"What a city we have given over to plunder and destruction", were the words of Mehmet II as he rode through the fallen city of the Holy Roman Empire. The fall of Constantinople in 1453 is a tale of sadness and of victory depending on which side you support. The once all-powerful Eastern Roman Empire had, over 1000 years, fallen into decay and by the time the Ottoman Turks advanced on the city it had become a mere shadow of it's former self. The walls of the great Byzantium city were considered ancient even then.

That of course is a tale from the old world. The land of legends, myths, heroes, villains,romance and heartbreak. Grand Cultures rich with history and lost people. From Europe to the Mediterranean to the Middle and Far East. Empires grew and died over long decades. Their aftermath is filled with mixed reputations from the tyrant to the visionary. The history of the old world is deep and complex but is also a colourful palette that is the most important representation of man's achievements to date and without it there is nothing of course.

What has the Phantom Noir story got to do with all this? you might ask. The answer is it has everything to do with the old world and more. Phantom Noir is fiction, correct, but it's roots of creation lie deep within those old dusty history books which tell the tales of the old world. How can anyone with an imagination not be inspired by characters from the past? It tells us that although times change and progress moves us on, we are still the same as our ancestors in that we love, hate, kill and heal. We are capable of great things but also flawed by our root tribal instincts to be territorial creatures which can destroy the beautiful things we create. Man still likes to feel elite when standing next to the other man. He uses religion and big business to control and fill the people with fear, guilt and a sense of purpose. We are our own worst enemy much of the time.

The story of Phantom Noir is a traditional story. It has heroes, villains, war and peace, love and hate. It began 10 years ago while I was at art college. The story has been told many times in my own head but has yet to be put down in full for others to see. It's an epic of characters, places and story. I feel all creative people should have an epic. Their life's work or the absolute main creation that will represent them after they are gone. What makes the story special and personal to me is that it began in a dream. The first steps came to me and it was then that I knew it would be my main creation above all.

The main character is Adham. I cannot deny that he is in so many ways a represenation of myself. As Adham is the prominent character it would be hard not to put some of my personality into him as he is being dealt with so much. Adham also has my faults and flaws. Every storyteller and writer puts as much of themselves into a character as they do invented aspects. The other characters are, of course, influenced by people I have known and do know, family and friends along with historical characters I look up to and find fascinating. Their personalities are as strong as Adham's in many ways and of course without them there is no Adham.

This website is to be the base for me to tell the story. It is also a scrapbook that I will continually
add to.

Phantom Noir is dedicated to my Grandfather who without question is my main hero. He taught me many things and his mind was excellent. When he died I only realised then the impact he had on other people which I never noticed when he was alive. The words "he was one of the last of the Great British Gentlemen" will always stay with me for the rest of my life. He taught me the proper code and traditional way of things. Etiquette, manners and discipline still have a place in the modern world.

The second dedication is to the old world. I salute all the sons and daughters past and present of our ancient nations. We will always be rich in soul and substance if we remember and honour what was.

I hope you will enjoy the tale of Adham and Sophia and the other stories that will follow with all the characters within them.

There are Lionhearts and Salah ad-Din's in us all.

Nic 2005/05/