The year was 1209. In the South of France, in a land called Languedoc, lived the Cathars. They taught that the soul was of divine origin, imprisoned in a world of corruption. They sought simplicity, equality, and a life free of greed. Their faith was light.
The Roman Catholic Church, too, held its vision. It saw itself as the guardian of truth, intolerant of other Christian belief systems. Pope Innocent III called for a crusade against the Cathars, and armies of Northern European knights, drawn by promises of wealth and salvation, marched south.
The Albigensian Crusade had begun. The war would last for decades, reshaping the very soul of Europe. It is within this crucible of faith and fire that the story unfolds.
