.

Considered Michelangelo's finest work, the Sistine chapel was completed in 1512. Since then it has become grimy and marred by attempts at preservation. In recent years it has undergone a scientific study and cleaning, revealing once again the original bright colours and brush strokes that made the massive painted room such a masterpiece. The Sistine Chapel has a Faith rating of 8.

The popes had always had a library, but in the middle of the fifteenth century they began to collect books in a new way. Nicholas V decided to create a public library for "the court of Rome" -- the whole world of clerics and laymen, cardinals and scholars who inhabited the papal palace and its environs. He and Sixtus IV provided the library with a suite of rooms. These were splendidly frescoed, lighted by large windows, and furnished with elaborate wooden benches to which most books were chained. And, unlike some modern patrons, the popes of the Renaissance cared about the books as well as about the buildings that housed them. They bought, borrowed, and even stole the beautiful handwritten books of the time. The papal library soon became as spectacular a work of art, in its own way, as the Sistine Chapel or Saint Peter's. It grew rapidly; by 1455 it had 1200 books, 400 of them Greek; by 1481, a handwritten catalogue by the librarian, Platina, showed 3500 entries -- by far the largest collection of books in the Western world. And it never stopped growing, thanks to bequests, purchases, and even, sometimes, military conquests.

From the start, the library had a special character. It included Bibles and works of theology and canon law, but it specialised in secular works: above all, the Greek and Latin classics, in the purest texts that the popes and their agents could find, for the popes and their servants saw these as the most powerful sources of knowledge and counsel that the world possessed. The Vatican Library, in fact, became a centre of the revival of classical culture known as the Renaissance. Its librarians were often distinguished scholars. Historians and philosophers, clerics and magicians visited the collections and borrowed books from them. By 1581, when the French writer Michel de Montaigne visited Rome, the treasures of the Vatican had become a mandatory stop on any well-informed traveller's Roman itinerary. To his delight, Montaigne was shown ancient Roman and ancient Chinese manuscripts, the love letters of Henry VIII, and the classics of history and philosophy (many of which can be seen in this exhibition). Then, as now, the Vatican Library was one of the greatest in the Western world. The manuscripts and printed books that came to rest in the Vatican Library tell many stories. They help to explain the development of Renaissance thought and art, scholarship and science, in Rome and elsewhere. They shed light on the history of the universal Roman church and on the city where it flourished, on the Protestant Reformation and the Catholic Counter-Reformation -- even on the history of Western efforts to understand and convert the peoples of the non-Western world. They describe the new education, art, and music of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries; they show how the curia reached beyond the bounds of Europe, to the Islamic world and even to China; and they reveal some of the conflicts that flared up when the accomplishment of church policy and the pursuit of new knowledge could not both be carried out.

Deep under the more public libraries is a place known as the Secret Library. Here are held in the highest of security the oldest and most comprehensive books of occult, ancient lore, history and knowledge known to man. Members of all Orders -- monastic and militant -- are always to be found in these rooms, seeking new and better ways to defeat their ancient foes. The Libraries have a Faith Rating of 6. The evil powers of some ancient documents still cry out to their makers: reducing -- though not sapping -- the strength of the Holy Ground containing them.

The main Vatican museums are not as secret as has been made out. Almost two million academics visit the libraries and display rooms each year -- and many efforts are underway to reproduce and preserve their items. Most Museums were never intended to be so: they are apartments or residences that have been converted to that use. As a result, visitors have to wind their way through blind passages full of dead-ends. The arrangement appears almost random: grand pieces of art can be found tucked away in minor corners, while otherwise ordinary works appear to take pride of place. Almost every room and corridor is covered with frescoes and artwork -- often by the famous Raphael. The Pontifical Academy of Sciences is housed in a beautiful building called the Casina Pio IV, nestled in the gardens behind the museums. It is a truly world-wide academy, counting Jews, Catholics, other Christian denominations, Muslims, Hindous -- and many others -- among its members. About 22 of the 70 current members have won Nobel Prizes -- essentially their only common trait. Research includes astrophysics, evolution, physics and chemistry. A branch is devoted to practical solutions for problems endemic in third-world countries, such as parasitic diseases, water purity and food production. The confusing twists and turns of the Vatican Museums serve another purpose: concealing the way to the Demonic Collection. Here ancient artefacts, often relics of evil gods and power, are contained within powerful wards. The powers of these objects are studied to better understand them -- and to limit their abilities.

But the most important of all research within the Vatican City is probably that conducted under the guise of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences. Here, the world's best scientists study samples -- and sometimes even living specimens -- of all demon-kind. Know thine enemy is the Academy's motto. The essence of Vitae has been extracted from the vampiric kind, as has the rogue gene that makes shape changers what they are. The scientists have now embarked on desperate research to find ways to counter and destroy these building blocks of corruption. Similar wards to those in the Vatican Library exist in this area, both to keep in the objects of their research in and out those who wish to destroy what they learn.

These rooms have Faith Ratings of 6.

This institution first broadcast in 1931 the words of Pope Pius XI. Now it broadcasts in 35 languages across the world. Its towers sprout from several positions in the Vatican gardens, but its main broadcast centre is 15 miles outside of Rome at Santa Maria di Galeria. Of course, Vatican Radio is not all it seems. It is also one of the world's most powerful electronic surveillance centres.

From rooms deep under the complex, Vatican Intelligence monitors the activities of major governments and corporations, along with individuals suspected of demonic affiliations. Exactly what can be done here remains a secret even from the Militant Orders. Only the Hospitallers, through the activities of their own intelligence service, have officers working here.

The Faith Rating of these offices is about 4.

This is a fortress very close to the walled city of the Vatican. Secret and heavily defended tunnels link it to various places within the city, some of which have already saved a Pope's life. It is the final line of defense for the Church hierarchy -- and has acted so several times. The circular fortress has been added to and strengthened over the centuries, though its basic form remains the same. Called the castle of angels, this ancient fortress is much stronger than mere stone and mortar. Among the oldest and strongest wards protect its occupants from all levels of the supernatural.. Faith 8.

This tower stands among the gardens near the Vatican heliport, at the junction of several paths. One of the more isolated corners of the city, this tower has recently been given over to the Miltant Orders as their Vatican headquarters. There is more to the structure than appears above ground. Subterranean chambers house armories, chapter halls and chambers for visiting officers. One knight from each of the Orders is at -- or near -- the Pope's side 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A full chapter of 12 knights (four from each Order) is therefore housed within the tower. Most hold rank greater than Knight Captain. The tower has a Faith rating of 7.

The Swiss as mercenary troops first rose to prominence in 1494, as part of the army of Charles VIII of France during the invasion of the Italian peninsula. Their discipline, tactics, grim demeanour and habit of not granting quarter in battle were something of a revelation to post-Renaissance Italy; the effect was something like the onset of the Wehrmacht at the opening of World War II. The French conquered the region with notable ease, and for the next fifty years Swiss mercenaries could be found on most battlefields in Italy. On the 22nd of January 1506, the warrior-Pope Julius II formed the corps of Swiss Guard (or Cohors Helvetica, to give them their Latin title) and used them as papal mercenaries against the French. Their primary weapons were the halberd (pole-axe and spike) and the sword. On the 6th of May 1527, the newly formed corps had its sternest test to date. The Holy Roman Emperor Charles V (who was like most of the Holy Roman Emperors neither Roman, nor particularly holy) had decided to oust the then Pope, Clement VII, and replace him with a pontiff more in accord with Charles' views. His army stormed the walls of Rome and the Vatican, and sacked both cities, but Clement escaped by a passageway (which still exists today) leading from the Vatican to the Castel Sant'Angelo. The Swiss Guard, then numbering about eight hundred, died almost to a man buying the Pope time to get away.

In about 1548 the Guards adopted a new uniform, basically of striped blue, red and yellow with a red-plumed helmet; this uniform remains essentially unchanged to this day, although there is an undress blue uniform worn in less public places.

Today, the Swiss Guard consists of some one hundred to one hundred and twenty men; this includes four officers, five senior and eighteen junior NCOs. Each year about 12 young men are accepted into the ranks, so long as they have completed the mandatory Swiss four-month military training. All recruits must be Swiss citizens, unmarried, and at least 5' 8 1/2" tall; they must also be good Catholics (with a letter from their local bishop to prove it) and be between the ages of 19 and 25. After completing basic military training at the recruiting school, the prospective Guardsman can apply for membership in the Cohors Helvetica. The investiture of new members of the Guard takes place every 6th of May, the anniversary of their massacre in 1527, in the Cortile San Damaso. Flanked by members of the papal household and the Secretariat of State, the recruit grasps the standard with his left hand and raises the right with thumb and two fingers outstretched, signifying the Holy Trinity. He then swears to serve the reigning Pope and his rightful successors in true and upright manner, risking, if necessary, life and limb to defend them. This ceremony is the one occasion the Guard wear breastplates and helmets that have been handed down from guard to guard for generations, along with military standards and decorations bearing the unit's insignia which often bear the likeness of a Pope or the Virgin Mary. The training that follows is rigorous and includes firearms, and unarmed combat (specifically Judo and Karate), as well as the more esoteric techniques of modern body guarding and public relations (they have a ceremonial role to perform in addition to the practical). They also receive 15 days instruction in the use of the halberd (which I would guess to be very useful for crowd control.)

Terms of service range from a minimum of 2 years up to perhaps 25, with officers and senior sergeants permitted to marry. On guard, the primary weapons remain the halberd and the sword; however, firearms (typically Berretta Model 12 submachine guns), tear gas, and anti-personnel grenades are usually close to hand for more 20th century threats. Heavier weapons are kept in the Guard's modest barracks and arsenal by St Anne's Gate, near the Sistine Chapel. Off duty, Guardsmen are permitted to come and go as they please, with the proviso of modest discretion; their social lives are said to be quite active, as the young ladies of Rome consider them quite a catch. With nearly five hundred years of service, the Swiss Guards are one of the longest-serving regiments in the Western world. The tradition seems unlikely to be broken as long as Switzerland and the Catholic Church endure. The families of the Swiss Guard live in the Vatican city itself. Many visitors have arrived to official functions, only to be surprised at children crawling over ancient statues in the "private" gardens.

The Swiss Guard are not a Militant Order. The warriors are not required to take any monastic vows. However, their vow to defend the Vatican and the Pope is particularly binding, giving them the merit Code of Honour. Character creation of Swiss Guard members should follow normal mortal procedures -- though using a slightly higher number of Freebie Points (27) to allow for their specific firearms and melee training. Faith is a requirement, but only level one is necessary. They do not receive any Gifts, Prayers or Rituals. The Guard have an unusually high number of Holy Items that have served in the defence of Christendom for centuries. These include breastplates, helms, old halberds and swords. These items are worn at ceremonial occasions.