Vatican mystic Monsignor Thomas Steele is the director of the Paranormal Section of the Vatican’s Pontifical Academy because of his special spiritual connection to a 16th century nun named Esméralda. Gato, Steele’s pet cat, also plays its special part in this union … Gato is Esméralda’s physical connection with this world … her sense of taste, touch, sight, smell, and hearing.
The Monsignor is studying manuscripts in his office within the archives of Vatican City, when the silence is broken by the raised voices of two arguing women. One is his assistant, Sister Donna Giovanini … the other is an apparently dowdy drunk who has somehow managed to stagger through security checks to his office. This highlander dressed in a rumpled tartan business suit is none other than Flora Campbell and she’s about to launch the Monsignor on his next paranormal adventure.
This Glasgow University professor has used modern technology to restore an ancient parchment unearthed from a private library buried in the volcanic ash of the Mt. Vesuvius eruption. This parchment was written by Joseph Ben Matthias a famous first-century Jewish priest, soldier, and scholar. His other literary works provided crucial documentation of first century A.D. Roman Palestine. But this newly discovered parchment hints at the existence of a second scroll (now lost) and a fabulous trove of ancient Hebrew temple artifacts hidden somewhere in the depths of the Masada Plateau.
Steele is skeptical at first, but a chain of clues emerge that conclude with a visit from Esméralda confirming Joseph Ben Matthias’ lost scroll not only exists but lies misfiled somewhere within the Vatican archives itself. When Esméralda and Gato find the second scroll, the last of Steele’s reservations evaporate. After briefing the Pontiff on his findings and receiving his blessing, Monsignor Steele recruits old comrades from previous adventures and equips Team Masada for a subterranean search for antiquities. Together they face challenges, including a brimstone portal called Sabbath Crossing, golems, sacred soldiers, witness a skirmish between good and evil and the might of the Chavilahan empire.
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Staarbaads Universe 