Like topic title suggest, I want to talk here about historical events and fan ideas for playing stories in Byzantium. I want to incorporate it to my Viking Era chronicle of Werewolf, but I see this as very promising for Mage also, at least. Lancea Sanctum difference in worship could also make it intriguing setting for them. Logiclly, this fan topic will expand materials from both chapters Wolf & Raven from Dark Eras 1 ( Vikings raids on Europe ) and 1001 Nights from Dark Eras 2 ( Golden Age of Islam ).
Of course, it’s also a good topic to point great documentary or sources for the period. For this, I started to listen ‘History of Byzantium’ podcast, connecting my interests in Roman Empire, early Medieval Times and Vikings. Byzantium – called Rome of East – or often as Constantinople was successor of antiquity Roman Empire by over millennium. But not the pagan city of predecessor – but rather first Christian empire of the world, now being called Istanbul in Turkey.
Introduction of podcast - https://www.podbean.com/media/share/dir-f8vtm-15817ca
Change from Roman Empire to Byzantine Empire - https://www.podbean.com/media/share/dir-5ik7s-15817c9
Constantinople \ city of Byzantium description – and how it’s citizens lived there. https://www.podbean.com/media/share/dir-u359k-ffa585
Plague of Justinian of 542 A.D. – most important event for the fan setting I build for CoD below - https://www.podbean.com/media/share/dir-zqmb4-15f05ec
Preparing the play setting and listening to History of Byzantium podcast – I understand I cannot cling to one Dark Era setting for the whole Empire stretch. So I will divide it into 4 smaller periods subchapters, with proper settings ideas, based on general divide on Wikipedia of Empire. Because of historical implications, each new Era will be based on information from previous one.
Mini-Eras in topic:
Some opening thoughs on topic for gamelines…
Vampire: Lancea Sanctum of Constantinopole are known to enforce the rule of seperating worship of Sanctified from humans. Also, local Church Ethernal is known to enforce Traditions in the Empire.
Werewolf: Byzantium is direct heir of Western Roman Empire – is it means that Roman Protectorate model from Forsaken by Rome Dark Era– i.e. Council of Eagles and Lightning, Concilium Aquilarum et Fulminum – is valid in Byzantine Empire? Or local Uratha would have different model?
Mage: It’s Byzantine Empire Consilia that are probably the first greater force in Diamond to recognize Tremere as their sister Order in alliance. It’s also the place of first official banishment of Tremere from Diamond at the end of 11th century.
From History of Awakend topic, based on Left Hand Path book:
'8th century AD: Tremere join Diamond - In Eastern Europe, one or two Tremere demanded hospitality at Diamond wizards’ towers. Quickly follow them whole cabals, showing carcasses of monsters they fought to assure good intentions. Tremere were warrior-sorcerers and students of the soul who promised to lead the Awakened to a new age of splendor, built on the ashes of burning enemies. They hunted Seers and Scelesti, but demand selected Reapers and vampires as tribute for the balance of their wrath. They preached that Atlantis’s faithful willworkers were the natural lords of souls. Anyone who challenged their crowns deserved to burn. '
'1099: Banishment of Tremere - Silver Ladder lictor Caterine Bedlam told the Convocation of Antioch what many now suspected: the Tremere was a Legacy of Reapers who hunted their own kind. It labeled them as Nefandi by Convocation, with banishment and ‘forgetting’ of Tremere Order members – their magical tools were destroyed, as any grimoires, soul stones, or imbued items they created. Their Shadow Name becomes illegal to utter and were replaced in all Consilium records by “Nefandi:” the name that is not a name and cannot be spoken. As other Convocations followed move that of Antioch done, within few decades Tremere were officially excommunicated from Diamond be every European Convocations, becoming target for Reaper hunters they ones been.'
Of course, it’s also a good topic to point great documentary or sources for the period. For this, I started to listen ‘History of Byzantium’ podcast, connecting my interests in Roman Empire, early Medieval Times and Vikings. Byzantium – called Rome of East – or often as Constantinople was successor of antiquity Roman Empire by over millennium. But not the pagan city of predecessor – but rather first Christian empire of the world, now being called Istanbul in Turkey.

Introduction of podcast - https://www.podbean.com/media/share/dir-f8vtm-15817ca
Change from Roman Empire to Byzantine Empire - https://www.podbean.com/media/share/dir-5ik7s-15817c9
Constantinople \ city of Byzantium description – and how it’s citizens lived there. https://www.podbean.com/media/share/dir-u359k-ffa585
Plague of Justinian of 542 A.D. – most important event for the fan setting I build for CoD below - https://www.podbean.com/media/share/dir-zqmb4-15f05ec
Preparing the play setting and listening to History of Byzantium podcast – I understand I cannot cling to one Dark Era setting for the whole Empire stretch. So I will divide it into 4 smaller periods subchapters, with proper settings ideas, based on general divide on Wikipedia of Empire. Because of historical implications, each new Era will be based on information from previous one.
Mini-Eras in topic:
- Dawn of Byzantium - End of Western Empire and Justinian dynasty (480 – 626)
- Shrinking Empire - Shrinking borders and Macedonian dynasty (626 – 1025)
- Broken Eagle - Komnenian dynasty and the Crusades (1025 – 1204)
- Fall of Byzantium – Up to conquer by Ottomans (1204 - 1475)
Some opening thoughs on topic for gamelines…
Vampire: Lancea Sanctum of Constantinopole are known to enforce the rule of seperating worship of Sanctified from humans. Also, local Church Ethernal is known to enforce Traditions in the Empire.
Werewolf: Byzantium is direct heir of Western Roman Empire – is it means that Roman Protectorate model from Forsaken by Rome Dark Era– i.e. Council of Eagles and Lightning, Concilium Aquilarum et Fulminum – is valid in Byzantine Empire? Or local Uratha would have different model?
Mage: It’s Byzantine Empire Consilia that are probably the first greater force in Diamond to recognize Tremere as their sister Order in alliance. It’s also the place of first official banishment of Tremere from Diamond at the end of 11th century.
From History of Awakend topic, based on Left Hand Path book:
'8th century AD: Tremere join Diamond - In Eastern Europe, one or two Tremere demanded hospitality at Diamond wizards’ towers. Quickly follow them whole cabals, showing carcasses of monsters they fought to assure good intentions. Tremere were warrior-sorcerers and students of the soul who promised to lead the Awakened to a new age of splendor, built on the ashes of burning enemies. They hunted Seers and Scelesti, but demand selected Reapers and vampires as tribute for the balance of their wrath. They preached that Atlantis’s faithful willworkers were the natural lords of souls. Anyone who challenged their crowns deserved to burn. '
'1099: Banishment of Tremere - Silver Ladder lictor Caterine Bedlam told the Convocation of Antioch what many now suspected: the Tremere was a Legacy of Reapers who hunted their own kind. It labeled them as Nefandi by Convocation, with banishment and ‘forgetting’ of Tremere Order members – their magical tools were destroyed, as any grimoires, soul stones, or imbued items they created. Their Shadow Name becomes illegal to utter and were replaced in all Consilium records by “Nefandi:” the name that is not a name and cannot be spoken. As other Convocations followed move that of Antioch done, within few decades Tremere were officially excommunicated from Diamond be every European Convocations, becoming target for Reaper hunters they ones been.'
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