Carcassonne

This article contains spoilers. Read at your own risk!

"This is how we do it in Carcassonne!"

―Sayid^[src]

Carcassonne is a French fortified city in the department of Aude, in the region of Occitanie. It appears as a major location location in Serious Sam 4. The city's infamous fortress, the Cité de Carcassonne, is the location of two crucially important artifacts, the Ark of the Covenant and the Holy Grail.^[1]^[2]

Overview[]

Octanian Harvester in France — An Octanian Harvester Leviathan above Carcassonne.

Carcassonne is a medium-sized French city. The town has quite a history, dating back to the Neolithic period. During the Middle Ages, many fortications and walls were built interspersed by 52 towers. This area became known as the Cité de Carcassonne, perhaps the most famous landmark in the city.

In the 22nd century, Carcassone was invaded by Mental's forces after a portal had mysteriously appeared within the Cité de Carcassonne. The Octanians and Mental's troops managed to establish a foothold in the city.^[3] Eventually, people rose up to fight back against the invaders. A French Resistance cell was soon formed, and the Earth Defense Force caught wind of their efforts to repel the aliens. At some point, an informant called Charlie joined their ranks to provide intel about how to get into the occupied castle.^[3]

The EDF had a presence in the city sometime after it was attacked. Many troops were stationed here to fight off the invading alien forces. This was evident by the abundance of military supplies, vehicles and weapons left behind. The French Resistance also have a workhouse stashing supplies and weapons in times of need.^[3]

History[]

The city has a long history dating back to the Neolithic period. Throughout its history, it had been occupied by Romans, the Visigoths and, within 300 years, briefly came under Islamic rule.

According to a note written by hermit and paranoid conspiracy theorist Fulbert le Fou, in the year 1432, the French patron saint, Joan of Arc, stole the Holy Grail and hoped that she would be able to use its powers to heal humanity. She kept the Grail hidden in Rennes-le-Château. More than 400 years later, in the 19th century, the Holy Grail was discovered by French Catholic priest Bérenger Saunière, who took both the Ark of the Covenant and the Grail to Carcassonne, where they were kept hidden inside a basilica, deep within the castle.^[4]^[2] Some point after this, an ancient Slavic text, which reveals the location of the Grail, was secretly stored inside the Vatican Library^[5]

In the year 2112, Carcassonne came under siege by Mental's forces after a portal appeared in the city during the Tunguska Offensive.

Architecture[]

Carcassonne was designed with typical French architecture, much like the other towns and cities in the department of Aude. Many of the medieval buildings and fortifactions have remained relatively intact, although parts of the city had been damaged due to fighting when Mental's forces attacked.^[3]

Design[]

The majority of the buldings in the city are small or large houses, apartment buldings, shops and offices. In Cité de Carcassonne, the entire area is fortifed with high walls. This was to prevent attacks from siege engines in historical times.

Notable locations[]

Cité de Carcassonne[]

The most reconigzable feature of Carcassonne, this medieval citadel is located on a hill on the right bank of the River Aude, in the south-east part of the city proper. Inside the citadel lies an abandoned church where the Holy Grail was kept sealed from anyone who dared to use it.^[2]

Basilica[]

Based on the Basilica of Saints Nazarius and Celsus (although vastly different in design), this medieval church is roughly the same age as the citadel itself. It is located right in the heart of the Cité de Carcassonne. The Ark of the Covenant and the False Grail were sealed away inside here, most likely due to the dangerous powers the artifact possessed.^[2]

Resistance workshop[]

A workshop that was used by the French Resistance during the Tunguksa Offensive to stash supplies in case of an emergency. It was abandoned shortly after Mental's forces took over.^[3]

Appearances[]

Serious Sam 4[]

Sam and Kenny meet up by the entrance to Carcassonne.

Having obtained critical information regarding the Holy Grail's whereabouts, the Alien Artifact Acquisition hitch a ride on a V-22 Osprey to Carcassonne, where Sam and the team are informed by General Brand that they will be meeting up with the leader of the French Resistance cell in Carcassone, Michelle.^[1] As the Triple-A team approach the dropzone, their plane is shot down by Octanian raiders, forcing the team to ditch the aircraft and parachute down into the countryside. Sam loses contact with his teammates, but eventually contacts Kenny after making it into the city. He fights alongside Kenny until Lord Achriman suddenly shows up and kills him before teleporting away.^[6] Sayid, a leading member of the French Resistance, introduces himself to Sam and takes him to meet up with Michelle inside a bar.

Sayid, Michelle and Sam plan to meet up with their informant, who claims they have found a way into the castle. Michelle leads Sam and a few band of resistance fighters through the alien-infested streets until they reach the sewers where their informant, Charlie, is waiting. Charlie aids the French resistance in the fight against Mental's forces and they push on towards the castle. Once they get to the bridge, it ends up being bombed by Octanian raiders, separating Sam from Michelle, Sayid and Charlie. The resistance urge Sam to carry on the mission without them, while Charlie assists Michelle and Sayid in overthrowing enemy rule in the city.^[3]

and Sam is left on his own since Charlie, Michelle and Sayid are unable to cross the now destroyed bridge. Sam thanks them for their efforts and fights his way through the castle until he meets up with Carter, Father Mikhail, Hellfire and Rodriguez. Eventually, after some heavy fighting, they finally make it to the basilica.

Sam and resistance — Sam is introduced to the French Resistance.

Suddenly, Lord Achriman appears, and a fight between him and the team them begins. Sam defeats Achriman and kills him to avenge Kenny. They then head inside the church, and, once inside, Mikhail performs a ritual from the Slavic text which reveals the Ark of the Covenant.^[7] Sam opens the Ark, which in turn reveals the False Grail. They are suprised to see that the Grail is nothing what they expected it to be, but is instead a scepter with a sinister-looking snake figure coiled around it.

Just as Sam reaches out to take the Grail, General Brand and several of his men appear, with their guns drawn at the Triple-A team. Brand reveals himself to be a traitor, and decides to join the "winning side" and offer the Grail as a gift to Mental, in the hopes that he can use it as a bargaining chip to join his ranks and become of Mental's servants.^[7] Brand takes the rod and has himself bitten by the snake figure wrapped around the artifact, which turns him into a monster. Father Mikhail attempts to intervene, but is killed by Brand. The team, having now realized Brand has gone too far, also try to stop him, but are knocked unconscious by Brand's new superhuman abilities. He captures Sam, orders his men to dispose of the rest of his team by having them processed, and makes his way to the portal in Tunguska.

It is not known what happened to Carcassonne or the French Resistance after Sam was captured by General Brand. During the events of Serious Sam 3: BFE, the city was destroyed following Earth's destruction.

Trivia[]

The size of the Cité de Carcassonne in-game is exaggerated and much larger than it is in real life.
The basilica, the player's main objective in the level Anathema Unto God, is obviously based on the Basilica of Saints Nazarius and Celsus, but the church looks almost nothing like the building in real life.