AD 1212 By MicHaeL BUTLER , RICHARD E. DANSKY, JAMES MALIszZEWSKI AND Guy-FRANCIS VELLA Vampire CREATED BY MARK REINHAGENSprCIAL THANKS Authors: Michael Butler (Al-Andalus, The ToCarl “DragonBowen Z" Bowen, for secret shames Damned) RichardE. Dansky (Prelude, Castile, Lasombra and loud rants characters, Sorytelling), James Maliszewski (Shadowed ToKen ‘Flying Reynaldo” Cliffe, or beingone old- History, Christian Kingdoms, Powers That Be) and school vigilante Guy-Francis Vella (Taifa Kingdoms, The Damned); To Mike “My Mouth's Not Open” Tinney, for the Vampire and the World of Darkness created by Mark greatest ofall kamoke 2onge Reine Hagen To MT, Justin “Speed Racer J” Achill, and Fred oryteller game system designed by Mark — +Qy est Sylvie?” Yelk, for Friday night foolishness and Hagen Saturday pains. Developers Philippe R. Duulle Consultants: Carlos Checa Barambio, Pedro J. Cafiameras de Miguel, Jose Miguel Pérez Mir6, Luis Rodrigues, Ismael Rodrigues, C. A. 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Check out White Wolf online at hetpijwww.white-wolf.com; alt.games.whitewolf and rac.games frp .storyceller PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES.TABLE OF CONTENTS AND THE Sea CALLED FoR Dust CPRELUDE) INTRopucTioN: From run Py vo GiprALrAR CuapTer OnE: SHADOWED HistorY Cnapter Two: THe CuristiaN KinGpoms CuapTer THREE At-ANDALUS Cuaprer Four: Powers Tuar Br Cuaprer Frye: THe DaMNeD Crater Six: LeGenps oF THE RECONQUISTA (STORYTELLING)\ . SYThey have « seninig about Ceuta, the Cainites dot id vohere you tread of youll walk on your geandsice. Oh the city is prett enough and ships sail it and out of its harbor like great slovo birds, but there has beers blood here. INN48 as the surviving Obristians reckon ( iD the Ulinohads svwoept through it | Gke a beeath of fixe.There had been Jews in Ceuta then, wealthy and secure intheir ancient residence. Theydied. There were Christians, who thought that tradeandhardlabor shared with Muslims on the dock would somehow shield them from the sword. They died. Followers of the Prophet protested when the blood flowed in the streets, and they died, too, The Almohads were not men witha great store tierce, and when they had finished bending Ceuta to their will, they moved on. Ifyougoto the ug, orwalkdown by the docks, youean perhaps find grayheanie who remember thote days. For a coin, or perhspsameal, they can tell thestory endlessly — how they hid in alleys, or in barrels, or peeking up from. cellars, as the strange fierce horsemen swept by. Every year the tellers of the tales grow fewer, and the tales themselves row grander, until even those few survivors can scarcely remember how it had really been. Othereyes watched those nights of bloodandfire,eyes of the dead. The sons of Seth and the sons of Catne had suffered equally at the invadess’ hands, though no one would sing Qaddih for Salomon ibn Jedah ibn Gabirol Acer all, no one knew he was there, and the wind carried his dust to the sea, Allof the Cainites of Ceuta died, then, savethose fev who fled. Before the Almohadk, the cityhad been a popular place for the unliving of al-Andalus, a safe Portanda welcoming harbor, Mortals call it ahauntedcity, and they are not far wrong. Ht Almost a century after that bloody time, two weary travelers surveyed the achen city and remembered. The first was tall, with the sharp features and sun-darkened skin of one of the Almoravids. Close inspection would reveal that the cut of his robe was perhaps a hundred yeaa out uf dave, bur clove inspection was not something thismanencouraged. Nosword hungathisbelt,butstill, the cutpurses and thieves of Ceuta let him pass unmo- sted. "The manwho isasword,” said one ofthe thieves, 10 need to carry one." The oxhers nodded and left to seek easier prey. The second traveler was in all ways the opposite of his companion. He was short and heavy, and his steps were frequent ashe hurried to keepup. A casual observer would have seen the bag he carried slung aver one shoulder and decided that he was physician, and chey would nor have heen entirely wrong. “How much further i it, Ibrahim?” said the shorter of the two men, “We're shorton time, especially ifthat devil ibn Savi finds us here.” “saat, vay Gierwh” said the orher man quietly, “he thas much less ofa chance of finding us if you find it in yourheart tocmbracesilence. Andhe'sno devi. know; T've met him, He's as much a man as you or I.” IBERIA_BY NIGHT. “Allthings considered,” snorted Isaac, “that is small comiort indeed.” The two moved through the night with the pace of tired hunters on the trail of wounded prey. They moved chrough the narrow streets with inexorable purpose, though naw and again Thrahim stepped, exam- ined some intersection or fallen piece of stone, and then set off on his way again, Eventually, the two found themselves in what a generous man would call a cemetery, what an unkind man would call a field. Here and there stones poked chaonah te wonda,sheugh mors hod buen ished ever thanstillstood upright. “This s the place,” Ibrahim said, and folded his arms actoss his chest. “Hurry.” *You'resure?” Isaac looked around, sniffed the night air and began clearing brush away from one of the svones. “Itdoesn’t look like the histories said itwould, notatall.” “That's because the histories were written by a handful of terrified refugees who were too busy running ro take noteson the scenery, Isac. Now by the Prophet's beard, would you please do what you have to? I dislike being here almost as much as you do, and Fm not the ane they're trying to kill.” {saac muttered under his breath. “That's just a mat- cer of timing, Ibrahim. Now hush.” Wich that, he knelt down in front of the grave marker, taking cate not to bash off the pebbles on top of the stone. Hhuraming to himself, Isaac placed both hands on the stone, closed his eyes and concentrated. Behind him, Ibrahim turned in sloweircles, keeping watchful eyeoutfor interlopers. In the distance, he could hear the seabirds whining into the night. Otherwise, Ceuta sleptsilently. Even the thieves and lovers had gone to bed, and Ceuta had been left to she dead, For that, the dead were profoundly thankful erhaps a minute later, Istac moaned and stumbled ‘back from the stone. “Merciful God," he said, and sank back to his knees. “Oh, Lord, why?” With two strides, brahim wasnext to him. "Did you see what you needed to?” Isaac nodded as the other man helped him to hisfeet. “Saw that, and more. The dust we need is over there,” he said, and gestured tothe southeast. “Ifyou could see what {just save, Ibrchim, you'd want t pluck out your eyes Ir was ibn Sa’id, Ibrahim. The Almohads had already razed the judevia and movedon, They were dead, ofcourse, but they'd mmeved on. Gxlomon hed brought them here and hidden them, and they thought it was sae. And then Salid came, and he tore away the shadows Salomon was hiding them with, and he made him watch...” Isaac straightened and shook himself, then steode purposefully forward. Hs com- panion followed. "Thesoonerwe'reaway rom here Ibrahim, the better, Let's gee the dust and go.”“No, that’s since been di juse want the dus from where he bled and fell. There's sill something there that 1 fares, hae «er Uae in Burgos can use. Ibrahim Tuune snoried. “Haidly. Saloinion ibui Gabirol wasa scholar and a poet. nis ving days he virote a book, It was ealled Fons Vit Thrahinn laughed. “The Fountain of Lif ois it the Fountain of Blood! I see the joke. Buc surely your famous library must have had a copy, yes? ‘Ah, there's the tricky thing, [brahim. He wrote Fons Vitae when he was alive. He rewrote it after he died, but no one knows where he left the m: step to the left, 1d once we find your ‘tt yourseer, and find ‘your magical hook, perhaps you can then a answer one stall question for me?" i Isaac looked up isin?” in youplease tell me why in the 'sname | agreed to come along oon this foo!’s errand? I could be hundred leagues away from here, id instead Tindiagelf pobitgarund dead man's abattoir with a lunatic who thinks the key to his library lies in the dust!Allah, saveme from madmen, and save me doubly from dead ones.” Shakinghishead, Isaac ran dust chrough his finger You ate here, Don Ibrahim, because you are a man of honor, and because | saved your noble neck when you were younger, weaker and les tactful than you are now. And now you will do me the great and good favor of respecting your elder in blood, and remaining silent for ‘one moment while Ifind exactly what I need. Then we can leave this misbegotten plague pit ofa city, you can consider your debt to medischarved, and then your newer have to see me again. Unless, of course, you want to see how ic all comes out.” “Right now all I want to see are the walls of Ceuta receding in the distance. Hurry.” “Patience, my friend. You woaldn’t want me to rush this and make an error. We'd have to come back and do this all over again, you know. Ah, here we are,” Isaac said, and drew a pinch of gray dust from the ground between his fingers. Gingerly, he reached into his phy- sicians’bagand broughe forthaceramic flask. Withlong, she unstopped itand let the dust tickle in Herepeates the operation three times while Lbrahim, at firs: interested, grew bored and returned to scanning their surroundings. Finally satisfied, Isaac stoppeted the last ofthe flasks and pat chem back in his pouch. "I am quite ready to leave this place, brahim. [brahirn?” “Sssh!" The taller man motioned for silence. “What do you hear?" Isaoe listened for a moment, I hear nothing.” “That Letus depart “Indeed,” Issac said, and ran. Ibrahim followed, a halfstep behind. They boltedthrough the cemetery gate as alow, rumbling laughter drifted up over them. “Thun- der?” Isaac panted “There are no clouds,” Ibrahim replied, and re- doubled his pace. Ahead of them, aman —orsomething that had once teen a man — jumped out of an alley, Irandishinga wicked-looking nfo. With just the mer est hint of a break in stride, Ibrahim reached out and nched his fist. A frisson of cold knotted his stomach, even as a rope of shadow reached from the alley from aidlbrahim, “isexacily what wasafraid of ped around his throat, and thee was a sudden, sharp sound of something hard cracking, Then the tentacle dissipated, and the man’s body slumped tothe ground, Before it hit, Trahitn an Isaac were alrealy past i IBERIA BY NIGHT “There'll be more where he came from, I'm sure,” shouted Ibrahim, even as two more rose up from behind a reddler’s cart and leaped forward. Isiac somehow twisted in midair, dodged, and then brought his hand around on the hack of his aswilane’s neck. ‘The man fll to the street and did not move again. Ibrahim, me while, cought his assailant ae dhe man leaped then threw him aside. He landed against a wall with a shuddering crunch, and upstairs dog began barking. Ahead, more figures filled the street. An arrow whized past, and shautingg Could be heard behind them as well. “We can't fight them all and hope to get past ibn Sa’id,” Isaac shouted. “There's too many.” Ibrahim looked wildly left and right, then suddenly gestured. “Down this alley. Hurry!” He ran, and Isaac followed. Inthe street behind, men and thingsthat were not quite men bellowed defiance. The pursuers ran past locked doors, past empty bartels and heaps of moldering ‘rah. The alley was so narrow that the sky ebove was reduced to the thinnest strip. The hard-packed dire and stone of thealley floor echoed under their footsteps, and behind them, the pursu Inevitably, perhaps, the slley ended ina wall. Acthe top of the wall crouched a half-dozen grim-faced men with swords. Behind them hovered a cloud of blackness thar promised something terible hiding in tis depehs All Ceuta, it seemed, was waiting for them. “Wel,” Isaac said and turned to Thrahim, “that cured ‘outpoorly. Do you have s plan to get us our of here!” Ibrahim nodded. “I do," he said, and with ehsolutely no expression he watched a tendril of shadow tear off Isazc’s head. Blood fountained out and the body col lamed to the alley floor. Ibrahim felt rhe soulless inner ‘cold he had come to know as his Beast grow that much stronger. Then he took a step back and waited. Hedid not have to wait long, “Ibrahim!” boomed a voice from the wall. “I see you have something for me.” “I do,” he replied, quietly. “Come down here and take it” ‘With that, afigure leaped down, landing lightly and stacefully even in the muck of the alley. He was tall — taller even than Ibrahim —and he wore all white. “You cost me thee of my childer,” he said “Two. The one I struck will recover.” “Three. He failed me. [ don't want him co recover.” Tbrchim shrugged. “Bismallah. In any case, Isaac ibn ‘Mushadis dead, and his bloods spilling on my boots. My part of the bargain is fulfilled. Is yours?” cil came on.Ibn Sa'id nodded. “They ate already on theit way back across the water. Damn the old ones for giving this land back to the Christians. They don't deserve it.” “With all of the plotting the tifas did against one another, neither did we. The old oneshave spoken, You've gotten more for your cooperation than many. Be content.” “Ob, Lam, Lam.” Ibn Sa'id kicked the corpse, then, leaped back up co the top of the wall. The men who had stood there had already faded into the night. “I do wonder, though, Ibrahim. He seemed tothink you owed him a debe of honor, and yet you killed him. Why?” Ibrahim began walking back our of the alley slowly. “A promise made to an infidel is no promise at all, bn id. You shuld know that well enough.” Laughter drifted down. “Well said. This, then, is farewell to thee, Ibrahim. I won't see you again.” There was a rustle of cloth, and then suddenly, Ibrahim was alone. He waited for what would once have been adozen heartheatr, and then adosen more. Satisfied that he was indeed by himself, Ibrahim turned back to the quickly decomposing corpse on the alley floor. In a matter of minutes, it was nothing but some dust. Gently, he reached down and took the physician's satchel from the dir, and with a cough slung it over his shoulder. Then, he took a handful of the gray dlast and cast it into the air. There was anight breeze off the waver, which caught che dust and watted tt off into invisiility. Before it vanished completely, Ibrahim be gan chanting. Thelanguage hespoke wasalmost familiar, the wordsuncertain. But even as Farouk ibn Sa’ led his chalder tothe docks, tothe ships that awaite! thet, the man who answered tono name but Ibrahim sangQaddish othe night And when he was done, he walked out of the alley and set forth for the city of Burgos. There were promises one need not keep to an infidel, after all, that one could still keep to a friend+ > Pyrenees to GibraltarALAND Drvipep ‘The Iberian Peninsula, which will one day become Spain and Portugal, i the lash point of conflict in the early thirteenth century, Indeed, while the Crusades forthe Holy Land are fought in Outremer (liter ally, “across the sea"), the battle in Iheria is in Europe proper. The Christians have gradually pushed the Muslims south for centuries, bur the battle isnaw in its most chaotic and decisive stage. And where there are kingdoms to be won and vengeance to be had, the childer of Caine are never far away Tue Curistian Reconquisra ‘The Christan north isunited behind the concept of a reconguost — in Castilian, Reconquista —ofthe peninsula from the Muslims who invaded icin the eighth century. This philosophical unity is hardly secure, however, as @ -vanety of ambitious kings vie for influence inthe Christian north, Once the Kingdon of Navarte was supreme, now Lec andCestileare on the ris. Yer, the Crown of Aragon and the Kingdom of Portugal are expandingas wel. These kings and their knights are hardly above fighting one stwaliet. Chapter Two: The Christan Kingdoms details these lands THe Moortsy Tairas The sition is much the same in the Muslim south known as al-Andalus. Many of these lands have been Islamic for centuries, but various dynasties have come and gone. Once the Cordoban Caliphate stood as the apex of Moorish Theria, but now it too is @ patchwork, The Almoheas, aBerber dynasty that rules North Affica, claim torule al-Andalus from their capital at Sevilla, The truth is that most of the territery is divided between dozens of petty kingdcens called tifas, Paves with a dysnaini Chis tian threat, they choose to fight among one another and hence seal their doorn. Chapter Three: Al-Andalus cov- cers the tifa. IN THE SHADOWS With itsheady combination ofreligiousfervor, Byzan- tine intrigues and martial exploits, Iberia makes the ideal nesting ground for Clan Lasembra, The Magisters reign preeminent among the many local lars, and they intend to keep it that way. But the religious and political conflict of the Reconguisa divides them as well — es fervent Murlizn Lesombra, ty. £0 while theie Cristian clanmates embark on the Skadow Reconquista. Inthe chaos, many othersare tying to position themselves, tocutatthe Magisters power. Chapter Four: Powers That Be and Chapter Fiver The Damned detail many of che vampiric intigues within and around Clan Lasombra, ove ‘ab Ass IBERIA BY_NIGHT FarTHerR COMPLEXITY The divide between Christian north and Muslim south isa facile one that hides much of the richness of Iberia. Indeed, asthe Reconquisianears itsendgame, i'seasy to forget that there are more than just two sides to this war. “There are far more to Therians than that. Minoriry Grours Indeed) Christian Iberians do not think of themselves as“Spanish” butas Aragonese, Navarese, Catlians cr any other local affiliation. The divisions among che Muslim taifes are even greater, leading to similar local identifica tiors. Evenbeyond thislocalization thereare manyminority groups whose unique cultures tend to get pushed to the sideinesofhistory. Storytellerslookingt0adiflavor—and pathos — to their chronicles might consider using these ‘groups. Some of the most important minorities are: * Basques: The Basque (or “Euskaldunak" in their native tongue) speak Euskera, one of the oldest languages in Europe and very different from any other on the penin- sula, For the most part, they live in Navarre and are ethnically dstinct from the peoples who surround them hath inside the kingeoen and in France and thera, having preserved their identity among the waves of invaders that have passed through the regionsince prehistoric times. The Basqueshave many unique traditions, includingthe game of jot ala, which plays an important role in many of their festivals and celebrations. At the tum of the thirteenth century, the Basques still retain much of the identity and culture, although as Navarre’s position becomes weaker relative to other Iberian under threat. ‘© Jews: There has been a Jewish presence in Iberia since Visigothic times. Despite notable incidents of pers tian Tas remained very healthy. fa much of Must Iberia, Jews enjoy status as dhimmi, ot protected persons, and can continue to worship relatively freely (although they must pay a poll tax for this right). In some Christian Cities, Jewsenjoy similarstatus, buciaothers they havebeen compelled to convert to Christianity (either in the face of actual threats or socioeccnomic incentives). These con verts are called conversos. Those conversos who secretly keep up private Jewish worship are known as memaros. © Mozarabs: The Mozarabs are the Christians of Muslim feria. They form aseparate community and retain acertain degree of independence as dhimmi under Muslim tule. The Mozarabs have their own rulers, called counts, who are directly responsible to the Muslim caliph. Spectal agents, who ensure they are kept separate from those of the Muslims, collect theirtaxes forthe Muslim rulers. They are allowed to maintain their religious hierarchy, and they use Visigothic canon law. Theit liurgy, called the Mozarabic es, their culeste, is similar to that ofancient Gaul and shows influence from the Byzantine Empire. Although reasonably well protected, the Mozarabs have suffered persecution in Mus- lim lands at various points in theie history The chief Mezarab centers are Toledo, Sevilla and Cérdoba. These Christians speak booth Arabic and Mozarabic, and retain many cultural traditions from the Visigothicera, Ashe Reeomquiser heats up. more and more Mozerabs have fallen under Christian tule, where their ‘exotic ways often make them the objectsof suspicion and distrust. + Mineallads: While many Jews and Mosatsbs con: tinue their religious practice under Muslim rule, many ethers have converted to Iam over the centuries. As in Christan lands, reasons for doing so vary from he threat of pogrom to simple economic incentive (Muslims need wot fay the dhimm.poll tax). The Muwalads end their descen- -nts maintain an ethic identity largcly ceparate from the ‘Arab and Berber aristocracy that rules over them in the Cordolsi, Almoravid and Almobuad dynasties, They have risen to positions of leadership in several kingdoms and even were in open revolt againstthe Cordoban state at the end of the ninch century LANGUAGES ‘The Iherian Peninsula isa melting pot of cultures and religions. The region is likewise home to numerous Lan quages, each one associated with a pasticulor culture or kingdom. * Arabic: Arabic is still widely spoken throughout Iberia, being alanguage used in cormmon by all Muslim — snd many ory Mualisn— cultures, Both the Jews and dhe Morarabs frequently use Arabic, even within Christian territories. Likewise, many scholars have earned Arabic as means of reading the ancient texts that survivein Muslim Urares uuroughout the peninsula, Aragonese: The language of Aragon, itis spoken in. the older parts of that kingdom, including Zarageza and Lérida.Icis quite similar to Castilian, and will eventually be absorbed by it + Castilian: The Romance languagethatwill become smadern Spanish, Castilian emerged around Burgos in Old Castile and spread with the Reconquista to Madrid, Toledo and the rest of New Castle. It will eventually absorb ‘Aragoneseand Leoneseas the three kingdomsmergeinthe centuries to come. © Catalan: Spoken in Rawelnna and the erst of Catalonia, Catalan is another Romance language with similarities to boch Casiian and French. Continued con- tact with Provence and the rest of France maintains that ING It INro Dors learning each languag Oa aU emu Cea ti Se et eset eens Peer ere arte or) ese, Leonese, Catalan or Port PCr came te aes a Paavo emiC omen nce itunes Soe acy ee eel ors ees eee re tes hy for a character to speak propetiy, a pertaceiinny eine Sees eet Pees cre pee area a Castilian character with In: eins Peres is and communicate in Aragonese, erreeeere Risa * Euskera: The language of the Basques, Euskera is spoken in Navarre and sevecal ofthe surrounding areas. I isa distinct language fom all others on the peninssla, and cone of the last healthy remnants of the langues poker before Roman times. It shares very little with any of the Spanish languages. Leaning it can # Hebrew: Although not spoken as widely as many orher languages, Hebrew remains an umportane tongue of Iberia. Jewish communities — both under Muslim and Chrisian rule — continue to use Hebrew in both religious services and scholarship. In some instances, Jews use Ara bic serpt to write in Hebrew, requiring’ skill in both languages to decipher its meaning * Leone Aragones cisely, astur-leonés) is bound to be absorbed by Castilian in the centuries co come. It began in Asturias and is now spoken in most of Leén, except in the northwest, which uses Galician, from which Portuguese is derived * Mozarabic: The Mozarab laneu: archaic dialect of Castilian Spanish th . from Arabic. Always « minority language, Mor slowly dying our as the Reconguista brings the under Catholic le + Portuguese: Another Romance languag mon roots with Castilian, Poruguese is spoken in the expanding Kingdom of Portugal andi tory directly to its north (in the form of Galician Leonese (or, more pre with com: the Leonese tert FROM _THE PYRE TO GIBRALTAR}How To Css THis Book Iberia by Nightisyour ude tothe peninsula from the Pyreneesco the Rock of Gibraltar. Set ust as the mortals are celebrating their decisive victory at Las Navas de Tolosa, it captures a region in the midst of massive change. This is, of course, lotto cover in these pages, but you will find plenty of material to bring your Dark Ages chronicle tothe peninsula Cnaprer By CHAPTE} Chapter One: Shadowed History presents asurvey of Iberian history from ancient times to Las Navas de Tolosa and beyond. It provides informacion of the Carhagintan and Romans settlement, on the Visigothic era and on the histories of the current Muslim and Christian powers a play. The chapter focuses on human history but provides plentiful information on varnpiric goings on. (Chapter Two: The Christian Kingdoms covers geog- raphy and society of the Kingdoms of Navarre, Leén, Castile, Portugal and the Crown of Aragon. It provides descriptions and details onal the majorcitiesand their key vampiric inhabitants. Important intrigues come to light across the Christian north. Chapter Three: Al-Andalus provides the same trea ment for the Muslim south, It covers all the regions still under Muskm control, including Valencia, Cordoba, Sevilla, Granada and the Balearic Islands, Chantet Four: Powers That Be Fxamines some of the key vampitic and mortal institutions at play in Theria ‘These include the doings ofthe Lacombra'ssecret council of Amici Noctis, the Knights of Santiago, and the cabal of witch-hunters called the Sword of Se. Jaros ‘Chapter Five: The Damned provicesbackgroundand same statisbies for some of the most influential and in: volved Cainites in Iberia. Thischapterdoesnot arterupt to catalog all the unliving ofthe penirwula, of course, only the key players, pter Six: Legends of the Reconquista provides toolsand advice forsettinga chronicle in Iberia. Irincludes Tue Asura AND Ven. oF NicHt Iberia by Night serves as an excellent comple- ment to Veil of Night, the sourcebook on the Cainites of the medieval Muslim world, Thee tome inclidessome basi information on al-Andahis that this book expands and updates. Veil of Night also includesa great deal ot informationon the philoso- phiesand cultures of Cainitesin Muslim anc, most notably the Ashinra sect that believes in an Islamic path through vampirism. These details can only enrich a chronicle set in Iberia, even one sarring Chistian characters. Veil of Night is not required reading to enjoy Iberia by Night, however. Not only is all the required information between these pages, Iheriakeeps the Arabic terms to aminimum, using the Buropean clan and Road namesreadersare ‘more familiar with. Those who have Veil of Night, can easily substitute Bay’tMushakisfor Clan Brajah, and Tarig el-Umma for Road of Humanity adescription of several options including running centu- ries Jong Reconquista chronicle or ruling a tifa, Iberia by Night is set in AD 1212 instead of the standani Dark Ages date of AD 1197. This isso for two reasons: The chronicle supplement Bitter Crusade re cenily charted major vampiric events in the period from 1202 to 1204orso, 2nd thisallows Iberiaby Night to follow up on some of those plot threads. More importantly, however, 1212issimplyamoredramatictime than 1197 for the Reconquista Iris the year ofthe great Chistian victory at Las Navas de Tolosa, which essentially breaks the back of the Moorish presence cn the peninsula (although theic retteat takes many mere years). I'smore interesting to play achronicle set ata moment of transformation than one se 15 years before. If you wish to set your games in 1197 or even in the decades after 1212, you'll have no difficulty doing so. Use the history in Chapter One and the destinies of various characters in Chapter Five to adjust the setting to yout heart's content.