⛪ Blood and Papal Gold – Part One Presented by the Evio Creative Podcast Network Before the Vatican was marble and gold… before the Church had armies and crowns… there was Rome — a ruin with a heartbeat. In this first half of The Keys of Blood: The Assassination of Pope John VIII, we enter the smoke and silence of the ninth century — a time when popes ruled by letter instead of sword, when faith was a fragile currency, and when the empire that once conquered the world had been reduced to a city clinging to its own memory. ⚜️ Episode I: The Broken Empire Europe is in fragments. Charlemagne’s heirs bicker over borders while Viking and Saracen raiders carve the continent apart. Into this chaos steps Pope John VIII, a scholar forced into kingship. His Rome is a relic surrounded by wolves, and his only weapon is diplomacy — or what’s left of it. But when he dares to pay tribute to Saracen pirates to spare the city, his mercy is mistaken for weakness, and whispers of betrayal begin to echo through the marble halls of the Lateran. ⚓ Episode II: The Pope and the Pirates As the raiders tighten their grip, John is forced to choose between faith and survival. His decision to ransom Rome with gold saves lives but shatters his reputation. The Frankish kings mock him; the clergy call him coward; the nobles begin to conspire. When he crowns Charles the Bald as Holy Roman Emperor, hoping for salvation, the emperor dies within months — leaving the papacy more isolated than ever. Rome’s enemies circle closer, and John’s greatest fear becomes clear: the Church will not fall to pagans, but to its own believers. 👑 Episode III: The Emperor’s Shadow In this final chapter of Part One, the illusion of empire collapses for good. As Saracens burn the coasts and noble families tear Rome apart from within, Pope John VIII fights a losing battle to keep faith alive in a city that no longer believes. He writes, he pleads, he endures. Yet within the candlelit halls of the Lateran, betrayal is already gathering — not in the form of armies, but of whispers. The hammer that will one day kill him has not yet fallen, but its echo is already in the air. 🕯️ What to Expect A cinematic historical narrative written in the immersive, literary tone of The Ides of April, exploring:     •    The fall of Charlemagne’s empire and the rise of feudal chaos     •    The paradox of a pope who bought peace with gold     •    How faith, politics, and paranoia became indistinguishable     •    The first cracks in the illusion of papal invincibility 💀 Credits Written and narrated by Branden Morgan Produced by Evio Creative in partnership with Bellaire Studios Sound design and original score by [Audio Engineer Name] For press or partnerships, visit eviocreative.com (https://www.eviocreative.com/) 🕯️ Sponsor Shoutouts Support The Keys of Blood and every Evio Creative series by visiting our partners: 🧥 Quince — timeless essentials at honest prices. Visit https://www.quince.com/IDES for free shipping and 365-day returns. 📱 Mint Mobile — premium wireless for just $15 a month. Visit https://www.mintmobile.com/DEVILWITHIN for unlimited talk and text. 🕵️ ExpressVPN — protect your data everywhere. Visit https://www.expressvpn.com/DEVILWITHIN for up to four months free. 🌿 MOOD — legal THC and CBD gummies shipped nationwide. Visit https://www.mood.com/DEVILWITHIN for 20% off your first order. 🐾 Ollie Dog Food — fresh, human-grade meals for your dog. Visit https://www.ollie.com/IDES for 60% off your welcome kit. 💰 Monarch — take control of your finances at https://www.monarch.com/IDES for 50% off your first year. 🎙️ Network CTA Listen to more from the Evio Creative Podcast Network, including The Devil Within, Criminal Mischief, The Devil’s Ledger, and Taboo Treasures. Follow @eviocreative, @thedevilwithinpod, and @idesofaprilpod for behind-the-scenes features and episode drops. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices