The Domino Effect

Emperor Vetranis Palaiologos sat in the confines of his throne room. Standing before him were his greatest advisors. Strategos Palladius from the Balkans, the first Prince Quintus, and several other military advisors. In recent days, Prince Quintus had unknowingly been influenced by German operatives to seek a peaceful resolution to the conflict in the holy land. 

Quintus was a spiteful man, despite his peace-loving appearance. After being outdone by a foreign monarch in his area of expertise, he wanted nothing more to shatter Berengar's peace between the Orthodox and Muslim worlds. To do this, he needed to find a way to establish a peace with the Crusaders, while abandoning the Timurids to continue the fight. Unknowingly, this spiteful nature of his was what allowed him to be played by Berengar like a fiddle.