Setting: The Sword and the Cross

[Greg 1]

I'm hoping to put this up on the GURPS Wiki, though as it stands, there aren't actually any GURPS rules to go with it.

I'm looking for both suggestions and contributions. I guess I'll post what I have in chunks to give people a little time to digest. I have about 10,000 words.

The Sword and the Cross

Eurasia in 1455

The study of magic has led to disastrous consequences in lands east of Europe. Islam has largely been driven underground by pagan revivalists armed with magic. The old Islamic kingdoms have been replaced by pagan states centered around ancient sacred cities. The most powerful pagan kingdoms are Assyria, Babylon, and Egypt, famous for their wealth and wickedness.
In some places, worship of false gods has lead to kingdoms being overrun by supernatural horrors, as Grenada in the south of Spain has been. Palestine has been almost depopulated for a century, a land stalked by desert demons. In 1453, the great Christian city of Constantinople, at the height of its resurgent power after defeating the Turks and securing all of Anatolia, destroyed itself through sin. On the night of the feast of St. Nicholas, a mob held an illegal rite to Hecate, Greek goddess of magic, in his great church, the Nea Ekklesia. The whole of Anatolia now swarms with monsters. Far to the east lie the great civilizations of India and China, about which almost nothing is known.

Europe in 1455

The greatest European states are Aragon, Burgundy, Castile, England, France, the Holy Roman Empire, Hungary, Poland-Lithuania, Portugal, the State of the Teutonic Order, and Venice. The Holy Roman Empire is dominant in the east, while in the west, the great powers fight for supremacy. Military power depends heavily on support from religious orders of knights. It is these orders who directly determine who sits on a throne, and every nation accepts the protection of some order as that nation’s official guardian. Political power depends heavily on support from religious orders of all sorts, knightly or otherwise.
The study of magic, and the development of magical abilities, is dominated by the church. Knights often develop “holy powers”. These are magical powers and are holy only in the sense that they have (theoretically, at least) been devoted to the service of God. Knights have little control over what holy powers they develop, though desire and effort can make a difference. Powers of healing and protection are common, as are powers that enhance the knight’s natural martial abilities. Different powers tend to appear in different orders of knight.

Aragon
The Crown of Aragon is a rich Spanish monarchy under the warlike Alfonzo V “the Magnanimous”. It controls parts of Italy (including Sicily and Naples) and has influence in the Mediterranean. Argononeze wealth is built on Mediterranean trade, agriculture, and control of key ports. They are trade partners and rivals of Castile and Portugal, with whom they compete for markets. Alfonzo quarrels often with his nobility, who resent his centralization of power. His main priority right now is to clear out the monsters that infest pagan Granada. Aragon is under the protection of the Knights of St. George. As such, it maintains close ties with England, likewise under their protection.

Burgundy
The wealthy Duchy of Burgundy, headed by the expansionistic Philip III “the Good”, is theoretically subject to the Holy Roman Empire, but is an independent power.
Burgundy is under the protection of the Knights of St. Andrew. As such, it maintains close ties with Scotland, likewise under their protection. In rivalry to the order of St. Andrew, Philip established the Order of the Golden Fleece to represent his interests.

Castile
The Kingdom of Castile is Spanish kingdom under the weak king King Henry IV, who is caught up in power struggles with the nobility. The Kingdom has territories in the Iberian Peninsula taken from Muslims and pagans during the Reconquista. Presently, the kingdom is fighting to clear the monsters that infest pagan Granada to the south. Castilian wealth is based on agriculture, livestock (especially sheep), and mining. Their main rivalries are with the nearby powers of Aragon and Portugal. Castile is under the protection of the Knights of St. Aemilian. Castile has also established the Knights of St. Raymond, the Order of Calatrava, devoted to the reconquest.

England
The Kingdom of England, under the weak and mentally unstable Henry VI, holds England, Wales, Calais, Gascony, and parts of Ireland, but in recent wars has lost almost all of its once extensive holdings in France. England’s main rivalries are with Scotland to the North and France across the channel. English wealth is built on agriculture, wool trade, and emerging maritime ventures. England is under the protection of the Knights of St. George. The powerful House of York has been pressuring the Order of St. George to replace Henry VI as monarch with Edward, Duke of York. Henry in turn has been courting the Knights of St. Edmund, who were guardians of England until the Order of St. George took over a century ago.

France
France is an emerging power under Charles VII “the Victorious”, who has almost completey expelled England from the continent. French wealth is derived from agriculture, trade, and a growing centralized administration. Charles is primarily focused on consolidating his territories and expanding his influence in Italy. France is under the protection of the Knights of St. Joan. The Knights of St. Martin are particularly strong in France, which they used to protect before guardianship was given to the Knights of Joan 20 years ago.

Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire, under Emperor Frederick III, is the dominant power in Central Europe. It controls numerous semi-autonomous regions, some rich in trade and mining. It rules the German states, Austria, Bohemia, Moravia, Switzerland, Northern Italy, and the Low Countries. Frederick strives to centralize control while his nobility strive to decentralize it. Local nobles are often more concerned with their squabbles with each other than serving their distant emperor. The Holy Roman Empire is under the protection of the Knights of St. Maurice.

Hungary
The Kingdom of Hungary, under King Ladislaus V, controls large parts of Central Europe, including modern-day Slovakia, Croatia, and parts of Romania. The realm is unstable and Ladislaus struggles for power with his nobility. Wealth is derived from agriculture, mining (notably gold and silver), and trade. Hungary had several conflicts with the Republic of Venice over control of Dalmatian territories, part of a larger struggle for influence in the Adriatic. Hungary is under the protection of the Knights of St. Stephen.

Poland-Lithuania
The Kingdom of Poland-Lithuania is a large state with territories stretching from the Baltic to the Black Sea. It is headed by Casimir V, the Duke of Lithuania who became king of Poland and united the two nations. Casimir is largely focused on consolidating his rule. The Kingdom’s wealth comes from agriculture, trade, and control of key trade routes.
Poland-Lithuania is under the protection of the Knights of St. Stanislaus. It also contains a chapter house for the Knights of St. George. As of 1544, it is at war with the State of the Teutonic Order.

Portugal
The Kingdom of Portugal, under the ambitious Afonso V, expands it’s influence and territory, in Europe and Africa. Portugal’s wealth is based on maritime trade, making it both a trading partner and a rival of other mediterranean traders such as Aragon, Castile and Venice. Like Aragon and Castile, it fights to clear the monsters that infest pagan Granada, that the land can be returned to Christian rule. Portugal is under the protection of the Knights of St. Anthony. It also contains a chapter house of the Knights of St. George.

State of the Teutonic Order
The State of the Teutonic Order is a theocratic state belonging to the Teutonic Knights. Established in the early 13th century, it includes Prussia, Livonia, parts of Lithuania, and other regions along the southeastern Baltic coast. The state is governed by the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order, who holds both religious and military authority. The order’s governance is characterized by a strict monastic and military hierarchy. The state has fought frequently with Poland-Lithuania, who resents the appropriation of lands that used to belong to them. As of 1454, Poland and the State of the Teutonic Order have been at war.

Venice
Venice, under Doge Francesco Foscari, is a maritime republic with extensive trade networks and colonies in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Adriatic Sea. Venice’s wealth comes from extensive trade networks, banking, and control of strategic maritime routes. This makes them both a trade partner and rival of Aragon, Castile and Portugal in the Mediterranean, and Hungary in the Adriatic. The Republic of Venice is under the protection of the Knights of St. Michael.