DRAGONS CONQUER EUROPE 1
an old place EUROPE IS A LAND OF SUPERSTITION AND RELIGIOUS WAFARE. THE CONFLICT BETWEEN THE FORCES OF HUMANITY AND THE DEMONIC BEINGS HAUNTS THIS OLD, TIRED PLACE. Europe is a land of superstition, religious wars, and conflict between the forces of humanity and all other creatures. For millennia humanity prospered between the cracks, many tribes were vassals to monsters to whom they sacrificed their children. Others fought bravely, some conquering land from vile creatures, some disappeared under the fire of a dragon’s breath. And although now almost forgotten many lived decent lives following the natural order set by magical beings, who helped their crops, and cured their illnesses. There was balance. It wasn’t until the Romans that Europe became a land of men - although many disagree and in the edges of civilization many speak of how they were better off when they were only another species among many. Many blame the bad crops and the evil masters on the old Empire, and the new, the one of God, or of his son: Christ. After the romans fell, madness covered Europe, the old Gods came back, creatures thought dead resurfaced, and nothing that was common was anymore, Europe fragmented.
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The only thing left from the greatest Empire of men, the Christian faith, prospered against all odds. For many did not want to share the earth. But it wasn’t until Saint Sabra that Christianity managed to gain back the reins of the continent. Dragons, once the worst enemies of civilization, were now its mightiest weapon. Christianity seems unstoppable in its advance, and it is hungry. The discovery of the New World is a call it cannot refuse and through the Catholic Monarchs of the Kingdoms of Castile and Aragon it aims to convert a whole continent - the biggest challenge any religion had undertaken to date. But while the Kings and Queens of the largests European kingdoms turn their attention to a new continent, nothing is yet solved in the Old. The old Gods won’t die off easily, the giants will fight for each mountain, some dragons remain untamed, the forests are still dangerous, and the Devil lurks waiting…
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EUROPEAN DR AGONS There are many breeds of European dragons. The line of Sabra’s dragon is the largest, as big as the largest ships, their wings larger than sails. They are fire breathers and among the strongest creatures on Earth. However, they cannot fly for long, let alone cross the ocean to the New World. There are very few of these dragons: the Castille kingdom has three of them, France has five, Austria has four, and it is uncertain how many the Crusader orders have. They are considered to be as smart as a person and can talk. They are so big that they are usually ridden by a crew of two dozen nuns. Blue dragons are the most common European beasts, several times bigger than a horse. They usually carry a single nun or a couple of novices. They can’t breath fire, but they are quite brave and fly for miles at a time. They are smarter than a horse or a dog, but they can’t talk. Each great kingdom usually has a few hundred of these dragons. These two breeds are the best know, but there are tens if not hundreds of less common species in all sizes and abilities. European dragons were the first to be tamed. But they were not the first to be part of civilization; before Saint Sabra, humans societies had had other arrangements with dragonkin: For many civilizations dragons were Gods, or demigods, divine beings worthy of worship. Some were ruled by dragons themselves, others were under dragon protection in exchange for food, and many others. Christian dragons are not the only ones tamed either. Soon after, the Muslim kingdoms learned from their opponents and did the same with the few dragons that still lived in their lands.
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T H E I M MORTA L CAT HOL IC MONA RC HS Isabel of Castile and Fernando of Aragon are still on their thrones, and they are still young. The bishops of their kingdoms claim their longevity and good health are gifts of Heaven to the defenders of the True Faith - but rumor tells otherwise. Some talk of a mighty discovery in the New World, a fountain of eternal youth. It is said that every year, the largest Castilian ship travels to the New World with a sizeable escort and comes back almost empty, bringing but a tiny flask of the magical water to the King and Queen. Whatever the truth, their extended reign has provided their kingdoms with a rare stability. However, those who last forever tend to think of the future and spend more time plotting than hunting, which means a big war may be coming in the heart of Europe.
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KING ARTHUR King Arthur, Enemy of God, Lord of the Faerie, Champion of the Druids, was thought to be dead. However, rumors and legends say otherwise - many claim that the attacks on British Churches up North are his doing. They say he launches raids from the magical land of Avalon and rides side by side with faerie warriors and other monsters. For many, he is a villain; for others, a hero. Not everyone is happy with the new world order set by Kings and Churches. And while the British Throne is busy trying to compete with the Catholic Monarchs in colonizing the New World, it seems they have a revolt in their mists. They are not afraid, as Arthur and his allies were defeated once - God stood true, and there is no reason for that to change. Or is there?
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SATA N ’S DA R K N E SS The Enemy, the Adversary, the Devil, the Deceiver. Satan is always lurking and waiting, for he is nothing but patient and cunning. Those who use the power of miracles are his favourite targets, as they welcome power and only the most knowledgeable can tell when it comes from Darkness instead of Light. Numerous religious orders constantly fall to the Darkness, and need to be purged. Entire towns are often possessed by demons and must be exterminated before they complete their invocation rites. The number of bishops, nobles, and powerful folk who worship Satan in secret is unknown, and it falls to Rome alone to uncover and purge them at once.
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VA M P I R E L O R D S In Eastern Europe, the Vampire lords rule over mankind. Although this is all well known by the Church, they pretend they are normal folk just like those they rule over, because it is only the reign of terror of these creatures that keeps the Muslim kingdoms at bay and out of Europe. The Vampires know they are protected by this situation and they prosper. Some are said to be even be better rulers to people than human kings were - while others are only known for their thirst of blood and power. Some are known for their desire to become Christian, and the Church fears the day they won’t be able to say no if they want to keep their religious control of the Old Continent. are of the smallest kind, hidden in forests and mountain peaks.
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G A I A’ S L A N D In the deep countryside throughout the continent traditions are hard to change, and Christian rites are mixed with older beliefs. Farmers protect their local witches, satyrs, spirits and faerie, hiding them from the priests - while they all pray to the Holy Mother of Christ, they never forget to make a small sacrifice to the creatures of the old Gods either. To many, these beings are the greater danger to Christianity. Everyone agrees that untamed dragons are vermin, but the Ladies of the Fields and her fellow supernatural creatures seem to offer more than the Church itself to the simple folk who, in their ignorance, are willing to risk their entrance to the Kingdom of Heaven for a rich harvest.
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THE NORTH In the lands of the Norse, some kingdoms have sworn allegiance to giants and become their servants in exchange for their help expelling the Christ and his Roman priests from their ancient lands. Their religion, although dwarvened and mutilated by the death of most of its priests at the hands of Catholic armies, is still alive in the forests and the mountains where the Christian faith does not dare enter in fear of the giants and other creatures of the Devil. Yet a few greedy lords have embraced Christ to maintain their power and independence from both the giants and the Christian kingdoms. The fight is strong in the North, and many Crusades have been led by valiant dragon riders to vanquish the old faith from the land. Rome may very well someday prevail, yet at what cost?
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