The Dawn of Magic: Another Way to Look at Magic's Effect on Society

[mythusmage]

Canis, I like what you've done. Of course, your tale could as easily take place in modern times as medieval.

My vignette could include the controversy and heated discussions, but then it would be much too long for the forums. So I focused on Kathy (there, she has a name). Being a sweet soul, she disregarded the "not-nice" people to concentrate on those who needed a kind word and warm smile. (The first member of the Piffany prestige class.)

My hope is that people adapt my postings to their own use, regardless of temporal matters.

 

[Jeremy Ackerman-Yost]

...
In addition to the children of the Nephilim, the blood of Christ ran through the royal line, and the King (and many of those with his blood) also manifested sorcerous powers. And lo, the King's children were many, and scattered, and the children of the Nephilim began to attempt to conceal themselves among the children of Christ.

Actually, it wouldn't be the blood of Christ, who never had children. In the literature I've read, "Degrees from Our Lord" were usually measured from either a) Joseph of Arimathea (sp?) who caught the blood of Christ in the Holy Grail; or b) Mary's other children by Joseph (whose existence is apparently in contention in some quarters). Also, according to some, any descendent of the House of David could count, whether they had a direct connection to Mary or not.

So, maybe "blood of the House of David" ?

Canis, I like what you've done. Of course, your tale could as easily take place in modern times as medieval.

Indeed. I hadn't thought about it, but I guess it really has no temporal references. There are a number of places in Europe today where it could be placed. And the dialogue was certainly contemporary.

My vignette could include the controversy and heated discussions, but then it would be much too long for the forums.

A subtle hint that my long and rambling posts/stories are a bit much?
I do like the sound of my own voice (and, apparently, the sound of myself typing). When an idea hits, I just need to get it out on paper (or on screen). Otherwise, I sometimes end up losing the idea, and I get irritated when I go looking for it later and can't find it. If those who share thread space with me are thus subjected to my stream of consciousness, such is the risk you take when getting into a dialogue with me.

It keeps me out of trouble, too. Which is a bonus.

 

[Rhialto]

You know at the risk of being labeled a dangerous Papist, and Jesuit, I'd like to point out the Pope really wasn't that bad during the Middle Ages. Especially not in 1332...

But I guess I have a soft spot for Benedict XII. And even a little affection for John XXII...

 

[Jeremy Ackerman-Yost]

You know at the risk of being labeled a dangerous Papist, and Jesuit, I'd like to point out the Pope really wasn't that bad during the Middle Ages. Especially not in 1332...

But I guess I have a soft spot for Benedict XII. And even a little affection for John XXII...

Poetic license. It's a convenient date for other purposes, and it's not like we aren't playing fast and loose with both Biblical and secular History in general. As much as I have disagreements with Church policy, historically, I don't think the Church was ever so bad that I would have advocated the total war that we're talking about here. But, it is something that some Protestant sects might have considered had they been armed with Searing Light, Spiritual Weapon, and Flame Strike.

But, since we're playing it loose anyway... We could reorder the Popes historically so that one of the nasty ones from later on is running the show in 1332. If certain historical authors are to be believed, there were one or two with concubines and assassins running around all over the place. That sure fits the "decadence of the corrupt Church" bill.

Or, alternatively, maybe the Pope was a good man, but he was surrounded by unscrupulous Cardinals, Bishops, etc. who simply worked around him. Maybe the Insurrectionist Faithful even reinstate him after a sign from God.

 

[seasong]

Benedict XII wasn't Pope yet . And when he did become Pope, he had to dedicate himself to wiping out the corruption that John XXII (his predecessor) had left in place.

For that matter, both of them were party to the French dominance of that period, and were part of a long line of French Popes... like that happened by accident (*cough*Phillip IV*cough*) .

As for John XXII turning to darker powers... one of the things I wanted to touch on in the "events" section was John XXII being discovered in hiding far in Italy, where he is attempting to roust & rebuild the survivors of the Knights Templar (destroyed by his predecessor, Clement V). And the Pope leading the Church with his dark powers...? Uh, that's not the Pope.

Anyway, I'm getting on it right now .

 

[Jeremy Ackerman-Yost]

Uh oh. Canis finds himself out of his depth in the face of actual historians.

Must... return... mind... to... fantasy world...
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Hmmm. That was easy.

Looking forward to your next post, Seasong. When I'm done writting a letter to my girlfriend, I might give some thought to Rangers after the Flowering. I'm not certain they will have much resemblance to druids... If I get really enthusiastic, I might dig out some History books and try to fill in some good specific sources of paladins. Though it seems there are others here who may be more natively suited to it.

So what. I like Paladins.

 

[seasong]

Poetic license. It's a convenient date for other purposes, and it's not like we aren't playing fast and loose with both Biblical and secular History in general. As much as I have disagreements with Church policy, historically, I don't think the Church was ever so bad that I would have advocated the total war that we're talking about here. But, it is something that some Protestant sects might have considered had they been armed with Searing Light, Spiritual Weapon, and Flame Strike.

Heck, anyone armed with that in medieval times is going to start thinking about a bit of revolution...

1332 is a good date for a campaign - it's right near the start of a whole heck of a lot of disasters, a secular war is brewing, a class war (aristocrat vs urban) is brewing, a religious war (the French-ifying of the papacy under King Philip IV) is brewing...

It's also about as late in history as you can still get traditional sieges, knights, recent Crusades (which the Flock & Field faction presents itself as), and a high degree of peasant interaction with the Church.

If I was going to run this campaign, I'd also foreshadow the Plague as the act of the Devil... and then really unleash all heck upon Europe for the PCs to deal with.

Or, alternatively, maybe the Pope was a good man, but he was surrounded by unscrupulous Cardinals, Bishops, etc. who simply worked around him. Maybe the Insurrectionist Faithful even reinstate him after a sign from God.

I like this one a lot, although I went a step further and had him actually replaced .

 

[seasong]

Uh oh. Canis finds himself out of his depth in the face of actual historians.

I am sooooo not a historian . I just skimmed & sped-read some stuff to help me decide on a year, and hit so much gold in 1332 that I read a lot in that section for inspiration...

Looking forward to your next post, Seasong. When I'm done writting a letter to my girlfriend, I might give some thought to Rangers after the Flowering. I'm not certain they will have much resemblance to druids... If I get really enthusiastic, I might dig out some History books and try to fill in some good specific sources of paladins. Though it seems there are others here who may be more natively suited to it.

So what. I like Paladins.

As you said... play fast and loose. It certainly doesn't bother me .

Besides, paladins are probably going to be that rarest of creatures, a noble knight... who has been given powers according to the PHB. So just take a knight with religious leanings, give him those powers, and see where it takes you.

In anticipation,

 

[Jeremy Ackerman-Yost]

If I was going to run this campaign, I'd also foreshadow the Plague as the act of the Devil... and then really unleash all heck upon Europe for the PCs to deal with.

I don't suppose you would consider running it?

Though I think I might be too invested in the nuts & bolts of it to play in it at this point

 

[Jeremy Ackerman-Yost]

Besides, paladins are probably going to be that rarest of creatures, a noble knight... who has been given powers according to the PHB. So just take a knight with religious leanings, give him those powers, and see where it takes you.

"Where" is the problem. I'm not familiar enough with that century to pinpoint what royal courts would be apt to generate that kind of knight, or for that matter, what was going on with the orders of knighthood (Hospitalers, etc.).

I guess I'll follow those resource links you gave earlier and just free-associate from what it feeds me...