The eastern lands are harsh, very harsh. A Cappadocian has much opportunity to study death here, but I find little of its beauty. Perhaps the Gangrel might know? It seems the Tzimisce love death and suffering for its own sake, and see nothing of the beauty in passing - they care nothing of the afterlife or the care of their serfs.

I imagine that their hearts are so linked to the land like they are nothing more than copies of it, cold and bleak. At least that is my impression. One of our travelling companions, a boy really, told me that these summers are maddeningly hot, even as far east as the Carpathians. My traveling companion, Zodiax, surely thinks that the Tzimisce are little more than monsters - powerful monsters - but monsters nonetheless.

I fear for myself some now that I am in the presence of the infamous Razkjolina. She is a determined Cainite, and she is determined that the world will not rob her of her power. I do not know what the future holds for her, but there is a sadness in this land that defies description. It is as if the Old Ways see their own impending doom. Perhaps Razkjolina senses this too? I, a creature so raptured with death, its beauty and the impending order of afterlife, find a different mindset here. In these lands, death has a rot to it, a stink that reviles me. I can't even begin to describe it; it is a sullen disrespect, a visciousness and disregard that goes beyond the nature of humanity.

Why the Beast has not taken every Tzimisce in these accursed mountains, I do not know. Perhaps their Via is one all their own? Something that allows their putrescent minds to continue on.

Night has come and gone twice since that midnight encounter in the glade. I witnessed it, and yet I still do not believe the myth-brought-to-life. Even where Razkjolina, imminent Polish Prince, knelt to the High Priest of Flesh, Zodiax entered that accursed place - the Temple of Flesh, the highest house of the Old Tzimisce.

Yorak, dread Methuselah, devours vampires. They are his sustenace.

It was madness for Zodiax to follow Yorak into his place of terror and anguish. Now I know that Zodiax is mad. Malkav's curse has not only robbed Zodiax of his sanity, but it seems his common sense, as well. Even as I wait out the days in Razkjolina's hillside fortress, I begin to doubt that I will ever see Zodiax again. No amount of insight or vision is worth the diabolic fees of Yorak.

I have not shivered in years, I had forgotten how long ago. Certainly, I never give that emotion a first much less than a second thought. The memory of that feeling though nearly overwhelmed me when the Methuselah greeted Zodaix as "Ancient One" and asked him to enter his Temple. I feared not so much that Zodaix might be more than what he seems or that I was left sans allies in the heart of a land of Tzimisce. Instead, I feared selfishly that Yorak might bid me enter his Temple, as well, and there I would remain - never to die, but never to live without agony and the horrible pyschic rape Yorak is so well known by.

I sit here pondering why I left my haven in Copenhagen a season and a half ago? The simple answer is Jolner. My price, Jolner. He asked me to investigate reports of Ba'ali headed towards Buda. To give the Lasombra Ramiro a hand if need be and find out what the connection with Catherine Anne de Lyon, the Toreador, plays. Ramiro was reported to be in the lands of the Brujah and logic would say that he and his troop will head to Buda. There were rumors to check out, rumors of Yorak the Tzimisce Methuselah being sited there. That would likely be a good spot for finding help in destroying Avros.

I journeyed alone as far as Komar and was ambushed by a Ba'ali. The foul creature was tougher than expected and took my throat with it. The last sight I recall was a figure arched over the edge of the building. It throw some sort of ball at the Ba'ali before I blacked out. When I awoke, I saw the Malkavian Zodiax staring down at me with his "All too happy for the situation grin" plastered across his face. Not until now have I considered what may have transpired after that. Did he defeat the creature? Make some dark pact with it? Did he somehow scare it away? Those creatures can see the inner being in a creature; did it see the same thing Yorak hinted at? Those are thoughts to be explored later. When I awoke it was in the impromptu haven he had established, a farmhouse on the outer edges of Komar. Zodiax seemed to be the one who nursed me back to health. At first I felt a slight comfort, due to the fact I saw a non-Ba'ali face, but that momentary comfort consumed me and all seemed to get better. His company is strange; when I laugh, I laugh harder than I mean to, and a situation that is "just good" turns out to "feel" good. I used to just chalk it up to a respect I had for the mad one and his knowledge of the sciences. In the light of current events, though, there may be more to this vampire than a heavy dose of lunacy.

Razkjolina will be here soon to escort me down to the thatches - thatches holdinf the Temple. We will see if Zodiax has returned. I keep telling myself that my interest is just so I do not have to be alone with the Tzimisce butchers. Yes, it is just curiosity to know what was in the Temple and to get back to the mission given to me by Jolner. Yes, that's it...

It has to be.