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 andfell. There's still something there that 1 Iaue asocied. “Haidly.§ scholar and poet Inhis living da 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 he on, the and step to the left, 1d once we find your ‘tt yourseer, and find ‘your magical hook, perhaps you can then a er one stall question for me?” Isaac looked up nn youplesse cell me why inthe 'snamel an thie ods etal?) ald be hundred leagues away from here, id instead Tindiagelf pobitgarund dead man's abattoir with a lunatic who thinks the key to ary 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.FES TO GIBRALTAR] ENI Bl e 2 1 ued Mou, OU) 78720 ee eas uobpuy a $6 rupnrgy J ne! =e PSXUUSShadowed Sistory Let the night pass and morning come Look that ye ready be VWOith acre anid ovses, WOe vill forth that host of theirs fo see. Like mens gorse out in exile irtto a steange empice, ‘Chere shall it be defermined voho is wor thy of his hive. — The Song of the Cid‘The history of the Iberian Peninsula is a long and complicated one, filled with multiple waves of invad: ers, each impressing their culture upon the region. Since the tenth century, the battles between the Chris tian states of the north ‘and the Muslim empire of the south have complicated matters further. In addition, the various Christian kingdoms havelongand intiicate relationships, often joining one another as the result of political alliances or marriages. Those unions then collapse and new kingdoms are torn. Consequently, it is almost impossible to do proper justice to the history of the peninsula. What follows isa necessarily abbrevi- faced otal simplified version of Tocrian history for the benefit of setting chronicles in this dynamic region of the Dark Medieval age ANCIENT History The oldest histories claim that the children of Tubal and Tarsis frst settled the Iberian Peninsula, ‘They were, so the stories fo, the son and grandson of Japheth, himself the son of the patriarch Noah. The peninsula takes its name from the Therians, a Medier: ranean Bronze Age culture that settled the east coast. Some claim the Basaues are descendents of ancien: Iberians, but the truth of these claims a matter of conjecture, even among Cainites. Over the course of several centuries, the Iberians and the Celts — who occupied much of France, Britain and Ireland in an: cient times —came into close contact. With the Celts may have come solitary members of Clan Gangrel. If true, the Animals wouldhave been the first vampires to inhabit the peninsula — although no trace of such ancient Gangrel remains. The meeting ofthe Celts and Iberians produced the region's first multicultural civil ion — aarbinger of the inixing to become a hallmark of the peninst The Phucnicians were the frse crue empize-butld- ersto come to Iberia. They celonized its Mediterranean, coasts, establishing several settlements (called “facto: ries’) inthe south. Themost significantof these factories was Gadi (later Gades under the Romana) on the site of what would become Cadiz, Gadir was the center of Phoenician power in Theria well asthe heart of theic cult of Meleart (a Phoenician god later associated with Hercules). Although the worship of Hercules has long since disappeared from Iberia, its presence still echoes in place names, most notably the Pillars of Hercules at the edge of the peninsula. Legends among the later Cainite population suggest that Followers of Ser once inhabited Iberia, based on maritime contact with Egypt and the rest of the Mediterranean besin. After the Phoenicians came the Greeks, who es- tablished severalcoloniesandourposts, including Rodhe (moder Resas), Emporium (Ampurias) and Saguntum (Sagunto). Both the Phoenicians and the Greeks suc and fusing thar was IBERLAL BY NIGHT. ceeded in bringing Iberia into the mainstream of Medi- tertanean culture. Consequently, the peninsula soon drew the attention of other imperial powers — and the Cainites who traveled in thetr wake. CARTHAGINIAN IBERIA The next people to set their eyes on Iheria were the Carthaginians, who first settled the Balearic Iles in the seventh century BC. In the sixth century, they rook possession of Cadiz from the Phoenicians and set up tradingoutpostsin the south. Following in the wake of the Carthaginians came Cainites from several clans. most ‘notably Brujah and Lasombra. Unlike their North Afr can counterparts, these Prujah seemed not to equate the idea of a Cainite utopia with any one place, believing it transcended both phce and time. The Lasombra who accompanied them seem to ave held simikir ideals, although eldersof theclan sought found asociety where Cainites ruled openly over mortals. Both the Bruja, led by the prophetic Yzzbel, and Lasombra neonates who found common cause with the Zealots opposed the Mag. ister elders. Infighting thus marked the first few centuries of verifiable Cainite presence in thepeninsula. The Beujah and younger Lasombra usually held the upper hand, but theartival uf te Lasonslina eller Zianithdi arouiral 300 BC shifted the balance. Zinnridi wasan accomplished warrior who rallied his followers azainse the Brujah and rebellious Lasombra. Only his Final Death at the hands of Yzebel herself prevented theL asombra from gaining total domin ion over Iberia. Unfortunately, Zinnridis defeat was a Pyerhic vie tory for the Brujah. Their losses to Zinnridis attacks made them easy eargets for Roman Ventrue, who ar rived later in the third century BC. Mortal Rome' victory against Carthage in the First Punic War emboldened the Ventrue, who began to appear in larger purabers. The mortal Carthaginians responded tevrhoie loss by attempting to conquer the whole of the Iberian Peninsula, believing it would compensate them for their losses in Sicily and elsewhere. Theirconquest was begun by Hamilcar Barca, and ultimately extended as far as the Ebro River, but it met with stiff local resis: tance. [tolaciusand Indoctes,twoCeliberian chieftains, raised an army of 50,000 men to fight against the Carthaginians. In the end, the rebellion was erushed and the leaders were put to death. But Orison, another Iberian chief, defeared Hamilcar at Helike (modern Elche), killing the general and throwing the Carthaginians into disarray. ‘Aste Punic Wars heated up, the chilver ot Zinnriai abandoned their Carthaginian brethren and supported the Roman cause. They did this not out of newfound love for Ventrue Rome, but for purely pragmatic rea- sons, They saw that Carthage’s days were nurubeted. Only by supporting Rome could they ever hope to achieve the dominion their sire sought to achieve,Moreover, these Cainites saw military prowess as the highest form of achievement. From this point on, they slowly began Embracing key military leaders as part of their ultimate plan for ruling the peninsula, Meanwhile, a slave assassinated Hasdrubal, the founder of the city of CathagoNova (now Cartagena), causing further chaos. Hasdrubal’s brother-in-law Hannibal then took control ofthe army to deal withthe worseningsituation, He quickly defeated the rebels and conquered much of the peninsula, except for the Ro- man dependency of Saguntum. Hannibal hared the Romansand believed taking the city wouldconsolidate Carthage’s power in Iberia against them. Instead, 1 drew their ite. The Romans decided to strike back against their rivals. The Second Punic War resulted Carthage’ defeat andthe complete los of Iberia. Th Romans vere now the peninsula's new masters who would not be dislodged for centuries 1o come ROMAN IBERIA ‘The Carchiginian Brujah remainedin Iberia. Indeed, «hey were joined by many more of their clanmates after the final destruction of Carchage in the Third Punie War. The Iberian Brujah were of a sober disposition. They Keliered in ubclety, lying in niefor thie phcoppertinley tosttike back against the Ventrue who'dorchestratedthe destruction of their beloved city. For that matter, they were equally happy to harm the Lasombra aswell, whose rresence they also sensed during the Punic Wars. Thus, the Brujah encouraged resistance against Roman rule, a plan chat worked for many years. Intheend, the Brujah miscalculated, believingthe Romans would retaliate against the resistance move- mentin thesame way they'd defeated the Carthaginians. Instead, the resistance wasdefeated notonly by strength of arms, but through “romanization.” The peninsula assimilated the cultureand civilizarionof Rome rosuch r degree as to produce thetoricians like Quintilian, poets like Lucan, Martial and Silius Italicus, philoso: phers like Seneca, and emperors like Trajan, Hadrian and Theodosius Roman civilization proved an invincible weapon. lis influence changed life in the peninsula forever Medieval Iberia is still covered with Roman ruins, particularly aqueducts and bridges. Yet, the most last Ing Roman influence is linguistic. Today, most inhabitants of the region speak a Latinate language, whether it be some dialect of Spanish or Porruguese: Only in those regions in which the Basques flourished was there any signuficanc resistance to the Lauin kan- guage. Of course, since the Moorish invasion, Arabic has proven influential as well, also affecting the devel- opment of Spanish and Portuguese Under Roman rule, tberia fist received Christan ity —and wich ita new wave of Lasombra, There is an ancient cradition that the Apostles Paul and James came to the peninsula, as well asthe so-called "Seven Apostolic Men (named Torquatus, Cresiphon, Secundus, Indalecius, Caecilius, Hesychius and Euphrasius), cowhom the foundation of variouschurches is attributed. Connected with the coming of St. James is the equally ancient tradition of “Our Lady of the Pillar” (laVingen del Pilar) of Zaragoza, an appearance of the Virgin Mary to St. James himself. Some of the Damned claim that among or alongside the Apostolic Men were some of the earliest followers of a Christian path of the Road of Heaven. ‘The Iberians were fervent believers in the new faith, suffering martyrdom during nearly every persecu- tion the Romans instituted. The most famous of these martyrs suffered the persecution of the emperor iocletian, whichbegan in AD302.Some local Ventrue cles, most notably Prince Flavius Siconis of Zarayor subtly encouraged the persecutions. Sidonis and his fellows believed that Christianity threatened the unity of the empireduring acritical time in its history. Thus, vampires who converted to the Way of Christ likewise suffered at the hands of their elders — a wound that festets even today. Despite the persecutions, many Church councils wereheld in Iberia, the mort important be Elvira and Zaragoza, as well as the First Council of Toledo. At the Council of Elvira in AD 324, the celibacy of the clergy was insisted upon — a practice that would nor become common throughoutthe Church, asa whole for centuries. AttheCouncilof Toledoarthe end of the fourth cencury, the Filaque (“and from the Son" clause was added to the Nicene Creed, a practice that would likewise spread throughout the Church in time, much to the conscernation of the Orthodox Churches, for whom such an addition is illicit at best, heresy at worst. Nevertheless, this was a time of Chris: tian flowering in Iberia, some of whose greatest inhabitants would riseto positions of prominence, most notably, St. Damasus, who became pope in AD 366. At the insistence of Damasus, St. Jerome undertook the translation ofthe Bibleinto Latin, producingthe Vulgate wed by the entire medieval Church, VISIGOTHIC IBERIA When the Germanic peoples invaded the Roman Empire beginning in the fourth century AD, even Iberia was not spared their depredations. Among those she invaded the peninwula wore che Alani» Geythian people, the Vandals and the Suevians, both Germanic in oigin. The Alani were, for the most part, quickly defeated by the inhabitants of Iberi establishing themselves in Baetic ca, while the Visigoths hemmed in the Suevi in Galicia until the latter were also defeated ‘The Vandals, after SHADOWED HISTORYTue Afterthe death of Christ, Hisdiscip todifferent parts of the known wor (ere SPR eet eee en eee tee TOR OU UCC Msc Tt Mey inal tata arate) pain, where he spenta several years preaching the fe Pr Reta ere Laon turned to Jerusalem where he suffered under the persecution of Herod. In AD 44, he headed. Immediately following his m: Sener een ranean ts SUC MEM oem oie tet ferry ed and cartied them — and the Apostl body — hack to Spain. The boat landed at Iria Flavia on the coast of OOM oe eum mee Ween become the city of Compostels, The entire jour Geico enc ren aaa ea as captured as then buried in a hillside co Paes neice Early in the ninth century, Pelagius, a hermit Teanga mr erent ren subsequently teported to Theodomir, bishop of ria sens ey Coke ee eal one esse ian surrounded by a ring of smaller one: over a deserted spot in the hills. The bishop took slagius at his word and ordered that the spot be Se w time, the investigators en ese eaten siete Saint James (or Ree ene eee et ee Sot are ePreee Sere ia eae Para 1-824), heard of this di ever] eRe Eien serra Sena truction of achurch and asmall monastery over the Proirte eet at The contemporary city of Compostela grew up Eerie) enna kts ees erat un) an eet Primae Stellae (“Field of the First Star ae Esper ea na Senta ame enter) Pe eae ee crite ener Perot mys thesiteof the Reet nS Erol ete cca in tenrteret esting ts ty after being unearthed in the ninth century >mpostela, Once the hody of St. James was securely in the ret oaetarm earner etait promote the site. The archbishop and the local Cluniac monks aided them in this endeavor. Both felt that the existence of a major pilgrimage site on the peninsula would lend support to the strug ESO armen Nance roe acen noe CEC em eau at eset Holy Sepulcherin 1078, Compostela’s fort cen Tune eee Perea ene eee etter ese ete emir si csrme eet it Western Christendom. Its pla Pet Serene See rine me eee eetictars ne hese Visigoths, originating in the east, had sackex Rome itself in AD 410 under the leadership of Alaric and turned toward the Iberian Peninsula. Thei lender was Ataulf, anc they occupied the northeastern re: ns, whick eceived the thalandia, The Visigoths eventually extended theit rule over most of the peninsula, keeping the Suev trapped in Galicia, Finally, the chieftain Euric put end to the last remnants of Roman power in the peninsula in AD466. In this way, he may be considered the first monarch of Iberia, although the Suevians still ‘maintained their independence in Galicia. uric was give written lawsto the Visigoths. thereafter name of the first king The Visigoths were Arian hereries. That is, they believed that Christ was not God but rather a creation God, like any other creature. However, the Iberian was Catholic and opposed their Visigothic IBERIA_BY_NIGHT rulersin matters of religion. Thus, the Frankish kings o France (who were Catholics) attempted to establish themselves as the protectors of Iberian Catholics, lead. ing to frequent disputes berween the Franks and the Visigoths. These disputes provided an opening for the Cainite Heresy, which made a play for dominion in the peninsula. Though largely rebutied, the Heretics down roots in what would one day become Por thereby laying a groundwork for the future. The early yeats of Visigothic rule were thus charac terized by both political and religious auarrels. Thi rected substantial instabilityin the peninsula —which played into Lasombra hands. In the end, King Recared achieved both religiousand political unity by accepting Catholcizmat the’ Third Councilof Toledo in AD S89 The religious unity established at this council was the basis fora fusion of the Goths with the Iberiars, which would eventually produce the Spanish peopleA SHADOWED LAND Brujah, Lasombra and Ventrue vampires used the cover of the Visigothic invasion tomake war upon one another. Each hoped to take advantage of the chaos in Iberia to furtier their goals. The Ventrue hoped to restore Roman rule and a semblance of order. In keep- ing with their ideals, the Brujah hoped to forge a new Therian identity that transcended all the elements that hhad come betore. Meanwhile, che Lasombta relused to commit en masse to any oné faction, instead letting their rivals destroy each other and keeping the hands on the pulse of mertal institutions across the land, This seratezy can well be called cynical, but it was well advised and ushered in a era of Magister supremacy on. thepeninsula In AD 585, the Final Death of theBrujah, elder Yzebel at the hands of Ventrue raiders, in what would al, scale! dhe fate of oth Zealots and Patricians in Iberia. Indeed, although the Ventre claimed Yaehel’s blood, they did so only with Lasombra support. The raiders all met untimely death soon thereafter. Although vampires of every clan would be found across Iberia, the peninsula was from that poins on Magister land, Masum [Beri In the second half of the seventh century, the Byzan- tine resurgence begun under Justinian | fell before the expansion of Islam. By AD 698, most of North Africa was in Muslim hands, inclacling Egypt. In 705, al-Walid 1, caliph of the Umayyad dynasty, appointed Musa ibn Nusayr governor of these new territories of the empire. Musa then conquered the rest of North Aftica as far as Tangiers, He uso tse his new position to begin convert- ingthe Berberstolslam—aslowand dfficltundertaking at which he succeeded beyond all expectations. AsMusa’sarmies advanced, the Assamites advanced wich them, using the fog of war asa eloale forthe activites oftheir clan. Likewise, someof the surviving Carthaginian. Lasombra, as well as new atrivals, saw the march of Islam as the perfect opportunity to advance their own schemes. By the time Musa‘s armies reached the farthest edge of ‘North Aftica,bothclanshad ensconced themselves in the ew Muslim sciety. But Cainites of bothclans hoped the krilliane leader would not be content with his victories and seek: out naw conquests across the een “Those hopes were realised waen the Christianculerof Ceuta, Couns ulin, reached anagreement with Musa to Junch a join: invasion of the Tberian Peninsula, The invasion was thus the rerult of hoth » Muli reedimers to conquerand a all forail from the Visigothic faction Loyal to hefamily ofXing Witiza. These partisans had lest theit positions of power in 710 when the usurper Rodrigo sssassinated Witiza. The Muslimsseemedtobetheperfect alliesagainst the supportersof Rodrigo. In 711, Musa sent a Berber army under Tariq ibn Zivad across the strait whose modern name, Gibraltar, derives from his own. Upontheirartval, the Berbers foughtagainst Rodrigoand defeated him in betel Insteadofretumingto Aftica, however, Tariqmarched north and conquered Toledo, the Visigothie capital where he spent the winter of 711, The following year, Musa led another army deeper into the peninsula and conquered Mérida aftera lengthy siege. He reached Tariq in Toledo in the summer of 713. From there, Musa advanced northeast, taking Zaragoza and invading the country up to the northern mountains. He then moved from west to east, forcing the nativesto submit to Muslim ruleorflee. Both Musa and Tariq were recalled to Syria by the Umayyad caliph; they departed the region in 714. By then, most of the peninsula was in Muslim hands The rapidity of Muslim success resulted in large pare from the fact that Visigothic society had not succeeded inachievingagenutnesynthesisof its various elements. It was still rent by doctzinal and political cisputes stemming from the Visigoths’ own conquest of the peninsula centuries before. In fact, some elements of society, such as the Jews, were particularly hostile toward the Visigothic government — and with good reason: legal strictures against them were exceedingly harsh in places like Toledo, Moreover the Muslin aniquest brought advan- tages to many. The tax hurden, for example, was less ‘onerous under the Muslims than ithad been uniler the Visigoths. Likewise, serfs who converted to Islam be- came freedmen and were dependents of the nobleman who had conquered the territory to which they were attached. Jews were no longer persecuted and were placed on an equal legal footing with those Christians who did not renounce their faith, The situation was somewhat different for the Cainites living in the area. The Brujah and Ventrie who had survived their wars during the Visigothic era fought agjing: the invaders (inching some Muslim clanmates), but were ultimately displaced and fled north. Many Lasombra also fled, fearing the wrath of the Ashirra (as the Muslim Cainitescalled themselves) However, many stayed, understanding that they could ue Muslim society asa vel just as easily as they could Christianity. When Ashirra Lasombra moved into the region from Africa and the Middle East, they found Iberian clanmates ready to accept them. The divide between those Lasombra who accepted the Moors and those who fled north has never healed THE DEPENDENT EMIRATE The first half of the eighth ceneury saw the birth of new society in Iberia. The Arabs formed the ruling class Below them were the Berbers, who made up the majority ofthetroeps used to invade Iheria, and beneath them were Iberians who had converted to Islam. This latter class formed the majority of the region's native population because social and economic motives induce SHADOWED HISTORY