Games PC DARKLANDS User Manual

The

Fantasy

Role-Playing Game of Medieval Germany

MPS Labs USA

MicroProse Software

180 Lakefront Drive

.

Hunt Valley, MD 21030

[phone]

All

rights reserved

Copyright (c) 1992 by MicroProse Software, Inc.

This book may not be reproduced in whole or in part,

graph or

xerox or any other means withinout permission, with the

by

mimeo-

exception of quoting brief passages for the purposes of reviews.

5

Printing: 9 8 7 6

Darklands is a trademark of

IBM is a registered trademark of

Tandy is a registered trademark of Tandy Corporation

Amiga is a registered trademark of Commodore Business Machines, Inc.

Atari is a registered trademark of Atari Carp.

Apple and Macintosh are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc.

4 3 2 1

MicroProse

International

Software, Inc.

Business Machines, Inc.

,

&&+&TABLEOFCONTENTS

. .

Introduction

e

Quickstart

Tutorial

Playing Darklands

Initial Options

Creating Characters 13

Universal Controls and Menu Bar

Party Information

Character Information

Travel and Interaction

Battle 31

About Alchemy

About Religion

Goals and Rewards

Gothic

Introduction 51
Life in the Holy Roman Empire

Germanic Encounters 64

Medieval Battle
Medieval Alchemy

The Universal Church

Germany

Miscellany.

Abbreviations

Lexicon

Designer's

Bibliography

Credits 104

Index

Warranty

Notes

11

11

.

ii

27

41

45

48

51

53

72
81
86

93

.

94
96

100

Welcome to

plate armor rule from soaring, turreted castles; where an
ordinary journey becomes a
clerics can command miraculous powers while wizardly al-

chemists concoct awesome potions.

This realm is chaotic and violent. The roads and rivers
are unsafe. Justice is uncertain. Bribery and corruption are
commonplace. People's darkest fears are real: awful dragons
ravage thecountryside, strange creatures infest underground
mines, loathsome witches dispense crippling curses, and
satanic’cults seek to ensnare the unwary.

Darklands

Germany in the 15th Century. The strange, miraculous and
magical elements simply reflect popular beliefs, supersti­tions and myths. This is an era before logic or science, a time
when anything is possible. In short, if medieval Germans
believed something might be true, in
tually

be true.

Darklands,

is based on a

a fantastic land where knights in

dangerous adventure;

real

time

Darklands

and where

and

place: Greater

it

may

deeds--actions that people will remember long
pass. Someday your fame might rival that of Beowulf, Roland,
and other great medieval heroes whose stories are still re­membered today.

We invite
ality is fantasy, and fantasy
quests and adventures...

ac-

you

to enter the

Darklands,

reality.

Begin

a place where re-

now

after you

a lifetime of

Darklands

band of heroes (your “party”) in search of immortal fame.
You can actually create the type of heroes

the character generation system,
ated characters.

You travel across the Holy Roman Empire, as the realm
was then called. The Emperor is weak, while the Princes
constantly war among themselves. You can visit more than 90

different cities, as
monasteries. You’ will find unique dangers and surprising
terrors.

There are many opportunities to perform heroic

is a fantasy

well as

role-playing game.

or

you can use pre-gener-

innumerable castles, hamlets and

You direct

you

desire, using

a

7$4@%*

This is a fast, casual overview

get you

playing quickly. For specific questions, details and
special options,
appropriate section in “Playing Darklands.” On the back

cover of this booklet is a quick summary of all keyboard com-

mands.

You may find it handy, especially if

or

step-by-step instructions, refer to the

W~Keyboard

MOUSE:
keyboard. With the mouse, you “left-click” (click the left
button)

down the left button) to “drag” items from one spot

another on the screen.

Most selectable options highlight as you move
Scrolling
Left-clicking on this bar moves the

The right button activates the hidden menu bar. Right­down reveals the menu bar and allows you to select
To choose options,
to

the item desired, then

KEYBOARD:

equivalents. This allows you

keyboard commands in whatever way you feel is most
cient.

In general, the design concept is as implification of that

used in MicroSoft Windows and the Apple Macintosh.

Some options have a highlight, movable

tap the Return key

have a crimson
blind). Tap that character (on the

. Complex situations include both:

then

Darklands

to

select items, or occasionally “left-down” (hold

lists of

tap

the appropriate crimson 'letter.' In a few cases, the

can be operated with mouse and/or

items

have a “scroll bar” at the top and bottom;

move

the

All mouse selections

to

make your selection. Other options

letter

(the first capital letter, if you’re color-

of Darklands.

you

and

mouse (with the button

release

highlight

the

to

mix and

Mouse~w

button.

match

keyboard) for

move

the highlight-first,

It is designed to

lack a

mouse.

over

them.

up or down.

menu

items.

still down)

have

keyboard

mouse and/or

by

cursor keys;

that action.

options may not be on the screen (especially in Character
Information); here you must refer to the back manual cover

for appropriate “action” keys.

The cursor keys include not just the traditional arrow

keys, but also the numeric keypad. This

and 9 can be used for diagonal movement on the map or in battle.

menu

To use the
the cursor keys, then tap Return
leave the menu

again. Note that most menu bar actions

a keyboard shortcut.

to

r-o.Installation’,

See the accompanying "Installation & Supplement”
booklet for details on installing, configuring (setup) and
loading the game.

After you
the “Quickstart” option. This bypasses the character genera-

tion sequence

Characters," pp13, for details).

.-Party

Your goal

eff-

remembered. Accomplishing great tasks, rightingwrongs,
just participating in significant activities can improve your fame.

ation, tap F6 for party information.

is fame.

To see your current fame, ‘money,' and other inform-

,MCharact&

You may be curious about the characters in your party. To see

information about a character, left-click on the appropriate

bar, tap F10, move

to

bar

without making a selection, tap F10

Setup and Loading

load,

when the

(if you’re interested in that, see “Creating

animated

and

The more you get, the longer

Inforniatlon

means that 1, 3, 7

the highlight

make your selection. To

include the

opening ends, Select

names of

Goalsw,

you'll

p

with

w

be

or

.

7

character box (along the left side of she screen) or tap
through F5. Incidentally, these character boxes have bar
graphs
and DF (divine favor), with the numeric value beneath. In

Darklands

constant

You can left-click
tap Return) for more information. Equipment, Formulae,
and Saints open up scrolling lists.

light the item and tap “a.” To use a specific potion, tap "p."
To try to use a relic’s special powers, tap

item forever (i.e.,
item to another character, tap "1" through “5” to indicate the

character. If using a mouse; you can left-drag an item to
another character box, or onto the armament board
lists current weapons and armor). You must still use the
keyboard

showing

visibility.

This screen

To use a

the

character's

these three values fluctuate the most, hence their

presents

on

a board (or move the highlight box and

specific

for

discards.

weapon or

just get

current

full information about a character,

rid of it), tap “d.” To transfer an

endurance,

wear

specific armor, high-,

"r."

To discard an

F1

strength

(which

The formulae list is for

gives

you

information, nothing

The

saint

list not only describes what a saint can do, but

also allows you to pray for miraculous aid at that

course, the character’s divine favor (DF) will be-reduced.
Fortunately, elsewhere in

To

exit

character
function key that matches the highlighted character box (the
small box on the left side of rhc screen).

PARTY LEADERSHIP: Any of your characters can be the

party

leader and spokesperson.

by going to their Character Information and left-clicking on

“Not Leader.”
the Control (ctrl) key and tap a function key,

-From

AT

THE

back at the initial gathering of your

adventure. The options available here are

interactions throughout the game. Select “...spend some
time here...” to stay

Incidentally, on
can get hints and help
you

move the highlight over the options. The amount of help

depends on the difficulty level selected.

At the inn,
here) option. It allows you to
for each of your characters, including prayer (to regain divine
favor), regaining strength (to recover from wounds), study
and

training
(useful if there’s nothing better happening), and alchemy
work. To operate this
acter name, then left-click or tap the crimson letter to select
his or her activity. When you’re finished, pick one of the two
options at the bottom (“Spend a day...”

The “Alchemy work” option allows a character to create

specific potions. First you select a formula. Next you see your

chances of success and the ingredients required. If you have
sufficient ingredients and skill, you can make one or more

However,

Recreation to Travel

INN: When you leave character information, you’re

at

screens

select

(if you've found any teachers), earning money

reference. Selecting

more.

Darklands

information,

a faster way is simply to hold down

you can regain this.

left-click or press the

You

can assign a new leader

a formula

instant.

from Fl

Of

to F5.

CA--J

party,

planning your

typical

of many

the local inn.

with these menu options, you

by

holding down the

the “...take up residence...” (staying

select

different daily activities

screen,

move the highlight to a char-

shift

or

“Leave”).

key while

potions of that type.
work only

occurs

All

this is just planning - the actual

after you return to the original staying here

options and select “Spend a day...”

T

RAVEL: To leave the city, go from the inn to the main

street, and from there go to a main gate and just walk out. You

now see yourself on the travel map. To travel, either use

cursor keys

or

left-click on a destination.

Finally, to select a target
or destination, hold down the
left mouse button. Then
mouse pointer changes
shape. When you release the
button. the point of release
becomes the new target or
destination. When using the

mBattlecw

Just to learn more, let’s provoke a tight. The easiest way is to

return to the city you just left, go up to the main gate during
daylight, and attack the guards there.

Battles have, two states: an. "orders pause” and

time action.” During the orders pause you can give orders to
each character in your party. During real-time action, you
watch the battle occur.

You

can

stop

the action for more

orders as frequently as you wish.

Battle starts in “orders pause,” waiting for you to give

orders to characters.

selected,

is

a reminder that you are in orders pause.

In fact,

the party leader is already

To start up the battle and simply watch the action, tap

the Space

O

RDERS: In general, to issue orders, you (1) select a acter box bar graphs double up, showing endurance, strength

bar.

"real-

keyboard,

to

move the target symbol,

use the cursor keys

then tap Return.

Once orders to a

charac-

ter are finished, you can give

orders to another character,
or start real-time action.

Feel free to select vari-

ous orders. For a quick battle,

give each character orders to
attackadifferentguardsman.

REAL-TIME ACTION:

To start real-time action, tap the Space bar.

COMBAT: When a character targets an

enemy,

the char-

character, (2) select an order, and sometimes (3) select a and DF for both the character (on the left) and the opponent

target

or

destination.

To select ,a character,

characters,

or

tap a number key from “1” to “5” (Use the of endurance damage appears in red atop the target. When

either

left-click on one of your

(on the right).

When a character scores a hit on the enemy, the amount’

number keys across the top of the keyboard, not the the enemy hits one of your characters, the endurance damage

numeric keypad). This immediately, puts the battle

appears in white over the character's head.

You'll also see

into “orders pause.” bar graphs change appropriately.

R

You can also tap the Space bar to create an orders pause,

‘then select a character (or simply give orders to the party

ESULTS: When endurance teaches zero, the character

collapses.

When strength reaches zero, the character is dead.

leader, who is automatically selected in this’case). Most characters and enemies collapse before they die, but it

To select an order, use the pull-down “Orders”

tack” menus. The

most

useful options are “Move toward,”

“Attack,” “Use Missile” (if the character has a missile weapon) LOOTING: If you are victorious, you can pick

and “Throw Potion” (if- the character carries potions). If bodies of the fallen,. When this occurs,
ordered, to attack, a character will move toward the enemy
until, within weapon range, then start attacking.

or

“At- is possible

especially weak character to die quickly.

Exchange Scrolls.” When using the keyboard, the right/left

cursor Keys shift between the scrolls; with the mouse an

for

bot h to happen simultaneously, or for an

over the

you see

the “Item

the

9

appropriate left-click does
the job. One of the actions
across the

top changes which

character’s items are shown

alongside the available loot.

Another moves items be­tween the scrolls.

Actually, this type of
screen is used many places, in­cluding

tions about

actions.

For detailed

most business

using “Item

trans-

instruc-

Ex-

change Scrolls,” see page 28.

Well, now that you’ve thoroughly infuriated the govemment

at this city by trying to turn guardmen into dogmeat, it migh

it migh

be wise to travel elsewhere, or at least stick to the side streets

Darklands gives explore, with

a wide variety
Although there
expect everything
mon

sense"

but don’t let your either!

you all of Greater Germany to

of potential encounters and rewards

are large plots afoot, as in real life, do

to be interrelated. Let “medieval

be your guide. Don’t be to be altruistic.

be your guide. Don’t be afraid to be altruistic.

tasks,

not

com-

down guard

Use the mouse or tap the appropriate letter key to select one
of the four options described below.

GG Quickstart

This immediately begins your adventures in Darklands with

four default characters:
EBHARD.
without spending the time to create new characters.

adventurers. They have no special
that make them a recommended choice, nor do they have
any special

random elements in

fore, secret locations and upcoming
each time

With

these

adventurers, you can begin

“Gretch” and her friends are a typical, balanced group of

weaknesses

Although the party is always the same in the “Quickstart,”

Darklands

you select this option.

(“q” key) w

G

RETCHEN

or disadvantages.

, G

UNTHER

abilities or possessions

are reset

each time.

events

will be different

,

H

ANS

Darklands

There-,

,

MZJ

Create a New World (“c” key) CH

This also begins

characters. Instead, you can create your own, new characters

to form the party of your choice. As in the “Quickstart” each

time this option is chosen the

and

and

reset. Characters created for other worlds are
able in this new world. This allows you
different games (each in its
neously, without one game “poaching” on another.

Many of the options can be used on any available character

to

(listed

character by left-clicking the mouse on
the cursor (“arrow”) keys to move the highlight. Then select
an action by left-clicking on the word with the

tapping that crimson letter on the keyboard,

the right on the screen). Therefore, first select a

Darklands,

but there is no default party of

Darklands world

own "world”)

a

is reorganized

to have

running simulta-

name, or by tapping

crimson letter,

not

&ail-

completely

or

CREATE A CHARACTER:

Here you can create a new
character, regardless of which
characters (if any) are cur-

rently in your party. See

“Creating Characters" for

more about this.

E XAMINE A

TER:

Here

you

can see infor-

mationaboutthe highlighted
character. See “Character In-

formation," pp22, for details.

ADD

TO

THE

This adds the highlighted

character to the party, and

marks the name on the list.

Note that your party can have

one to four characters, no more.

In some

party

the first character added to the party. Bear this in mind when
selecting the first character to join the party. For more
information, see pp31.

D

ELETE FROM THE PARTY: This removes the high-

lighted character from the party. The character is still
available for

SELECT CHARACTER

ages and colors for the highlighted
the entire image, or certain colors within

“Finished” when you are done:

You can only select images for characters in the party.’

Therefore, add the character

,

select an image!

use

in the future.

IMAGE:

Here you select new im-

character.

to

the party before you try to

battle situations,

leadership

You can

the

image. Select

defaults to

CHARAC-

PARTY:

“alive,”

change

KILL

A CHARACTER: This eliminates

character from the list of possible characters in the game. If
the character is in the party, it also eliminates the character
from the party.

BEGIN

THE ADVENTURE: This endsparty selection

tivities and begins the game.

party before choosing

“world,” with random elements reset, secret locations se­lected, etc. To begin, the party is placed in a city somewhere in
Greater Germany, known then as

Important: To save the characters you have created,

you must “Add to

then save the game.

RETURN TO MAIN

initial options.

-The

This allows

LOAD

select a previously saved game and load it.

DELETE SAVED GAME:

delete any previously saved game. Warning: deletions cannot

be “undone.” Make sure you have no further use for that

saved game before selecting this option.

R

ETURN TO MAIN MENU: This menu returns you to the

initial options.

you to

SAVED GAME: Use

nonheroes

This allows

exploits of the most famous Darklands heroes are recorded.

You can either erase the

or

simply leave, returning to the initial options.

this option.

Story Continues

manage previously saved games.

of

you

to

Make sure you are happy with your

This actually creates the

the

Holy Roman Empire.

the

Party” one or more characters,

MENU: This menu returns

the

mouse

Use the mouse or cursor keys to

Darklands ("h"

view the

existing names

“Hall of Fame,” where the

the

highlighted

new

you

to the

("t"

key)

or cursor keys to

cxt

key) 4--’

in the Hall of Fame,

ac-

Darklands

raise

years of “normal” life

attributes and

.

end character creation and make the character an adventurer,

ready to join your party.

ginners are

in their

“Character Information"

various attribute and skill categories.

The recommended procedure is to select your gender, gen­erate a name randomly, and then
name With manual entries. Then begin childhood.

character's gender between male and female. Not&that
gender slightly affects some starting attributes. :

a male
personal and family names used in this era. Nicknames are
generated automatically. Both appear on the metal informa­tion strip at the top.

full name for your character. Tap the Return key when done.

The

full name appears across the top.

type a short nickname
when done: The character should also have a full name. The
new nickname appears across the

acter creation

nickname before selecting this option.

character

allows you to create your

each

character from infancy. You

for

that character, acquiring various

skills. At any

Character creation has many sophisticated options. Be-

urged to

first

game, or at least skip forward and read the

WJnitial

MAKE

HIM/HER A-WOMAN/MAN: This toggles

SELECT

ENTER

C

BEGIN CHILDHOOD: This begins the next step of char-

RETURN To GAME

A

or

female name, as appropriate, from a list of actual

A

nickname

REATE A NEW NICKNAME: This option allows you

creation.

use the default “Quickstart” characters

NEW NAME:

NEW

NAME: This option allows you to type a

is enteredseparately (see below), The new

Be sure your character has both a name and

All

entries made on this screen are forgotten.

time duringthis period you

section (pp22),

Options csc,

Tis option randomly generates

for

your character. Tap the Return key

OPTIONS:

own

characters. You can

can

“live” 20 to 65

which explains the

adjust

it and/or the nick-

top.

This &mediately exits

WEJ

Family Background

When a character is “born,” you select one of six family

backgrounds,. tanging from the nobility

can

(i.e., a peasant). Different backgrounds adjust the character's
initial attributes
these backgrounds provide a large amount of childhood.
experience, points (EPs), which are used to increase the
initial attributes. Finally, family background affects the
tial occupations that are available to

-background has certain advantages and disadvantages. There
is no "best" or

As

you
character’s
results of each choice.

To choose an option, left-click with the mouse, or press

the appropriate keyboard letter.

the

to

and

skills in minor

"worst" choice.

move the highlight

attributes,

skills,

and

ways.

over

EPs change, showing the

e+

to a

rural commoner

More importantly,

the

character., Each

various

options,

ini-

the

Childhood

This represents

pending on the family selected, a character

the

first

15 years

Experience

of a character’s life. De-

(EPs)

has

varying
amounts of experience points (EPs). This experience is used
to increase

attributes.

Skills

cannot

be modified by

childhood experience.

To

INCREASE AN ATTRIBUTE

on that attribute. If using the keyboard, use the
highlight the attribute, then tap the

TO

UNDO

AN

ATTRIBUTE INCREASE

left-clickon the bar gauge showing the remaining

with EPs, simply left-click

cursor to

"+"

key.

with the mouse,

EPs.

Each
click "undoes" an increase to that attribute. To undo an
increase to
tribute, then

If using a keyboard, simply

attribute and tap the

some

other attribute, first

left-click

multiple times on the bar-gauge.

"-"

key.

cursor

left-click

the

highlight

on the at-

to the

Note: after a certain level, attribute increases cost more

than

limits

one EP per

to

human

point Also

attributes.

note

The

that

there

normal range

are

absolute

for human

attributes. is 10 to 40, with 25 the average.

.

DONE

CHANGING ATTR: When

attribute

“d” on the

increases,

keyboard.

an adult. Unlike the

left-click on the "Done" option or

This ends childhood arid begins

modern

world, in the Middle Ages

you are finished

with all

tap

life

as

most

people began adult pursuits in their middle teens.

Selecting an Occupation

Starting at age 15, every five years a character can select a new

occupation. There

tions,

but only a

Initially, family background determines the available

occupations. Thereafter

are the

main determining factors.

must follow a specific sequential “chain” of occupations

reach a certain

HIGHLIGHT:

occupations,

the skill increases and experience pbints
automatically change,
ters get bonus experience during their first two occupations:

P

OSSIBLE

SKILL INCREASES: Beside

numbers. The first number is the amount a skill automati-

cally increases

or decreases in that occupation.

number is the additional increase possible, should you de-

cide

to

use

experience points (EPs) there.

For example, the
that occupation automatically increases the skill by
points. In addition, you
to

four (4)

more

total increase would be six.

S

ELECTION: When you left-click the

are

over three dozen possible

few

are available at any

prior occupations

pinnacle of

As

success.

you move the highlight over

showing what is possible

number "2:04"

can spend EPs

points.

If you spent the requisite

occupa-

one

time.

and/or

attributes

In some cases a character

various

(EPs),

in each. Charac-

each skill are two

The second

beside a skill means

two (2)

to increase the skill up

EPs,

the

mouse or press

.

to

Occupation

.GCI

Experience (EPs)

For every five years spent in an occupation, a character
improves

rience points (EPs) can be used for a variety of additional skill

improvements.
either left-click on

to move

have available. Normally each skill increase

one EP. However,

EPs

adjusts the remaining
by the skill increase values. When you add to a skill, the right

number is reduced to show the amount of increase remaining.
left-click on

rhe highlight with the
have finished spending EPs. You do not accumulate unused

EPs.

selecting this option.
where you can choose an occupation for the next five years.

have consumed all your EPs.

turers”

you to the various “Create A New World” options.

all the
“delete” for experiments that turn out poorly.

in certain

IMPROVING

the

highlight to the skill

Skill improvement is limited by the number of EPs you

may be required. Each improvement automatically

You cannot

REVERSING

the EP bar-gauge (as in attributes), or position

Go T

O

Therefore,
This option returns you to “Selecting an Occupation”
B

EGIN

ADVENTURING: Again,

This

option

file,

for possible inclusion in the party. It then returns

KILL THE CHARACTER: This

work

skills. In addition, the character’s expe-

SKILLS: To improve a skill by one point,

the name

when skills reach a high level, two or more

increase

INCREASES: TO

NEXT OCCUPATION: Only

“spend” them

places the character in ‘the

spent on him or her. This is a convenient

of that skill, or use the cursor keys

and

EPs.

a skill beyond the amount allowed

“undo” an increase, either

cursor

keys and tap the

all on skill increases before

i

--

only select this when you

kills the character, erasing

&

then tap the

select this when

"+"

(of one) costs

"-"

available adven-

key.

key.

you

Occupations and Experience Points

Accumulated

-Knoyled&

As characters live through various occupations,’ they may

acquire alchemical and/or saintly knowledge. You can left­clickonthe “Formulae” or “Saints”
current

knowledge. Left-click again to close the
information. If
a scroll of this information; tap the same key again to close it.

Characters also acquire wealth and equipment through-

out their life. Equipment

using

&

Equipment

box to view the character's

scrolls

of

a keyboard, tap the f or s key to open

is only

visible if you examine the

characrer after creation. Money is included

initial members of a party pool their funds at the start of the

game. Characters who join the party later do not bring any

additional money with them.

only

when the

1-s3 Saving Your

When you have finished creating the

(you may create more than four!), you must organize an initial
party (of one to four characters), select “Begin the
ture” from the screen options, and then select “Save Game”
from the “Game” options on the menu bar
right mouse button, or tap F10, to see this menubar). Doing
this saves not only
characters

you created for this

the

characters of the party, but also any other

Characters

characters

“world.”

.&

you desire

(hold

down the

Adven-

-Mice

Darklands

equivalents for all operations, for those who lack
prefer using keys.

standard button is the left button for clicking

your mouse

show the menu bar; keep it down to select

menus.

occurs and the menu bar disappears.

is designed for use with a

When using a mouse with two or more buttons, the

also has a right button, hold

When

you release the right button, the selection

-Keyboard

The

arrow

(cursor) keys are almost always enabled in

Darklands. You

pointer, instead of the mouse.

In addition to the left, tight, up and down arrow keys on
most keyboards,
from the numeric keypad. The advantage here is that not
only do

but 1, 3, 7 and 9 correspond to the various diagonal directions,

which is very useful in movement.

can use them to move the highlight or target

2, 4, 6

and 8 correspond to down, left, right and up,

in Darklands

Cursors in

Darklands

also supports cursor movement

0~

mouse. It

has keyboard

a

mouse or

and

dragging. If

down

that button to

options from

Darklandsw

the

Character Access &

,wInforination

In

Darklands

for any character, at any
explanation of the character information.

CHARACTER

five boxes. In the
Below,
she appears in battle, and beneath that a single
ing the current combat orders or attack, if

The remainder of the box has three bar graphs, with

numbers beneath. The left

character’s current endurance (End). The center bar is the

character’s current strength (Str). The right bar is the

you can examine

BOXES: The left side of the screen shows

top

of each is the character’s nickname.’

on the left, is An illustration of the character as he

Controk+w,

the

“Character information”

time. See

bar

pp22

and number represents the

for

a detailed

letter indicat-

any.

character’s current divine favor (DF). The bar

the current value as a percentage of the maximum; the
numbers

endurance or strength above the normal maximum, a small
“+” appears above the appropriate bar graph.

character box.

anywhere within the character's box. To leave the informa­tion and return to play, left-click again

the five
for information.

or

below

show the current absolute value.

If potions or saintly miracles raise a character’s current

The party leader is denoted by special colored text in the

MOUSE: To see information about a character, left-click

in the

K

EYBOARD:

possible

Character

-

Character Box

Nickname

Functions

characters in your party. Tap the key once

Fl

Boxes and Universal Controls

keys Fl through F5 select one of

selects the topmost character, F2 the

graphs show

box.

next character down, etc. F5 Selects the character at the the desired game and either

bottom. To leave character information and return to the left-click or press Return.
game, tap the same function key again.

-The-Universal

Once you begin Darklands, a hidden

is always available
menu bar, either hold down

To “pull down” a menu from the various options on this
bar, simply move the mouse (with the right button still down) checkmark showing which
or

move the highlight (with the left/right cursor keys). currently operating.

In either case, the appropriate pull-down

.

under that title.

To select an item from

mouse

to that item (with the right button still down) and
release
light with the

Return key.

special key combinations for shortcuts. These are listed after

the menu item. A menu bar shortcut is used instead, of

highlighting the menu
on the back of the
used on the menu bar include:

the right

MENU B

alt: Hold down the ALT key while tapping

the letter.

spc:

Tap the Space bar.

Rtn:

Esc:

-The

SAVEGAME (alt s): This allows you to save the current game.
You can type a short remark about the game. In addition, for
general
pends the date and general location. At some points saving
is piohibited. In
and unavailable.

previously

identification purposes the saved game always

L

OAD SAVED GAME

saved game. Simply move the highlight to select and messages.

across

button. With a keyboard,

cursor

keys to the desired option and tap the

AR SHORTCUTS: Some menu options have

option.

manual.

Tap the

Tap the Escape key.

“Game”

Return key.

these

situations “Save

(alt

Menu

the top of the screen. To see this

the right

Standard shortcut abbreviations

mouse button or tap F10.

the pull-down

These shortcuts are also listed

Pull-down Menu

1): This allows you to reload

Bar,-

"Universal

Menu

menu

menu, move the provement and fame rewards are

move

Bar"

appears

the high-

w

ap-

game”

is faded

a

IFFICULTY: There are

D

three levels of difficulty,
which control many aspects
of the game, including the

of

amount
The three levels are shown

bv a

Basic provides

est

help, but character im-

recommended if Darklands is your first fantasy role-playing game.

Standard provides modest help, with average character

improvement and fame
are familiar with fantasy role-playing

Expert provides almost no help, but your character im-

provement and fame rewards are larger than normal. This is
recommended if you want greater challenges,

best characters and highest

See "Help and Difficulty Levels,” below, for a more

detailed discussion of these options.

S
about temporary skill and attribute changes caused by
chemical potions or prayersto
and all changes appear. However, a few saints can cause so

many changes that you may wish to turn if off temporarily.

Permanent changes are always shown (sycg as skill

increases caused by experience), regardless of this setting.

MUSIC: This option toggle: background
off. If you see a check mark, then the music is currently on.

SOUND Fx: This option toggles sound effects on and
you see

VISUALS: There are three levels of visual presentation,

with the current selection shown by a check mark. This
choice affects the way pictures are shown with various menus

help available.

sub-menu. Nith a

the great-

rewards.

HOW CHANCES

a check

(alt c):

mark, then the sound effects are currently on.

is

somewhat

This is recommended if you

fame,

regardless of risk or

This turns on and off messages

saints.

smaller. This is’

games.

or

seek the

cost.

al-

By default this is “on,”

music

on and

off,

If

j

c-oThe

“Party” Pull-down Menu

cw

Full

visuals are the default selection and strongly

commended.
helps you

Quick visuals instantly fade into the background, without

requiring a left-click or

convenience for impatient “high-speed” players.

None means that the pictures are suppressed. This op­tion is intended
Suppressing the pictures significantly increases game speed,
but also damages the game's appeal and

PAUSE

any and all action. This is only useful in battle. Tap any key

to resume.

Q

you to the operating system. The game is not saved. Be sure

to select "Save

It provides the full flavor of the game, and

envision medieval reality.

return.

This option is provided as a

for

extremely slow computers or hard disks.

"flavor."

(alt

p): This instantly pauses the game, stopping

UIT (alt q): This option exits

game"

before you quit.

Darklands,

and returns

entire party.

the
See “Party Information," pp20, for

S

ET AMBUSH

bush. When an ambush is set, your party will wait in ambush
for an enemy. See “Travel and

CAMP (F8):

through the countryside. It allows your

permanent camp. See

-Help

re-

Darklands difficulty level controls the amount of help

available. The easier the game, the more help that is avail-

able. However, as ,a reward for selecting

levels, character improvement occurs somewhat faster, and

fame rewards are larger. Of course, with less help, your risks

grow

larger

Frequent changes in help level are ignored

Advancement and rewards are based on the easiest level se-

lected

over

varies, depending on how fast your party achieves certain

goals).
izes you for the entire period.

When you hold down the Shift key, appropriate help infor­mation appears. See "Travel and

Menus,” pp27, for details.

Just

The “help” provided

Tap any key or left-click the mouse to leave.

additional

(F7):

This option sets or removes an am-

Interaction,"

This option is available only when traveling

party

"Travel

and Interaction,” pp27, for details.

and

too.

the past few days or weeks (the exact time period

a b&f “peek” at an easier difficulty level penal-

Difficulty

mainly occurs during interaction.

Interaction,

details.

pp27, for details.

to make a semi-

Levels-

then

more difficult

in Darklands.

I&action

-The

This menu is only used in battle, to give orders to individuals
the

party as a whole. See “Battle” for more information.

aThe

This menu is only used in battle, to tell specific characters

about which fighting tactic they should use. See "battle" for

more information.

“Orders”

Pull-down Menu-

“Attack” Pull-down Menu

w

.

or

lLi3%.-

.q

‘cLi.3

19

Party information is available on the “Party” menu of

menu bar (hold down the right

the F6 key. It displays general

mouse

button), or by tapping

information

about your party.

the

Party information is not available during battle..
To leave Party information, tap any key or left-click

the mouse.

F

AME

: This displays your party’s fame in Greater Ger-

many

(the Holy Roman
scale starting at 0. Every important
increases your fame. Your

Empire). Fame is an open-ended

success

goal

is to achieve the highest

in

Darklands

possible fame.

TIME AND

DATE:

This

displays the

current hour,

day

and month. The year is sometime in the 15th Century (1400-

1499).

See “Medieval Timekeeping” below for information

abbot medieval “hours” and calendar.

Party Information .

Reputation

at

Current

Location

.

OCATION:

L

party, and is a general aid

Local

This

indicates the nearest major city to

for

finding your location on the map

you

REPUTATION: This indicates your reputation

the neatest city. Local reputation influences the attitude

in

people

the city, and to a lesser degree those living in

surrounding countryside.

WEALTH:

This

indicates

the amount of cash carried by

your party. The amount shown does not include money stored
elsewhere in Germany,

nor

does it

include

the

value

of you
Letter of Credit. See "Medieval Money” below for informa­tion about florins,

NO

TES: If you

medieval “bank note,”
Money

carried

normally

you

exchange it for “real”

The

“PStone”

the philosopher’s stone carried by

groschen

carry a

and pfenniges.

letter of

this indicates the value of

as a

Letter

of

Credit

can’t use it until

money.

notation

indicates

credit

(Ltr Credit), a

then

letter.

is

easily

concealed, but

you reach

a banker and

the current quality of

the

party. See “Alchemy”

(pp 41) for details.

MAP

INFORMATION:

many

highlights

With a mouse,

your current location with a white

you can

The small

move

the pointer around the map

map

of

Greater

Ger-

circle.

information. With the keyboard, tap the Tab key to cycle
through all the cities.

in
of

the

for

.-Party

One character is always the leader of the

Legdershipti,

party.

The leader

acts as spokesperson for the group. Charisma and Speaking

ability are frequently important to the leader. Other skills

or
attributes may be important in specific situations. For ex­ample, alchemical knowledge might

to

an alchemist, while

Latin

could be useful when

religious training

talking

be useful when

and knowledge of

to priests,

talking

monks or nuns.

The party leader is indicated by different-colored text in his

or

her

character box. In

the character information,

“Leader” or

"Not Leader" is noted after each character's name (see Character

Information, Character Information Boards," pp22, for details).

HOW TO CHANGE LEADERS: To change party leadership

quickly,

left-click on the appropriate character box or tap the appro-

priate function key (ctrl

box, ctrl F2
character box and
to a non-existent

tion
clickingon "Not Leader." This changes that character to the
leader (see “Character Information," the

Control (ctrl)

battlefield.
enters “group” mode leadership automatically switches
to the first (top left character box) character.

simply hold down the

for the second, etc.;

character). You cannot transfer leadership
character.

You can

alsochange leadership

screen

by left-clicking on a character box, then left-

In battle

you

can change leadership by holding down

and clicking

Also

note that in battle, whenever the party

Control

F1

for the first or top-left character

on the

(ctrl) key and

to ctrl

F5 for the bottom

in the

character informa-

next

section).

animating character on the

either

The year is always sometime during the 15th Century

(which

never ends).

wzMedieva;j

Money is counted in three
groschen, and silver pfenniges. Because distribution of wealth

and wages were so different, comparisons to modern cur-

rency

are impossible. In general, florins are very valuable,
but are used only in large transactions;
valuable and are in daily use; pfenniges are “small
important only to the very poor.

Conversion between denominations, follows the classic

medieval pattern of “a dozen and a gross,!’ namely:

12 pfenniges (pf

20 groschen (gr) = 1 florin (fl)

240

pfenniges (pf) = 1 florin (fl)

Money

denominations: gold

) = 1 groschen

cx,

florins,

groschen

(gr)

silver

are fairly

change,"

w&fedi&val

HOURS:

based

eight of these

addition, the system of 24 hours was beginning to become
common as craftsmen
various
three “modern” hours to each monastic

ing this era.

modern Gregorian calendar, although due to

accounting, the Julian was slightly inaccurate. For simplicity,

all

year, and there are no leap years.

The standard "clock" used

on

the routine of prayers in monasteries. There were

“hours,”

public buildings, For simplicity, Darklands

Matins: Midnight

Vespers: 6PM

C

ALENDAR: The old

This

festivals

and holidays always fall on the

Timekeeping

in the

or

"offices,"

built

large mechanical clocks into

Latins: 3 AM

Prime: 6AM

Terce: 9 AM
Sexts:
Nones: 3PM

Compline: 9 PM

Julian calendar was in

used

the

same days

during the day. In

Noon

w

Middle Ages was

assigns

"hours,"

as

follows:

effect dur-.

and months as the

poor

leap year

same

day every

SEEING

mation on any of your characters at any time in
game is

the left. side of the screen, or

CHARACTER

INFORMATION:

automatically paused while you

To do

this, left-click on

the appropriate

tap F1

You

can

view infor-

the game.

view

the information

character box on

through F5

(for the

appropriate character).

Once

you

are viewing character

information, you

jump, from one, character to another with appropriate

left-clicks or function keys.

LEAVING CHARACTER

acter

information, you must left-click on the highlighted

character

box

(on the left side of the screen), or tap the

I

NFORMATION

: To leave char-

function, key that matches the currently highlighted box.

Doing this returns to you to the

game.

c-oCharac,ter Information BcqIds’c&

The

Character

with scrolls attached. To see more detail

its scroll),

information is given on a

left-click

the

mouse

on it, or use

series

of

on a

board (or reveal

the

cursor keys to

move the, highlight box, and press Return.

can

NAME BOARD: This shows

ter.

“Leader” indicates the

the full

name of the charac-

character is the

party, “Not Leader” indicates the character is not the leader.

ACE

AND

GENDER BOARD: This shows the current

age of the character in years,

(M)

or

female (F).

ATTRIBUTES

mum attributes of the

shows the

abbreviations, but selecting this board expands it

BOARD

character.

: This

and his
shows

or her gender: male

the

current

Normally the board just

to show the full names. See below for a detailed explanation
of each attribute.

SKILLS

BOARDS: These

three boards

list the various
skills of the character. As with attributes, selecting a board
expands it to show the full names. See below for a
explanations of

IN-USE

BOARD: This board shows the weapons and

each skill.

armor the character is ready to use in battle. It includes both
hand-to-hand and missile
above,

selecting this

board

weapons

expands

wwhere appropriate. As

it to

show full

rather than abbreviations.

“V:” indicates

armor

for the character's vitals (head

and torso): .

“L:” indicates armor for the character’s limbs (arms

and

legs).

This board also shows if any potions or saintly aid are

affecting the character and/or equipment.

“Enhc” (Enhanced)

indicates that one or mote potions
are currently improving either the character, the equipment,
or both.

“Bless” (Blessed) indicates

saints is currently

improving either the character,

that aid from

ment, or both.

boards;

some

leader of the

and maxi-

detailed

names,

one or more

the equip-

22

“None” normally means nothing However, a character

without weapons is assumed to have a small knife.

EQUIPMENT , FORMULAE AND
lecting these boards opens a scroll that lists the equipment
currently carried.

Left-clicking on the top or bottom of the scroll moves

the highlight up and down to scroll the list. Similarly, the up­down cursor keys move the highlight up or down.

Left-clicking on the board closes the list. When using

the

keyboard, move

the right-arrow key) and press Return.

For mote details about information contained on the

various scrolls, see the appropriate section below.

ENCUMBRANCE
weight of items “in
ter’s

performance:

Light

characters carry 50% or less of theircapacity.

Normal characters carry 51 - 100% of their capacity. Nor-

mally laden

Laden characters

suffer a large agility loss, and

Overloaded characters have over 150% of their capacity.

They have virtually no agility, and in combat both
endurance

Additional items carried, but

toward encumbrance.

ARMAMENT
armor
worn

armor worn.

the

are shown to

characters

quickly and

and

weapons

on top of the armor are

This means the picture may not correspond

character's

the highlight back to the board (using

BOARD:

use,"

suffer a moderate agility loss.

carry 101 - 150%

ILLUSTRATION: This picture

currently in use. Any outer garments

appearance in battle

help distinguish one

This shows the current

and their effect on the

lose endurance faster in combat.

have much reduced weapons skill.

c-o’C,h$nging Leadership

If the character is currently “Not Leader,” you can make this
character

The label changes

the

for

the party lender by left-clicking

to

"Leader" and

appropriate

Also

see

other methods.

character boxes to the left.

"Party Information,

SAINTS

oftheircapacity. They

not

removed,

(where

character

SCROLLS : Se-

.

in use, do not count

to help clarify the

outer garments

from another).,

c+

on "Not Leader."

the text

Patty Leadership,”

colors change

charac-

shows

the

pp20,

All attributes use a 0 to 99 scale. However, adult human
norms run from 10 to 40, with the, average being

attrjbutes
that character.

character
endurance is reduced faster than any orher attribute. When
endurance teaches zero
ters regain endurance very quickly (within a few days, or less).

is

important when using weapons in battle. It alsorepresents
physical damage and wounds. As wounds heal a character
slowly regains lost strength.

ness of the character. It is important for many activities,
includingclimbingand avoiding missiles. Agility is adjusted
downward

ness; his or her ability to sense
the current situation. It is an

instinct that helps charac-

lose

ters anticipate danger
surprise, as well as
stand other people on an

intuitive level.

INTELLIGENCE

This represents the

abilities of

to

very important to alchemists,

dealing with intellectuals or

intellectual situations.

represents the

and physical “presence” of

in

the

useful when

people, especially when

-About

show the current value and the maximum value for

ENDURANCE (End): This represents how quickly

is exhausted. It is very important in battle, since

STRENGTH (Str):

AGILITY

PERCEPTION (Per):

CHARISMA

character.

(Agl):

if the

character is more

a character.

(Chr): This

appearance

It

is extremely

interacting

Attributes

(0)

the character collapses.

This represents physical strength.

This

represents

than lightly loaded.

This

represents a character’s alert-

or

under-

(Int):

mental

It is

with

try-

cw

the speed and quick-

25.

All

Charac-

a

It

ing to convince them of something, Therefore charisma

very useful for a party leader.

DIVINE FAVOR (DF): This represents the

amount

“credit” the character has when praying for saintly-miracles.
It is lost in such prayers., but can be regained. See “About

pp46,

Religion, Divine Favor,”

for more information.

is

FLAIL

WEAPONS (wF11):

This represents a character’s

ability to handle flailing weapons in hand-to-hand combat.

of

These are weapons whose damage-producing “head”

attached

character’s ability to handle spears, pikes,

to a handle by a chain or pivots.

POLEARM

WEAPONS (wPoI): This represents

halberds,

and

staffs in hand-to-hand combat.

-About

All skills

range,

Most ordinary people achieve

use a

0 to 99

from

0 (totally-incompetent) to 99 (nobody better).

Skills

scale.

Adult humans use the entire

35-60

cw

in important skills, less

T

HROWN WEAPONS (wThr): This represents

character’s

ability to throw axes, javelins, darts

at the enemy in combat.

Bow W

EAPONS (wBow): This represents a

or

knives

character's

in Secondary skills. Recognized masters or experts achieve skill at firing drawn bows in combat, including regular "short"

65-90 in their chosen field.

EDGED WEAPONS

character’s, ability to handle

(wEdg): This represents

swords,

‘hand-to-hand (melee) combat.

I MPACT

WEAPONS (wImp):

daggers and axes in

This represents

bows,

longbows, and Asiatic composite bow.

a

MISSILE

DEVICE WEAPONS (wMsD): This repre-
sents a character’s
guns in combat.

ALCHEMY

skill at

firing crossbows

(Alch): This represents

and

hand-

a character’s

knowI-

character’s ability to handle clubs, hammers, mauls and edge of, alchemy, including various experimental methods

maces in hand-to-hand (melee) combat,

and techniques. It is general knowledge,-independent of
knowing

RELIGIOUS T

specific formulas.

RAINING (Relg): This represents a

character’s knowledge of the Church, its institutions, organi-

zation,

and

procedures.

ledge of

knowledge,

various

independent

IRTUE (Virt): This represents the acceptability of a

V

character’s actions, based on the

general
skill in

strictures

SPEAK C

OMMON

speaking, including

one, as well as

It also indicates a growing know-

prayers and observances This is general

of any specific saint.

norms

of the age and

the

of the Church.

(SpkC):

This represents a character’s

the ability to “fast-talk” some-

the

ability

to say

things diplomatically. For
simplicity, characters are assumed to know the local, everyday
language

(in Darklands this is

SPEAK

LATIN (SpkL): This represents a

usually

German).

character’s
knowledge of Church Latin; the universal European lan­guage for both religious

READ AND

WRITE (R&W): This represents a

character’s ability to

she speaks. Literacy

and intellectual activity.

read and write whatever languages he

was

a separate and not altogether

or

common skill in this era.

is

a

a

HEALING (Heal): This represents a character’s skill at
treating and dressing wounds. This is everyday, practical
knowledge,
characters regain strength while resting depends on the

single highest healing skill in the party.

A
standing of tine devices, including the ability to assemble,
disassemble and manipulate them. Such fine devices in­clude locks, trap mechanisms, etc.

STEALTH (Stlh): This represents a character’s ability to

movequicklyand almost invisibly, taking advantage of every
shadow while avoiding actions that make loud noises.

STREETWISE

miliarity with city life, and’the expectations of city
citizens. It makes interaction easier and
with city residents.

R

riding a mount,

combined yield
one (or some thing).

miliarity with country life, woodlore, the habits of wildlife,
and the ability to “read”. the ground for tracks or danger.

Equipment is lited by its name, quality (“q”) and how
many

less. Normal, everyday quality is 25. Quality over 40 to 50 is
so
special religious or magical powers. Such quality is extremely

rare
depending on the sophistication of the formula used.

a bulk factor. By changing which items are “in

observing the encumbrance effect, if any, you-can decide

which items to use.

is open,

not a

“magical” healing power. The rate at which

RTIFICE (Artf): This represents a character’s under-

(StrW): This represents a character’s fa-

more

effective

IDING (Ride): This represents

usually a horse. Riding skill and horse quality

j

a character’s ability to catch or escape some-

WOODWISE (WdWs): This represents a character’s fa-

w

About Equipment

are carried.

Quality is rated

outstanding that

and valuable. All

Equipment also has a weight (not shown) that includes

USING EQUIPMENT (a key): When the equipment scroll

you

on

a 1 to 100 scale, with 0 being worth-

most people would feel an item had

potions

are

can take an item and put it on the in-use

a character's

C=W

rated

quality 25, 35 or 45,

skill

use”

board,

and

replacing whatever is there. This is how you select (or

“ready”) different arms and armor.

To do this with a mouse, left-drag the item from the
scroll to the in-use board. (That is, move the pointer to the
item desired, hold down the left button, drag the mouse with
the button still down
button.) The item now appears on the in-use board, replac­ing whatever item was there.

To do this with the keyboard, move the highlight
item desired, then rap the “a” key.

UN-ARMING (u
from the in-use board. With the mouse, left-drag the item
from the board back to the equipment scroll (which must be
visible). With the keyboard the procedure is different: just
highlight the item on the scroll and

A character without any weapons is assumed to have a

small knife.

at

USING

POTIONS (p key): You can use some alchcmical

potions to improve your own equipment
this, highlight the potion in your equipment list, then left­click with the mouse
priate change will
depending on the potion, and “Enhd" (Enhanced) appears

‘on the in-use board. Typically this change lasts for one day.

RELICS:
always receive the advantages automatically. The advan­tages usually apply to the person carrying the relic. Without
their
quality weapons. For more about relics, see “About Reli­gion,” pp45.

Some relics have special attributes, but you

special

advantages, some relics are still

TRANSFERRING

be transferred from one character to another. However,
temporary additions

wise

transfer their equipment to one of your characters.
Equipment cannot
the character box is empty, you cannot

To

transfer
from the scroll
side of the screen) and release. The item disappears from the

to

the

in-use

board, then release the

.

key): You can remove weapons or armor

tap

the

“u”

key.

or

attributes. To do

or

tap

“p”

on the keyboard. An

occur

in

your

character or equipment,

useful as

E.QUIPMENT

to

your party will not “lend” or other-

be transferred to a non-existent character: if

an item with the mouse, left-drag the item

to

the appropriate character box (on the left

(l-5

KEYS): An item can

transfer

anything to it

to

the

appro-

high

. .

equipment
character information for that

other character, you’ll see the

item at the bottom of his

her equipment list.

the keyboard. move the

highlight

then press the appropriate
number key ("1"
acter in the top left box,

for

the character in the box

next from

for the character in the bottom box. Use the
the top

always abandon any item of equipment. To do this, either
left-click on the item
tap the “d” key;

Therefore, be careful before you throw away

stead, you may wish
items for you.
this service.

Alchemical formula names provide the original inventor and

a general title relating
slightly different version of the formula.

up/down

description of
to

of the the formula’s ingredients and mystic number. Mystic

numbers
bers indicate

of the

keyboard, not those on the

D

ISCARDING

Items discarded

wAlcbemica1

Left-click the

cursor keys and tap. Return) to see a detailed

return to the information boards.

FORMULA DESCRIPTION: This is a detailed description

range approximately from 75

EQUIPMENT (d key):

or

move the highlight to the item, then

in this fashion

to

find a

City or

village innkeepers frequently perform

reliable person

Formulas

to

its effect. Each inventor has a

mouse

on a formula name (or select

that

formula.

more

difficult formulas.

Left-click

list. If you check

To

transfer an item with

to

the item desired,

for

the char-

the

top, etc. to “5”

number keys

numeric

Your character

can never

be recovered.
who can

across

keypad.

an

item. In-

can

store

C--J

with

or press Return

to 200;

higher num-

again

or

"2"

Formulas

scription

Characters cannot actually create alchemical pot
this time. They
first, then spend one or more days mixing

“About Alchemy,”

When the “Saints” scroll is open, you see all the saints k

by that character. As with alchemical formulas, to
detailed description, left-click the
or

select with

PRAYING TO SAINTS: The detailed description of a

includes the miraculous benefits

alchemy, you can attempt to pray to a sain

The “DF Remaining” value shows ho
would have,
saint reduces your DF (divine

ability

to

Left-click the

select which option you prefer:

More divine

DF (divine favor) the

Less divine favor is

DF the character

Pray now...:
immediately
results

Don't pray

mation

See
to saints. See “The Universal Church,
pp88 for

are used to

includes

pray further. Fortunately, DF can be

occur
boards:

“About Saints,”

a summary

must camp or

csz

Saints and Prayer,

up/down cursor

if you

more

pray now. As

mouse or use cursor

favor

“spends”

The character begins praying. The

reduced

quickly.

right

information about specific saints.

create

potions. The formul

of

that

take up residence

pp41, for more

is

spent:

character “spends”

spent: This decreases

while praying.

to the appropriate
now:

This returns you ‘to, the

pp45, for more

information.

mouse on

keys and tap Return.

you coul

this indicates,

favor),

which may limit

This increases the

potion’s effects;

w

a saint’s

keys and

while praying.

amount. Prayer

details about praying

Darklands

some

potion

prayi

recovered.

the

amount of

n

Return

amount of

DF

infor

Saints,

Some options have sub-menus. When these appear, you
must move horizontally (straight across the screen) until the
mouse is within the area before you can select and
Using the keyboard, the right/left cursor keys move the

highlight into or out of the sub-menu. The up/down cursors

move the highlight within the sub-menu. As before, to select
an option tap Return.

H

ELP: When interaction options exist and “Difficulty”

(in the “Games” menu of the menu bar) is set to "Basic" or

“Standard,” holding down either shift key displays helpful party Will work together in
remarks about the immediate results of that option.
pert” difficulty gives no hints.

Basic displays the exact probability of

you must still judge the likely effects of this success or failure.,

Standard displays general comments about your chance of

success. Again, it only applies

Interaction Menus

Help information
(hold down “shift” key)

to the

success.

immediate action, not the

left-click.

Of

course,

“Ex-

based on an average of

Expert displays no

You make your own deci-

sions,

based purely on your

judgement of the situation.

Help messages are posi-

tioned on the

will lead or interact. If the

message is

all

five characters, the entire

this task, and success is

their abilities.

SAINTS AND POTIONS: During interactions, some menu

options permit

saints. In order to correctly apply the potion
situation,
interaction (not in character information).

You can still go to any character information screen and

use

potions or pray to saints normally (see "Character Infor­mation" for details), but this only provides general aid. To.
apply saintly aid to a specific situation,
from the interaction sub-menu, not character information.

As with saints, some interactionsallow the use
for special effects. Again, to get the benefit, you must select
the appropriate

INTERACTION
sible. In
times you may move on to another interaction. You may also
see specific results messages, or become involved in a battle.

character

positioned

use

you

must select the appropriate option here in

some cases you may return to the map, while at other

hints.

whb

across

of potions, while others assume prayer to

interaction

RESULTS: A variety of

sub-menu.

or

saint to the

you

must select it

of potions

results

are

pos-

-Item

This special display appears whenever you attempt to buy or
sell goods,
storage. It also appears if your party finds items after a battle,
either on a

which scroll to use. The upper scroll is thelistofitems found,
stored, or for sale. The lower scroll is the list of items
currently carried by the character.

28

or

defeated enemy,

First use a

Exchange Scrolls’b

if your party stores items or

or inside chests and treasure troves.

left-click

or the left-right

recovers

cursor

them from

keys to select

Next, move through the scrolling list to find the specific
item to buy, sell, or move. Left-click
the scroll to move the highlight, or use the up-down cursor keys.

Finally, select one of the actions beginning with a crim-

son

letter, either with a left-click, or by tapping that letter on

the keyboard.

PURCHASE
available when the upper scroll is active (i.e., an item in that
scroll is highlighted). It causes the character to gain that item,
paying any appropriate cost.

em Exchange Scrolls

AN ITEM / GET

at

the top or bottom of

AN

ITEM;.. : This is only

when the
highlighted). It causes the character to transfer the item

the upper scroll, or give it to the owner of that scroll. The

party gains any appropriate selling price.

this option. They insist on keeping their personal posses­sions! The only way to get rid of items carried by such
characters is to discard them (see “Character Information,
Character Information Boards,”

PERSON’S ITEMS / DISTRIBUTE LOOT TO

This allows you to change which character’s items are dis-

played on the lower scroll. You can buy, sell, or transfer items
with the character of your choice-except, of course, charac­ters who are just temporary members of your party.

When
above),

place, you see the “Staying Here” options. These options are
selected and resolved one day

name, then left-click on the activity desired for that charac-

ter.

for the day. Continue selecting options and characters until
you are satisfied. Some options may be available
characters,

to move the highlight and the appropriate letter key to select
the activity.

you to recover from Hny exhaustion.

ters.

related to the character with the best healing skill in the
entire party.

SELL AN ITEM /PUT AN

lower

scroll is active (i.e., an item in that scroll is

Characters who temporarily join your party cannot use

BARTER

LEAVE: This ends the exchange

To select options with a mouse, left-click on a character

The text changes to describe what the

To select options with the keyboard; use the

JUST

R

EGAIN STRENGTH, is only allowed to wounded

It represents a full day

FOR

ANOTHER PERSON / CACHE ANOTHER

w

Staying Here

your

party camps in the countryside (see “Camping”

or

rakes up residence at an inn or similar resting

while prohibited to others.

RELAX

is a default “do nothing” option that allows

ITEM... : This is only available

pp22).

ANOTHER

session.

PERSON:

cw

at

a time.

of rest.

character

The rate of

to

cursor

charac-

recovery

will

some.

keys

to

do

is

29

PRAY FOR DIVINE FAVOR

is allowed

to anyone who:
DF (divine favor) is below maximum. Prayer helps resto
divine favor.

ALCHEMY WORK allows the character to mix new p

tions.

See “About Alchemy,”

EARN A LITTLE

short-term job,

job the character

Jobs can

ance

daily.
GUARD

to

be exhausting. Work may

THE CAMP only applies when camping in

MONEY

earn a little money. You will see the be

can

find in the city, with the pay per da

pp00,

allows the character to find

cost a character some endu

for details.

countryside; It helps you to conceal and protect your pre

ence,

decreasing the chance that some unpleasant person

thing will find you.

TRAIN AND STUDY allows the character to work to

prove a certain skill. Selecting this option produces a list

the possible skills the character

could

attempt to improve

t

in

Camping

Leave without

a day doing assignments.

(“Staying

Here")

Left-click on character (in the

then

left-click an right column option.

spending One day passes, with party doing

the assigned options, as shown above

left

column),

This option exists only if the parry has already found
someone willing to train or tutor certain people in certain
skills. In other words,

first

you search for instructors,

then
you return to the inn and “take up residence” to accomplish
the training.

When you see the list of skills available for training,
select one by left-clicking with a. mouse, or by using the
cursor and Return keys.

S

PEND A DAY,

all the selections made. One day passes, and each

DOING

THE ABOVE: This option activates

character
does his or her appointed tasks. You must select this option
to actually perform the activities.

L

EAVE: Selecting this option means you’ve decided

against spending a whole day on these tasks. You return to
the other available options.

gureon the

pping the number key for that character of the. party (1
through 5). The character in the top left character box is
number 1, the next down is number
keys across the top of the keyboard, not those on the

numeric keypad.

BAITLEFIELD VIEW: Normally the battlefield view tries

How

field view using the mouse or keyboard.

If using a mouse, move the cursor near the edge of the
battlefield. The pointer will turn into an arrow. Now tap the
Shift key. Each tap scrolls the battlefield a small amount. If you

in the “Orders” pull- hold down the Shift key, the battlefield scrolls

If using the keyboard, just hold down the Shift and tap

is, both sides move and fight the appropriate cursor key.

Giving

battlefield.

the party leader. However, you can scroll the entire

Orders in

You can also select a character by

Battle

2,

etc. Use the number

a

large amount

-Basic

have two states: "orders pause" and

Battle Controls-

reate an “orders pause” at any

“real-time ac-

le.” If the battle

To return the view to

vou

“follow the leader.”

must
select a party leader (by tap­ping ctrl

Fl,

ctrl F2, etc., or
holding down the Control
key and clicking in the ap­propriate character box).

Warning: Whenever the

mouse

is active, be very

careful
with your use of the Shift key.
You can unintentionally scroll,
the battlefield by holding the
Shift down too long.

potions, etc. If a target is required, the screen pointer changes

using

shape. When

a mouse. the, pointer doesn’t
shape until you hold down the left mouse button. If using the
keyboard, use the directional cursor keys (including the
numeric keypad, with
and 9) to

position

allows

the pointer.

diagonal movement with 1,3,7

You can maneuver the target pointer around the
to discover the “legal” targets available. Certain orders are
not allowed in certain locations; an error symbol indicates
this.

To finish your selection with a mouse, just release the
left button. To finish your selection with the keyboard, tap
the Return key

(to finish for that character). To finish orders

for the entire party, tap the Space bar instead.

GIVING ORDERS: Orders normally have three steps: (1) In some cases the target pointer only appears
select the character, (2) give the order, and usually (3) select
the target

or

destination.

Select the Character: To select a character with the mouse,
left-click on the character on the battlcfield; if using the
keyboard, press the appropriate number key (1 through 5).
Whenever you use the Spacebar to pause, or at the start of the
battle, the party leader is already

selected

automatically. You
can switch to another character by simply clicking or hitting
the appropriate key for that character.

If the character is currently not in view, the battlefield
automatically centers the view on the character when you tap
the appropriate numberkey.

Give an
down the right button to reveal

Order:

To give an order with the mouse, hold

the

menu bar. Continue
holding the button down to choose an appropriate selection
from the “Order? or “Attack” sub-menus.

If using a. keyboard, you can either press the appropriate

letter key for the order, or use the menu bar. To use the menu

bar with the keyboard, first tap F10 to show the menu bar,

then use the cursor keys to navigate the highlight, and finally
tap Return to

conclude your selection.

If an order does not require a target or destination, giving
the order is all you need do. Select another character or restart
the

real-time

Give Target or

action.

Destination: Most orders require a target

parts of the battlefield. This is another way of indicating that
only those areas or enemies can be targeted.

Notes: The

eral

options. Only

"Orders"

those

pull-down menu has

currently allowed appear in black.
The “Attack” pull-down menu has specific combat
tions

for individual characters.

The current order for a character appears as a letter in
lower left corner of the character box. This letter is the same
as the keyboard key for that order.

HANGING

C

CHARACTERS:

When you finish giving

ders to one character, you can immediately select another.

Warning:

If you don’t finish giving orders to a character

and select another character, the first character (who only got

partial orders) will be quite confused. The character may do
nothing, or do something entirely unexpected. The most
frequent error is to forget to specify a destination for move­ment, or a target for an attack. Therefore, make sure orders
to one character are finished before you start another.

C

ANCEL

ORDERS-IN-PROGRESS:
progress, just rap the Escape (Esc) key. This erases any
orders partly given. However, once orders
only way to erase them is to give the character new orders.

R

ESUME

REAL-TIME ACTION:

To end the orders pause

and resume real-time action, eithcr select “Resume” from, the

“Group” pull-down menu on the

menu

bar, or tap the Space bar.

toward which characters move, attack, use missiles, throw

change

screen,

on

certain

various gen-

instruc-

the

or-

To cancel orders in

are

completed, the

kBasic

PROXlMITY MESSAGES: When a character

stairway, ladder, door,, trap (if the character spots it), exit,

etc., a message noting this appears in the
left side of the screen.

These messages have a lower priority than battle results.

Therefore, if the double bar graphs showing combat results

are present, no messages will appear. Of

could still use stairways, exits etc. Check the

down menu to see which

currently

action,

alchemical effect, etc., a small number (the damage value)

appears

lost by the character. Strength losses may also occur, but

strength losses are never larger than endurance losses.

your

allowed).

DAMAGE VALUES:

whenever a character is hurt by a blow, missile,

above him or her. This is the amount of

White numbers indicate endurance loss to one of

characters.

Battle Information

items

are in black (i.e., are

As you watch the “real time” combat

cw

moves close

character

course,

"Orders"

box on the

a character

endurance

to a

pull-

Red numbers indicate endurance loss to one of your

oppopents in the battle.

B

AR GRAPHS: When one of your characters

enemy, either in hand-to-hand combat
the bar graphs for endurance, strength and devine favor in the
character boxes double. In each category the left bar shows

the current level for your character while the right bar shows
the current level for the enemy. The bar graphs only show
percentage remaining; just because the enemy level is below

yours doesn’t necessarily mean the enemy is weaker.

or

engages

with missile. tire,

an

Default Orders and

-Independent

At the start of a battle, no characters have orders, but the

battle is in
selected. You can ignore the opportunity to give orders by
tapping the Space bar

“Orders” pull-down menu.

If a character lacks orders, he or
place, bravely ignoring any missiles. If an enemy comes close
enough to fight hand-to-hand, the character will fight hack.

INDEPENDENT ACTION:
hand combat, the character continues fighting until the

enemy is downed. Then the character will
tional enemies

always give the character other orders.

“orders

to attack, the

pause” with the party lead&already

Action-

or

selecting “Resume” from the

she

simply stands in

Once a character is in hand-to-

seek

out addi-

nearest

first.

Ofcourse, you can,

Exploring: The

-“Orders”

The “Orders” menu contains options for moving about,
opening doors, moving up and down stairways (or ladders),

examining chests, picking locks, looting the fallen, etc.
Orders only appear in solid black. when they are allowed.

Therefore, if there are no stairways to climb or doors to

those options always remain gray and unavailahle.

To fight the enemies, use the “Attack” menu (see

below).

The “Orders” menu is for moving, about and per-

forming non-combat tasks.

‘Pull-down Menu

cw

open,

RESUME (Space bar): This ends the orders process and

resumes real-time action.

(N

ICKNAME] FINISHED (Return key): This ends the

orders for the named character, but the battle remains paused.
If the orders were incomplete, the

character

reverts to his or

her previous orders.

You should now give more orders or select “Resume” (above).

ENEMY INFO (e key): This is a toggle. Selecting this
once replaces the characterboxes with information about the
enemies you face. Selecting this option again restores the
character boxes.

WALK

TOWARDS (w key): This moves an individual
character (or the entire party if moving as a group). You must
specify a destination.

Normally
if “Travel
party moves as a whole. See “Group Travel,” below,

just an individual character moves. However,

as

Group” or “Travel Single File” are selected, the

for

details.

While moving, the character or group might encounter
enemies. If
character or group always

they

get within hand-to-hand combat range, the

stops

and fights.
Also see “Exploration and Real-time,” below.
F

LEE

TOWARDS (f

except the character or group does not stop to fight

key): This is the same as walking,

enemies.
Instead, they keep moving toward their destination. This
means enemies can strike while the character or group does
not strike back. Once the character or group reaches their

destination, they

stop ig­noring enemies and fight
those who come within reach.

H

ALT

(h

key): The se-

lected character stops

and
stands in place. He or she
defends against the first

en­emy that attacks hand-to-hand,
but otherwise does nothing.

T

RAVEL AS GROUP (g

key):

See

“Group Travel,”

below, for details.

TRAVEL

SINGLE FILE (q key): See

“Groups

Travel"

below, for details.

U

SE DOOR

(u key):

The selected character (if moving
individually) or the leader (if a group) opens the nearest door
This option only appears if a door is very close to the
appropriate character.

When

moving as a group; the door used is always the

closest to the leading character.

If the door is locked then “Pick Lock” and/or

lock” may appear. If the door has a
may appear. It’s always

wise

trap,

to view this pull-down

then “Disarm

"Dissolve

Trap"

menu

before trying to open a door.

Sometimes doors lead to hidden areas previously invisi

ible to

your

view. In this case, using
character to disappear through the door, as if he or
using a

U

SE

stairway.

STAIRS (u

See “portals,” below.

key): The selected character (if moving
individually) ox the leader (if as a group) uses the
stairway (or ladder). This option onlyappears if the
ate character is at a stairway. When moving as a group,

the

door may cause

the

she were

nearest

appropriate

the
stairway usedis the one closest to the leading character
(character number one).

Stairways (and ladders) are always portals to different

areas.

See “portals,” below, for

OPEN CHEST (o key): The selected character (if

ing

individually) or the leader (if as a group) opens a chest to

see what’s inside; This option only appears if the

details.

mov-

appropriate

character is beside a chest.

If there are

any

items of value or interest, the Item

Exchange Scrolls appear (see “Universal Controls and Menu

Bar" for

the Item Exchange Scrolls, you return to your battlefield

more information). When you select “Leave”

from

view

Although virtually all chests are locked, most of then
can be broken open. Only extremely solid, sturdy chest
require

you

to pick the lock

before

opening the chest. In

this

case, “Pick Lock” appears on the “Orders” menu; If a chest

is protected by a

ders”

menu.

trap,

“Disarm Trap” appears on

the “Or

34

PICK LOCK

(p key.): The

individually or the leader (if as a group) attempts to pick the

lock on the nearest chest or door. This option

a locked door or chest is, close to the character.

ockpick

artifice skill. A character can attempt this without special

is protected by a trap, “Disarm Trap” appears on the

:n” menu

attempts depend upon the, character’s tools

ut the chances of success are usually quite small. If a

DISSOLVE LOCK WITH

ted

character (if moving individually

a group)

is equivalent to picking it. Naturally, the option is only

is available

least

trapped
primarily upon

uses

an Eater-Water

if the

appropriate character is at the lock

one Eater-Water potion.

Eater-Water cannot be used on traps.

DISARM TRAP

; individually) or the leader (if as a

disarm

a trap

chest is close to the character.

on his or her intelligence and perception. In
ected by

Sometimes
or or a wall.
st likelv to notice

(d

key): The selected character (if may

on a

chest. This option only appears when a

a character’s artifice skill, and secondarily

the

difticulty of

characters

Perceptive characters

these.

selected

EATER-WATER

potion to

the trap.

may stumble

If

the enemy will show no

character (if moving

only

appears

(d key): The

or the leader (if as

dissolve

group)

Disarming depends

with artifice

you spot such
triggering
movement to avoid it or
fer the

consequences.

traps cannot be disarmed.,

S

URRENDER (s key):

When

you

your entire party

the enemy. Your characters will

lay down their arms and cease

resisting the enemy attack.

Beware: In some cases,

mercy.

Most

a lock. This

and has

attempts to

all

cases it is

over

traps in the

skill

a

trap

it,

adjust your.

.

select this option,

surrenders

humans

at

are

before

suf-

These

to

will

take prisoners, but wild ani-

mals may kill and/or eat one

or all of the party.

LOOT

BODIES (1

Whenever you defeat a group

of

enemies, you

cally

have a chance to loot
their bodies. However, in
large battles you may wish to
leave some loot behind, then
return later and get more. To
do this, move the character
or group next to the “body”
symbol, then select this
exchange scrolls appear (see “Travel and Interaction, Item

Exchange Scrolls,” pp28, for details‘).

E

XIT

BATTLEFIELD (x key):

on the edge of the battlefield, this option is available. Select-

ing this option causes the
In effect,

the exhausted behind (i.e., characters who collapsed because

their endurance reached zero), the battle automatically ends.

Those left behind

the

enemy. Looting, imprisonment and/or death are common.

cancels whatever order you are giving either to an individual
or

to the entire group.

initial orders.
the onlv orders that require targets are “Walk

“Flee
target available.
unless the character or group leader is very close to the target.

the character “runs

If all functional characters have run away, leaving only

CANCEL LAST ORDER (Escape or Esc key): This

ORDERS

WITHOUT TARGETS: From the above group,

towards.”

key):

automati-

option

(or tap the “I” key). The item

If the selected character is

character to leave

away” from the enemy.

may suffer a variety of fates,

The character or group reverts to their

All

others automatically

In most cases the orders aren’t even

the battle area.

depending upon

towards” and

apply to the nearest

available

mPdrtalsw

When a character uses stairways,
doorways, he or she temporarily disappears from the battle­field. The

character

is now waiting at the other end

ladders or

certain

special

of the

5

stairway, ladder or doorway for the rest of the party. When all
surviving members of the party use that same doorway,,

and

scene,

part

stairway, or ladder, the entire view changes to the new
at the other end of, the stairway or door.

R

ECALL

FROM

A PORTAL: After a character “uses” a

door

or

stairway, he or she can be recaIled. Tap the appropri­ate number key
the

“u”

key (or select “Use stairs” from the pull-down menu)

to

return. This is the only order available for that character,
The character will reappear in the door or on the stairway.
You cannot use the mouse to recall characters-because the

characters are beyond your view!

M

ULTIPLE

lead to different places.
another, the view will never shift to a new scene. Instead, you
will still see the old battlefield, with nobody on it! In this
case, recall some of the characters and move them to join the
others, until

(1

through 5) to see the character, then tap

PORTALS:

everyone

Different doors and stairways may

If part

of the party uses one,

has passed into the same door or stairway.

--eChoup

Group mode exists as a convenience for long journeys.
allows you to move the entire party as a group,

by

one. Group mode is prohibited if any

hand-to-hand. In fact, group mode is a

ever combat threatens. You should give

when fighting.

Whenever you select a group mode (either “Travel
group” or “Travel Single File”) the number one character
(the

character

becomes the group leader.

TRAVEL AS GROUP (g
in a fan-formation that allows everyone to face front. It is
adequate fighting formation, but cannot fit down nar-

row corridors.

To begin "Travel as
to select it from the “Orders” pull-down menu, or tap the
key. If you look at the pull-down menu again, you’ll
check-mark beside

Next, you
acters in the party will attempt to assemble into a group
If the party is

to assemble. In that case, give "Walk toward” orders

individuals to move them closer together, then try again.

TRAVEL
moves in single file, with character number one in the lead
then number

Although usually

group can move through narrow passages.

To begin “Travel Single File,” use the mouse
board to select that from the “Orders” pull-down menu, or
tap the
you’ll see a check-mark beside “Travel Single File.”

Unlike “Travel a’s group,”

point when entering this mode. The characters in the party

automatically assemble behind the number one character
(character whose box is in the upper left on the screen).
course, you still must use destinations when moving (see below).

whose box is in the upper left)

must

too

widely scattered, some or all may be unable

SINGLE FILE (q key): This means the

two,

etc., until the last bripgs Up the
poor

“q”

key. If you look at the pull-down menu again,

Mbdecs~

key): This means the party moves

group,”

“Travel as

select a target for the

for fighting, this is the only way a

use the mouse or keyboard

group.”

you

need not specify a target

rather than one

automatically

group.

The char-

or

It

as

an

“g”

see a

here.

to

party

rear.

key-

Of’

36

As

in “Travel as group,” if the party is

scattered, some

case,

give “Walk toward” orders to individua1s to move them friendly or enemy characters.. A less skillful thrower must

closer

together, then try

M

OVING A GROUP: When the party is in either group can throw right-past friends with a very narrow margin.

mode, it is always
click the mouse to specify the destination for “Walk toward"

movement. If using the keyboard, you must

“Walk

toward” from the “Orders” pull-down menu, move

the cursor to the destination, then tap Return.

Also see

SPECIAL ORDERS: In addition to moving, if the group

approaches certain points, other exploration orders are

sible. The options available depend on

Party

Leader is to the object. Other members of the group

cannot open doors, disarm traps, etc. To have them do such,

you

must either change the party leadership or give them

individual order (which ends group mode). mind that throwing a potion takes time (potions require the

If you use a stairway, ladder, or special doorway in group alchemist to do some special

mode; the entire party moves through the portal. before they are thrown).

Important: Unlike iridividual orders, you do not select a

specific character for group orders. Instead, you-just

give one thing: either a destination (for movement),
specific action (for other exploration orders, like opening and tap Return. The target must be a specific enemy. If the
doors, etc.).

EXITING

must deliberately “turn off" group mode by selecting the

check-marked item on the “Orders” pull-down menu (either

"Travel as group”

"off" the

ment

key (g or q)

&“Attacks”~Pull-down

All

attack orders are given to

must

have a target, selected by either a

cursor and Return keys. If you specify none,

discarded

and the character reverts to his or her

or

all may be unable to assemble. In that

again.

waiting

“Exploration and Real-time,” below.

GROUP MODE: To leave group mode.

group

mode. Tapping the appropriate group move-

also

for movement orders. Simply left-

how close

or

“Travel Single File”). This toggles

toggles off group mode.

Fighting:

The

Menu

individual

characters.

mouse

too

widely THROW POTION (t key): The selected character throws

tap "w"

or select

the current

c+

All

attacks

left-click or the

then

the orders are

previous

a

potion at any allowed target. Characters cannot throw

avoid friends by a wide margin, while a more skillful thrower

This option includes a sub-menu of all potions ‘&at
character can throw. To select the target point, left-click the
mouse, or use the cursor keys (including the numeric key- ,
pad) and tap Return.

If the target is a location, the thrower ignores the move-

ment of friends or enemies and simply throws at that spot. If

the

target is a person, the thrower maintains his or

pos-

or

order.

that person, trying to throw at where they are moving toward,
rather than their current position.

Notice that throwing skill determines how

or

enemies block a throw. Assuming the target

an

potion hits the target, regardless of skill

mixing,

ATTACK

cific target in hand-to-hand combat. To choose

a left-click the mouse, or move the pointer with cursor keys

enemy is

enemy. seeking to engage them.

you

Standard

tell the character to balance.

his

or

her fighting methods,

alternating between strikes

and parries. The character
simply tries to hit the target,

without aiming for

cial spots.

Characters cannot attack

enemies out of sight or oth-

erwise invisible.

VULNERABLE

This is a special tactic for hand-

(a key):

not

adjacent, the attacker will move toward that

"attack" orders

The selected character attacks a

any spe-

(v key):

much

can

level.

Please bear in

lighting, etc., just

over

her

aim at

friends

be hit, the

spe-

the

target,

chance of hitting is unaf- against this enemy.
fected, and the chance of ENLIGHTENED SELF-INTEREST: During
defensive abilities are

BERSERK (b key): This is a special tactic for hand-to-

hand combat. Orders are given exactly like the normal attack.

“Berserk” orders tell a character to make an all-out
attack on the enemy, as quickly as
to his or her safety (like the Viking “Berserkers” of the Dark
Ages). The character strikes more swiftly, with an increased

chance

of

hitting, but is much more vulnerable to being hit.

equi

possible,

without regard

combat, your characters sometimes make their own deci-

sions

about which attack orders to use. You
“Attack“ or "Vulnerable” orders change to
“Vulnerable,” or
can override these orders

"Parry"

depending on the situation. You

by giving

your
“Parry” or “Berserker” orders are never overridden by en­lightened self-interest. A character retains these orders
given new ones.

Of course, the character’s armor will still deflect or reduce

the damage of non-penetrating blows.

P

ARRY

(p

key): This is a special tactic for ha&t&hand

combat. Orders are given exactly like the normal

attack;

an enemy must be specified by moose left-click,

moving the pointer wth cursor keys and tapping Return.

This specifies which enemy

and

against whom any counter-attacks are directed.

the

character primarily faces,

“Parry” orders tell a character to concentrate on defense.

This reduces the chance of enemy hand-to-hand strikes

hirting

the character.
strikes occur more slowly,
Should the character hit, penetration

However, it also means the character’s

and

have

less

chance of hitting.

and

damage abilities’

remain normal.,

U

SE MISSILE (m key): The selected character fires his

or her missile weapon against a target
mouse left-click, or by moving the pointer with

selected

by either a

cursor keys

or

i.e.,

by

Special

MANY-ON-ONE:
tiple enemies are fighting one character, or vice versa. In
such cases, the “one" attempts to defend
still striking his or her selected target. However, the one’s
chance of hitting declines, while each of the “many"
improved chance. The amount of
many

simultaneously

Therefore “many-on-one” situations’ are extremely

vorable

to the
enemy, and avoiding them against yourself, is an
tactic. In general, no more than three or four
find space to surround and simultaneously attack one

T

RAPS: In certain areas your party may encounter deadly

traps. Perceptive characters may see them. before
them; allowing you to avoid them or disarm them:

In hand-to-hand fighting, sometimes mul-

“many." Achieving

Situations

change

face the one.

such situations against the

hand-to-hand:

may see either

either "Attack,"

own, of course.

against

all, while

has

depends on

important

characters can

character.

triggering

until

an

how

fa-

38

Unperceptive characters are more likely to blunder into

them. If this happens, quickly-change
any more

characters from blundering into the trap!

your

orders

to prevent

wExploratioh,

If none of your party is involved in hand-to-hand combat, you
may take advantage

attle is

in, real-time. These controls are intended solely
make exploration
ommended whenever
these controls you must switch from

PARTY L

is not

active, then during non-combat real-time you can
maneuver the party leader (only) around the battlefield by’
left-clicking destinations with the
board, simply hold an appropriate cursor key
leader’s movement. In both cases, the leader is using “Walk

to&Y orders.

The leader can also perform various exploration orders

(depending on what’s near the leader) using either the pull-

/’

down menu or the appropriate keyboard key.

G

ROUP

active, you can maneuver the entire group on the battlefield.

When the group mode is “Travel Single File,“, group
movement
That is, left-click destinations with the mouse, or hold down
cursor
ment you control is the party leader. The remainder of

;

the party follows behind.

left-click destinations with the mouse. With the keyboard

you

must

destination point, then tap Return.

the current party leader can perform various
tion

,

appropriate keyboard key.

works just like, that of the. party leader

keys to control movement directly. The move-

When the group mode is “Travel as group,” you can still

tap the “w” key, use the cursor keys to indicate the

In both “Travel Single File” and

orders using either the pull-down

easier

EADER

REAL-TIME

REAL-TIME CONTROL:

and

of

certain special

in larger areas. They are not rec-

combat

Retil~tink-~

controls

threatens. Remember, to use

orders pause

CONTROL: If group mode

mouse.

If

using

When group

“Travel

while the

to real-time.

the key-

to

direct the

as

explora

menu or

mode

above.

group,"

the

to

is

COLLAPSE: A character collapses whenever his or her endur-

ance reaches zero (0). Once unconscious,

not reawaken for the duration of the fight. Unconscious

characters are

D

reaches zero (0). Once dead; a character can never be resur-

rected. No amount of potions or saintly aid can reverse death.

Therefore, you are advised to provide such

before

they die!

V

“downed”’

ends the battle. In more complex situations, it may only
eliminate the immediate problem. In either case, you nor­mally get a chance to examine
that appears useful. See “Travel arid Interaction, Item Ex­change Scrolls,” pp 28, for details.

E

bypasses the enemy whenever all survivors exit the battle-

l-pB~attle

not

dead.

EATH:

ICTORY: You are victorious when all enemies are

SCAPE OR

A character

by

collapse and/or death. In simple fights this

RETREAT: Your party escapes, retreats, or

Results

dies whenever his or her strength

the bodies,

C+J

the character

aid

to a character.,,

taking anything

will

39

field. The fate of any characters who collapsed on the
field depends on the situation. They might crawl

battl

aw

unobserved and rejoin you. Other times they are capture

Sometimes they are put to death

SURRENDER: This option also ends the battle.

results vary, depending on the motivations of

or

eaten!,

Agai

yo

opponent(s). With luck, at least some may survive.

D

EFEAT : This option occurs when the entire

collapses and/or dies on the battlefield. Collapsed
are entirely at the mercy of the enemy. Results vary,

par

characte

depen

ing on the opponent.

DEATH OF

ALL:

If the entire party dies, then the

gam
ends. If the parry’s fame is, sufficient, it is recorded in the Hall
Fame. Now it's time to create some new characters and try agai

Alchemical skill allows a character to create potions. How-

ever, the character must also know alchemical formulas, have
the ingredients specified in those formulas, and have suffi­cient

time to actually mix the potions.

Knowledge of alchemical formulas is One of the most
precious things in this era. Formula knowledge cannot be
traded between your characters. However, ingredients, the

“Philosopher’s Stone” catalyst, and the resulting
items easily exchanged. Therefore, whenever a character
makes

potions,

are

available, for use. In addition, the resulting potions can be

transferred from the maker to any other character in the party.

Alchemists of varying competence can be found
throughout
them, rather than making them yourself. However;

be costly,

Some alchemical potions can be used to improve a
character’s attributes and/or equipment. Alchemical potions
may also be useful in interactions. Finally, alchemical
tions

can be used as weapons in battle to

alize

or actually injure enemies.

the ingredients carried throughout the party

Germany. It is possible to buy potions from

assuming you

find alchemists with appropriate skills.

discomfort,

potions

this can

demor-

are

po-

EXAMPLE: Galen’s Eyeburn and Nicolas Flammel’s
Eyeburn both produce blinding effects, but the-ingredients
are subtly different. Galen’s formula has a lower
number, but results in potions of lower quality.

Ofcourse, both Eyeburn formulas have a far lower
number than any formula
potions are far more powerful than any Eyeburn.

-The

The “Philosopher’s Stone” is actually a fine mineral powder
that is a universal catalyst. It is
party, and is only valuable to alchemists. It cannot

or

sold on the open market. The party’s Philosopher Stone
has a quality level, starting at zero
during play. Many alchemists use a

Selecting Formulas

for Breath

of Death, because those

Philosopher’s

shared equally

(0); this

“stone”

Stone

value can

of levels 5 to 15;

mystical

mystical

c+

among the

be bought

increase

Formulas

Goto character information to see a summary of any formula

a character

Formulas," pp

plus the name of the original inventor. There are multiple

.

inventors possible

are

various formulas for the same potion!

tions are

Indicated by their quality value.

number." The higher the number, the more difficult the

formula,

success. However, higher mystical numbers also mean either

a higher

knows (see “Character Informarion, Alchemical

26 for

details).

N

AMES: Each formula has a general descriptive name,

for each general name, which means there

not exactly the same-they too vary somewhat, as

MYSTICAL

NUMBER: Each formula has a “mystical

and

therefore

quality potion or a more powerful effect.

more alchemical skill is required for

w

Actually,

the

po-

41

Creating ‘Potions

names on the scroll (to scroll the list, left-click on the top or
bottom of the scroll). If using a keyboard, move the highlight

with a cursor and tap Return.

Now left-click on one of the options that begins with a

crimson letter:

Use this

potion creation, see

Do something

returns you to the “Staying Here” options.

P

OTION. C REATION: When you “use this formula,“.

the scroll closes to show a detailed explanation of the
formula selected.

Across the top of this view is an equation that depicts the

character’s chance of

of success is calculated as 100 plus the quality of the
Philosopher’s Stone (ps), plus the alchemist’s intelligence,
(int), plus his

cal number of the formula. Making more than one batch
level 20 or more is quite exceptional.
Information Screen (tap F6) for the current quality of
carried by your party.

A higher quality “stone” increases the chance of success

when making

“stone” in every process. However, because it is a catalyst,
the “stone” is not consumed. Instead the alchemist recovers than just the ingredients carried by the
it for reuse. Therefore, the only issue that
current quality of your "stone."

potions.

An alchemist

-Making

Creating potions takes time. The party must take up resi­dence for at least one entire
potions.
wilderness

Here” options (see “Travel & Interaction, Staying Here,” key returns you to “Selecting Formulas,” above. There you

Typically this is done by either camping in the

or

taking up residence at a city inn.

When you take up residence, you see the "Staying

See “Notes”

Potions-,

day to

on the Party

“stone” Below

always

uses a little

concerns you

permit the making of

is the More batches: Left-clicking here or tapping the "m" key

time may reduce the chance of success.

ingredients that are used to make fhe potion. In parenthesis

is

the number of ingredients that will remain among the party

after you mix the potion. Since everyone in the party shares

ingredients, the totals reflect those in the entire party, rather

allows you

Although an alchemist can only mix one formula

amount he or she mixes can be small or large, depending
upon the amount of ingredients you wish toconsume. Larger
batches

Fewer batches: Left-clicking here or tapping the “f" key

allows you to make fewer batches.

Different formula:

formula:

this summary, to the right, is a list of the various

to

may

reduce

This makes the selection and begins

below.

else:

This aborts any alchemical work and

success

or

heralchemical skill (alch), minus the mysti-

make more than one potion simultaneously.

Left-clicking here or tapping the

with this formula. The chance

your

chances of success.

alchemist.

per

day, the

at

a

"d"

42

.

can

select

a different formula instead, or you can forget

formulas

another option.

,

key
to "Staying

entirely and return to “Staying Here” to

Satisfied with this:

saves

your

Here.”

Left-clicking here or tapping

alchemical

plans for the day and returns you

where you

can select options for

about

choose

the "s"

“Staying Here,”

for the character. The potions are not actually made until you

select

“Spend a day, doing the above.” At that point,

orfailure is judged;

Potion creation includes an element of risk. If the risk is
low, then failures usually have modest affects; the ingredi­ents are wasted, but nothing

moderate or high, then failures can result

Characters. and/or their equipment may be damaged, the

camp or inn may become: uninhabitable, etc.

If the-creation

potions among his or her equipment. They can be

ferred to the other members of the party, as desired. If you are using the keyboard, use the

Potions
during interactions, or during battle. Potions can be used
either
thrown in battle.
different places.

potions that improve a
ment can be, used here. Typically, these potions add to a
character’s attributes,

day

equipment scroll onto the in-use board (like a weapon

armor). This applies the potion to the character,
appropriate piece of equipment on the armaments board.
Naturally,
on the armaments board before using the-potion!

can

from

POTION USE DURING CHARACTER INFORMATION: Only

(24 hours).

If you are using

make sure the desired piece of weapon or armor is

your

potion creation plans are summarized

success

worse

happens. If the risk is

in

larger disasters.

is

successful, the creator now has those

trans-

wUsirig:Poti~ons

be used either as part of character information,

character information, during interactions, or

Typically,

a

different potions are used in

person or

or

to equipment quality, for one

mouse, left-drag the potion from the

improve a piece of equip-

c+

or

to

the

the

potion,

then tap “p.” This applies the potion to the

character, or an item on the armaments

You cannot

Instead, you must first transfer

then select character information for that character, .then

transfer the potion from

the in-use board.

POTION USE

ing, certain options may “pop up”
characters and their alchemical

potions. The sub-menu shows
the potions possessed by the

character. Simply select (by left-

or

clicking or cursoring the high-

light and hitting return) the
specific potion of

cific character.

directly

DURING

the

use a

potion on another character.

the potion to that character,

the

character’s equipment to

INTERACTION: When interact-

spe-

board, as

a

sub-menu of various

cursor

to highlight

appropriate.

43

.

At

lower difficulty

els,

the sub-menu may
clude faded potion names.’
These are potions that could
be used, if only you had
them! At the
culty level, some potion
names may. appear in red.
These represent potions that Pull-down Menu,”
could be used, and for which
you know the formula. You
can’t use them

haven’t mixed

and start mixing!).

can give characters orders to

lowest

diffi- your character. See pp25 for details.

because

up

any (this is a

you

throw certain potions. See “Battle, ‘Fighting: the AI

lev-

in-

Pull-down Menu,” pp37, for details.

tack

While in battle

and use a potion on the character

view. While this has no

VIEWING

is on (see “Universal Controls and Menu Bar, The

caused by potions appear in the character boxes. However,

this option is
must look at the appropriate character information to see
current state of the character.

CHANGES: When the “Show changes”

turned off,

you can

also go to character

or

equipment from th

effect on

ppl8), any attribute and skill

the

the enemy, it may

changes

simply happen. Yc

informatio

ai

optic

'Gam

change

t

m

ABOUT

RELIGION

+#f@-g

Many

miraculous aids are possible through

cially

by praying for the intervention of a saint. Prayingto
saints is possible at any rime in character information_(see
pp26). However, additional benefits are possible if a charac­ter

takes advantage of a

Prayer reduces a character’s “divine favor” (DF). How­ever, this is easily regained. In Darklands, think of divine favor
as a

type of “credit,” which is

Praying to Saints

prayer opportunity

"spent”

on prayer, and can then

religion,

during interactions.

espe-

be regained through vatious deeds.
regained varies with the religious

Virtue is also

Instead, a character's virtue determines which saints and
relics can be used, because each saint and relic demands a
different level of virtue.

important.

GzKnowledge

A character must “know” about a saint before he

pray for miracles. This knowledge is a mystical understand-

ing, and cannot be transferred from one character to another.

Thesaints currently known

in character information (see "Character Information;

Saints,”

those who know about them. Monasteries, universities and

cathedrals are the best

Opportunities. There

can be discovered, although is it unlikely that anyone

will learn them all.

pp26).

Characters

can

“learn” about new saints by seeking

sources,

are over

-Praying

A

character

mation, or as an interaction option.

sults

in normal benefits,

the interaction. Prayer from character

vides the normal benefits; you can never

information and get interaction benefits.

ing battle. Simply go to
ter information and pray from
there, then return
and observe the results.

I

NFORMATION: When

lect a saint in character informa­tion

(see “Character Informa-

can pray for saintly aid

plus the spe

PIayer is also possible dur-

charac-

PRAYER

,AT’

CHARACTER

you se-

The speed

training of

Unlike DF; it is not spent.

of

by a character

but you may find additional

130 different saints that,

to

Saints,-.

ither in character infor-

e

Interaction success re-

cial

information only

Calcination

at which it is

the character.

S’aintsw~

or

she can

are available

effects that occur in

pro-

pray from character

tion, Saints,"

changes to

saint, a brief description, and known appear in pale print.

other

The “Success” value known, a simple list purely

here represents the percent- in pale print appears. At

age

chance of success.

character lacks sufficient vir- with less “help” selected,

tue
of success is 0%. If the char-

acter has sufficient virtue, the

chance of

more. If a character’s virtue be available.

is higher than the minimum, success. chances

commensurate, with the advantage in virtue.’

The “DF Remaining” value shows the amount of divine

favor

(DF) the character

almost never equal

consume at least a certain minimum amount of DF.

More divine favor is

left-click or by tapping the “m”
DF spent during the prayer.

Less divine favor is spent: Selecting this option (with a left:

click or by tapping

spent during the prayer. This decreases the chance of

cess,

but increases the

chance of success cannot drop below the initial value, nor can

the DF Remaining be i&eased beyond the initial

Pray

now for..

by tapping the "p" key)

prayer. If the

sub-menu appears, listing the possible-recipients. If the

, ‘prayer benefits the entire party, you just see’ “Pray now.”

Don’t pray

click or by tapping the
pray. You return
character information.

PRAYER
include the possibility of prayer. A sub-menu
ing

the saints applicable in rhis situation. Saints known by a

prayer must

right now:

AT

will

have after the prayer. This is

to

the current

spent:

the "1"

key) decreases the amount of

amount

: Selecting

causes

be directed at a single character, a

Selecting this option (with a left-

“d”

key) means the character does not

to

the previous

INTERACTION: Some

value, since

Selecting this option (with a

key)

of DF Remaining. The

this option (with a left-click

the character to make the

pp26), the view

an

image of the while those

information. If all applicable saints are un-

If the

for

this saint, the chance

success

increases

view, in

interaction

is. 1% or

improve

most prayers

the amount

DF

suc-

value.

this case

options

appears, show-

..~

character appear in dark print,

currently

higher levels of difticulty (i.e.,

"Universal Controls and Menu

Bar, The ‘Game’ Pull-down

Menu,"

“unknown" saints may not

view of the

select “Pray now for...”
normal effects you also receive a special effect appropriate to
the interaction. This special effect almost always affects the
entire

just one character.

of

is on (see "Universal Controls and Menu Bar,
Pull-down Menu,”
caused by a saint appear in the character boxes. However, if

this option is turned off, the changes simply happen. You
must look at the appropriate character information to see the

current state of the character.
wish

or-

to

pp18),

the pale print ,

If

you select the sub-menu option, you see the’ same

saint, with

party, even, if the normal effect is restricted to-

VIEWING

Some saints cause

to

a saint, then turn them on again afterward.

CHANGE:: When the "Show changes" option

temporarily turn off

-Divine

Divine Favor (DF) is
character uses when asking a saint for aid. DF ranges from a
minimum of zero
reduces that character's DF. The new, lower amount is noted
when you view information about a saint.

Certain despicable ctions may also

lose a certain amount of divine favor. Be wary of acting tbo

“evil" - it may influence your ability to call saintly aid. In

(0)

un-

see

the same options as before. If you

and

are successful, in addition to the

The

pp18), any attribute ‘and skill changes

many changes;

“Show

Favo~r ci~

a

kind of holy “credit,” which

to a

maximum

eventually you may

changes" before praying

of 99. A prayer to a saint

cause

a character to

Game

a

some cases, the maximum allowable DF may also be reduced
to something less than

99.

When calling upon a saint, a character must use at least

a

certain

minimum

amount

of DF. A character may also be

limited in the maximum amount of DF that can be used.

R

EGAINING DF: Divine Favor is regained daily at a very ,

slow rate. You may improve this by spending days in prayer

(see

“Travel and Interaction, Staying Here,” pp29), by going
to confession, and/or going to mass. Donations to churches
and cathedrals may also improve your divine favor.

The speed at which, a character regains divine favor

depends

on his or her religious training. Characters with

better training regain favor faster, those with less

regain it more slowly.

SAINT

DAY: If a character asks for saintly aid on the day

of that

saint, the DF cost is much less.

There are dozens of different religious relics. Many of these

are useful items in their own right, such as St. Adrian’s Sword,
St. Bathildis’ Staff, etc. In addition, relics may provide
certain miraculous benefits.

S

AINTLY AID BENEFITS:

duce the DF cost of praying to that saint.

Possession

of a relic may re-

However,
relics require the bearer to have sufficient virtue to gain this
advantage. The virtue requirement

is

frequently high,’ so

only the most virtuous will benefit when invoking a saint.

Relics related to Christ,

invoking any saint.

UTOMATIC ATTRIBUTE

A

or

Mary

&

are

beneficial when

SKILL BENEFITS: In

cial cases, a sufficiently virtuous character carrying a relic

may see a temporary improvement in attributes and/or skills.

Examine character information to see these effects. These,

effects are automatic for whomever carries the relic.

lg&yJjj@@~

(or

none)

most

spe-

w

GOALS

AND

REWARDS

+#@-v

wFanie

The ultimate

and quests come and go: Someday everyone must die, even

your adventurers. What matters is how they are remem-

bered by future generations. Will your party be known as
immortal heroes, like Roland, Beowulf,
they be forgotten?

In
this number, the greater your fame. You can review your
current fame by looking at Party Information (on the pull- final value.

down “Party” menu, or just tap the “F6” key). In

fame is useful during the play
ample, interacting with certain people may be easier if
your party is famous.

FAME AWARDS: Naturally, the greater your accomplish:
ments,
large problems, such as robber-knights, dragons, revolts, and

goal

in Darklands is fame. Events, adventures

Darklands fame

the more fame

is awarded numerically. The higher

your

cd

or

Siegfried, or will

addition,

of Darklands.

party accumulates. Dealing with

For

witches produces more fame than collecting a lost relic

escorting a merchant.

The size of an award also depends

selected (see “Universal Controls and Menu Bar, Help and

Difficulty Levels,” pp19) The less help you

your reward in fame.

The death of a character does not affect your fame. The

arty can continue, possibly recruiting another person. How-

P
ever, if the entire party is killed, then their current fame is the

Party fame is not affected if you dismiss individuals from

the party and replace them withothers. For simplicity, fame

ex-

is attached to the party as a whole, not

F

AME LEVELS

general level of fame may also increase. The levels; from
lowest to highest are: Unknown, Barely Known, Slight

Reputation, Modest Reputation, Good Reputation, Slight
Heroes; Modest Heroes, Great Heroes, Famous Heroes,

Storied Heroes, and finally Legendary Heroes.

1-53

Characters in

its limits. All attributes and skills have an upper limit of 99.
However, attributes almost never rise about the original

values, except temporarily due to potions

the other hand,

occurs in situations where that character’s skill is seriously

tested

(i.e., there is
skill gives a greater chance of improvement, and somewhat
larger improvements as well. However, as skills get higher,

the chance of improvement grows smaller. For example,

advancing 20 to 21 is fairly easy, while advancing
96 is

extremely

Similarly, you can accumulate riches

Wealth is useful, but is nor a goal of the game. No great fame

is attached to wealth. For example, the Fugger banking
house was wealthy beyond the wildest

kings, yet they are almost forgotten today.

on

the level of help

use,

specific

:

As your

numerical

score increases, your

Character Development

Darklands

difficult.

will improve,

wil

jmprove steadily. Skill improvement

an element of risk). Successful use of

but

improvement has

or

saints. Skills, on

by various means.

dreams

or

the greater

people.

w

from

95 to

of many

a

-Medieval

Darklands

(the 15th Century AD). This is an era of noble knights and

rapacious warlords, of universal Catholicism and three

competing Popes, of superstitious peasants, and rich mer­chant princes, of soaring castles and dark forests, Above all,
the

Europe

wreckage of the Roman Empire and the chaos of the Dark
Ages. It is an era of relative stability before. the accelerating
changes that ultimately formed modern Europe.

first
provinces, and finally overrun by new barbarians
ern Europe and the Russian steppes. Throughout the Dark

is set in the late Middle Ages from 1400 to 1499

Middle Ages was that half-millenium of time when

reorganized

Until 400 AD Europe was part of

barbarian hinterlands, then sophisticated and thriving

itself into new kingdoms

Europe

the

Roman Empire, at

C+J

out

from

of the

East-

Ages
ing Charlemagne’s Empire (800-814). Around 1000 AD Eu-

rope stabilized into a recognizable form. Most historians find

this a convenient dividing line between the "Dark Ages" and

the “Middle Ages.”

changed very slowly. So slowly, in fact, that
expected no change at all.
was feudal, and a man’s place in the world was ordained by
birth. Noblemen owned the land. They were trained war­riors with expensive equi
nobles, worked the land.
Small cities and towns held
merchants, and
each hamlet. Even politics changed

51

+#t+o

(circa 500-1000) various kingdoms rose and fell, includ-

Medieval Europe was an era where religion and

The

Church was universal, society

ment. Peasants were protected by

and rarely were free to leave it.

craftsmen,

other

facilities too costly or specialized for

fairs

slowly.

Almost every

culture

most

people

for

travelling

w

LIFE IN THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE

++@-g

-Imperial

The extraordinary chaos and

many

was rooted in its
where all surrounding kingdoms were dynasties
from father to son, the German King and Emperor (he was
always the same man) was elected by seven powerful noble-

men: the Archbishops of Mainz, Trier and Koln (Cologne),
the Count Palatine of the Rhine, the Duke of Saxony, the

Margrave

the large noble families remained strong. To get elected,
would-be Emperors gave money and lands to the electors in
exchange for their support (i.e., buying their vote). Once
elected, Emperors continued to spend money and lands, in
an attempt to get their sons elected after them, ultimately
hoping to create a family dynasty, such as that enjoyed by the

kings of France, Spain or England.

of Brandenburg, and the King of Bohemia.

This

system

insured that the Emperor was weak while

Politics

violence

peculiar

political

cd

of 15th Century Ger-

structure.

In an age

that passed

For example, in 1439 Emperor Albert II died. In the next

year his

in Aachen and given custody of Albert’s just-born son,
Ladislas. However, not until 1452 did Frederick go to Rome
for coronation as Emperor, and then only because a friendly
Pope helped pay for the trip! For most of his reign Frederick
III ruled from his Styrian (south Austrian) lands, enduring
various indignities and setbacks from the-nobles while he
quietly, cautiously but competently ruled the family realm.
In the 1470s he married his son, Maximillian, to the daughter
of the Duke of Burgundy, the single richest prince in Eu­rope. The Duke hoped to use his
King from Frederick. This in turn would lead to becoming
the next Emperor. However, the Duke was killed in battle

against

his wealth instead. This allowed Frederick to get his son
elected co-Emperor in 1486, a major

establishing the Habsburg dynasty that would ultimately
dominate most of Europe in the 1500s.

poor and frequently powerless; carefully husbanding re­sources for future, generations. Various "princes" were the
real powers within the Empire. Some
nobles or prelates, controlling widelands. Others were smaller,
sometimes
Some families used family money to purchase from the Pope
a position of

control of all the lands and income attached to that church

office. These positions could
be Quite important: some bish­ops or archbishops were fully

equal to a margrave or duke.
The archbishops of Mainz,
Trier

richest in Europe, hence their

position as electors. The

pacy,

nephew,

the Swiss in 1477, allowing the Habsburgs to inherit

What this means is that in the

and Koln were among the

poor

Frederick of Habsburg, was crowned King

wealth

to buy the title of

step

on the road

1400s, the Emperor was

were rich and

no

more than a tiny castle and a few

abbot,

bishop or archbishop, which gave the son

Pa-

and/or divided, was

powerful

villages.

to

quite

happy with
not be. inherited, and were therefore available for resale
whenever the current occupant died.

Noble families, acquired
(including
They lost lands because fathers persisted in giving each of
their sons a certain part of the family lands. This frequently
caused bloody feuds between the sons. Family branches at
war were especially frequent in this century. The English
word “feud” is derived from “fehde,” a German word mean-

ing “private war.”

To the casual observer, it-seems that every major noble

house in Germany was either fighting itself or its neighbors

sometime during this century. Actually, the division and

recombination of noble lands had gone on for centuries. By

1400 Greater Germany was a patchwork of divisions, with

many nobles owning lands in dozens of scattered locations.

Each noble with sufficient military power could promul-

gate his own

this arrangement. Episcopal offices could

land

by intermarriage, gifts

those

from would-be Emperors), and conquest.

laws.

The only higher court was the Emperor,

and

he

was rarely available! This meant that criminals only
needed to elude the local
principality

was

a robber. With a band of mercenary soldiers, he could tax

or plunder anyone who passed near his land. These

"raubritter"

On a larger scale, Germany had various
period. The most significant struggle was between the Teu­tonic Knights and
rable the Hussite Wars.

The

and stretching along the Baltic

an independent but waning power (the “Ordensstadt”). In

1410 a Polish-Lithuanian army crushed the Teutonic army at
Grunwald-Tannenberg. For the remainder of the century
the Poles slowly recaptured land

as well as expanding their eastern borders into the Russian

city-states. Meanwhile a virtual plethora of Polish princesses

married into the highest families of the Holy Roman Empire.
This helped insure that Imperial forces
gradual dismemberment of the Ordensstadt, as long as the
Poles weren’t

basin surrounded by mountains. Bohemia is a unique area in
the Empire.
the great city of Prag (Prague) insured strong German inter­est. The religiously-inspired Hussite rebellions of the 1420s
attracted a virtual. crusade of German knights, led by the

Emperor himself at times. The Hussites not only sought

religious reform, but Czech cultural freedom

domination. Unfortunately, the Hussite movement eventu-

ally fragmented, began fighting itself, and was, ultimately

crushed by Imperial forces.

cities that promoted and protected their. trade. Although

generally mercantile, the Hansa did organize and fight wars;

with each city contributing troops-or mercenaries. Like the

Teutonic Knights, the Hansa was a declining power. It had

made unwise choices in prosecuting trade wars with the

to

avoid justice. In some cases, the noble himself

(robber knights) were the bane of Germany.

Order of

The other great conflict &cured in Bohemia, a fertile

In the north, the Hanseatic League was an association of

Teutonic Knights, based in

too

greedy.

Originally Czech-Speaking, its rich mines, and

pursuit

the Kingdom

and slip into a neighboring

wars during

of Poland, the most memo-

Marienberg

coast

into modern Russia, was

from

the Teutonic Knights,

would

ignore the

from German

this

,

Scandinavians and Dutch. Their monopolies were crum-

bling, making the League a power more in name than in fact.

Many of the larger cities in Germany were “Imperial

Free

Cities” (see “The Cities of the Empire") below for
details). Such places were effectively independent of all
outsiders. The city citizens, embodied

council (the "Rat of the Reichstadte”),

as they pleased, establishing all laws and rules.

POLITICS &

and warfare is a

the risk

assume

enemy! In addition, it is difficult to enter a place preparing

for
currently under

places. Noble houses sometimes ruled multiple cities. Your

reputation in one of these cities may influence your reputa­tion in the others. Of course, if you are hated
the enemy of that house may welcome your presence.

states within their walls. Many of the richest cities in the land
hold this status. Here your reputation is unique and the
possibilities are

.of

that anyone

war,

and

The political

The Imperial Free Cities are virtually independent

ADVENTURING: The existence of feuds

major consideration

encountering military patrols, who generally

not enrolled in their army must be the

almost

impossible

siege.

landscape may

limitless.

to get into or out of a place

also affect your reception in

mRellglon

The Church of medieval Europe was quite different from
the

modern Catholic Church. By the

a decadent institution so badly in need of reform that priests,

monks, and sometimes even Popes attempted to

changes.
archbishoprics.
Pope himself routinely had mistresses. Excommunications
were invoked and revoked to suit immediate political ends.
In rural parishes some priests couldn’t
making it impossible for them to
course,
perstition and old folk ways often continued under a thin

The Church sold everything from indulgences

Clerics from simple

nobody else in the parish understood Latin, so su-

by

the current city

ran their

when

w

1400s,

country

say

the mass correctly. Of

own affairs

travelling.

the Church was

even

You run

by

one house,

priests to the

read Latin,

make

veneer of Christianity. Many were aware how easily this’
allowed heresies

To many people the Church

tion, controlled by men of great wealth and power who used,

a “secret” language (Latin) and commanded all sorts of

daunting powers, including miraculous aid, powerful relics,
and terrifying excommunication to eternal hell. Degrees of
religious belief might vary,

archbishop leading a mercenary army! Some took heart in the

mendicant (travelling)

to

matic teachings ranged from in­quisitorial

that

the final reckoning was at
hand. Of course, some were
more than
ing hell

who

food, drink, and

and damnation

didn’t provide them with

to

grow.

witch-hunts

freeloaders,

a

soft bed!

but

friars

and preachers; whose

to hints

no-

threaten-

to anyone

.

was an awesome

nobody sneered at a noble

Distillation

institu-

charis-

RELIGION AND AD -

VENTURING:
turer, the miraculous aspects
of the 15th Century church
are very useful. This includes
both prayers for, Saintly

miracles, and the power of

various relics.

Cathedrals, churches,
and sometimes monasteries
are useful places to add vir-

tue

or

(DF),

pleted by‘asking for saintly
aid can "recharge" and try
again.
staying at an inn
and praying to regain DF.

Useful relics can be

gained by a judicious
of services. Furthermore, few churchmen are actively
rupt or evil; most are just pragmatic. They might offer various
forms of religious and, if you

You should be diary of clerics met on the road, in the
remote countryside, or small hamlets. Some are genuine, but
the world is also full of freeloaders, scoundrels, and worse.

w

ECONOMIES:

nobles owned the land, which included the peasant families
that worked-it. Land was passed to sons and daughters, with
holdingssubdivided by death, thenrecombined by marriage.
Not even wars permanently changed the tradition of family
land. Military victors usually sought to eliminate the enemy’s
sons

and marry their daughters, to give them “permanent”.

title to lands currently occupied by their army.

In the late Middle Ages merchants and mercantile pur­suits were an important part
Traditionally, profit from buying and selling, without put-

In earlier centuries, land was wealth. Feudal

give

Society

of

Europe’s economic fabric:

them something in return.

c&

For an adven-

regain divine favor

so that characters de-

Others prefer simply

or

in camp

barter

ting any personal labor into the product, was considered
unworthy. Interest on loans (usury) was technically illegal by

church. law. However,, the weakness of the Church and

fraying morality allowed these proscriptions to
chants and bankers eagerly entered the financialarena, and
by the 1400s
expeditions. In earlier ages the non-Christian Jews had

served as bankers and merchants. Now they were unneces-

sary, which led to many tragic pogroms that drove them from

the cities, or sometimes the entire realm.

When industry and trade returned to Europe, money
and wealth became more important than land. Not unlike
today, people started measuring status by disposable wealth.
Expensive clothing, palatial residences and costly recreations
all displayed one’s place in society.

Minor nobles and knights, living in rural castles and
ruling a few hamlets, were often poorer than modest merchants
or

guildsmen in a neighboring city. Property, income and
sales taxes were unknown, leaving many nobles with nothing
more than traditional land rents established centuries earlier.
Some were virtually forced to become “raubritter” (robber

cor-

knights) just to survive. Greater nobles consumed money by
the wagon-load to maintain their status and finance military
ventures (or defenses against venturesome neighbors). To

get money, they frequently sold land for big, long-term cash
payments,
grees of independence.

M

their own coins with varying amounts of precious metals.
The florins, groschen and pfenniges in
mon denominations, widely used in the Empire. Florins are
very valuable gpld coins,

rich merchants, and other wealthy persons. Groschen are

larger silver coins, carried by all but the poorest citizens.
Pfenniges are small change, valued by only the

stricken. A

“Rhinegulden” (Rhine gold), as many gold florins were

minted in the wealthy Rhine cities.

were

rich enough to finance world-wide trading

or

let wealthy

ONEY:, Various kingdoms and principalities minted

popular

towns and

usually

nickname for the gold florin was

cities boy various de-

Darklands

carried only by noblemen,

lapse.

Met-,

are com-

poverty-

The actual value of coins depended on the mint and the

date minted. Various principalities issued various types of

coins, including half-groschen, schillings, wittens, etc. Ger-

many had some of the richest silver mines in Europe, and

new mining techniques available in the 1400s allowed the
reopening of

many

old, abandoned works.

On the other hand, princes with minting rights fre­quently debased their coinage by making coins with a lower
percentage of precious metal, to “stretch” their money fur­ther. The complexities of multiple and frequently debased
coins are ignored in Darklands. Instead you can enjoy what
medieval man longed for: a stable, recognizable coinage that
always has the same value everywhere.

P

OPULATION: In the winter of 1347-48 the bubonic

plague (the “Black Death”) struck Europe. For the remain­der of the century,
tions

in various areas. By the middle of the

outbursts

repeatedly decimated popula-

1400s,

between.
one-third and one-half the, population had disappeared. Un-,
occupied farmland reverted to its wild state, usually forests.
There was a shortage of

the old feudal system where peasants were “tied” to the land.

After the plague, an unhappy family could abandon their
farm, and join the many refugees, pilgrims, and other victims
of chaos in the countryside. From there they could find a new
and better

occcupation

least find a nicer nobleman in need of farmers!

Some of these refugees joined mercenary companies,

who hired themselves out to feuding nobles. German merce-

nary companies were plentiful. They were so experienced
that virtually every neighboring
in their civil wars; the Duke of Burgundy in his wars of expan­sion,

and the Italian city-states in

labor

everywhere. This destroyed

in a labor-hungry town or city, or at

state

used them: the English

their perpetual

conflicts. citizenry, the guard was fre-

heraldic insignia underwent a vast expansion and change, to
accommodate all the newly noble families.

Needless to say, this wild and changing time is a perfect
setting for adventure, a place where one can easily find
dangerous tasks,

VIOLENCE: In a world of social change, weak laws, and

large rewards and everlasting fame.

constant warfare, it is no surprise that towns, cities and mon-

asteries

built or

improved
inhabitants. A standing force of guardsmen existed primarily
to defend the walls, and secondarily to keep the peace with-~
in. Initially recruited from the

Throughout most of the 15th Century, opportunities for quently supplemented by mer­mobility and social change were better than previous or cenaries.
future times. Furthermore, the rise of

where wealth (not land) bought success
venturesome people the prospect of great gains. In fact,

many newly rich, families purchased

a

monied economy, Outside the walls, violence

and power,

titles

of nobility that

allowed

was commonplace and justice

so

rare. The leader of each village
or

hamlet (typically a

their

"schulz")

fortitications to protect the

was a warrior as well as an administrator.. His skill and

leadership helped assure survival against bandits and wild

animals. Only rarely could a schulz rely

on

his titular noble
overlord for aid,. All too often the overlord was just a distant
source of taxation arid trouble.

Travelling merchants hired guards

toprotect their goods

and lives. Even friars and pilgrims frequently travelled with

weapons to defend themselves.

E

DUCATION: Despite the difficulties of the age, the

15th Century was also the beginning of the Renaissance.

Knowledge and

learning

were no longer just the province of
priests and monks., Universities existed. Scions of wealthy
noblemen or merchants were tutored by various teachers, not
just monks and priests. Johannes Gutenberg began printing
books in the 1440s. Even the wildest ideas, when committed
to print, seemed credible. One of the “best-sellers” in this
era was the Malleus Malificarum, a handbook on the evils of
witchcraft, how to identify them, and how to deal with them.

Education did not instantly confer

wealth or

position.
However, intelligent men and women began trying to ex­pand their knowledge, experiment and learn. For example,
while alchemists in previous centuries generally tried to
invoke and bind demons or devils, alchemists in the 15th
Century were at least as interested

in

identifying pure ele-

ments and achieving chemical changes. Their hope of trans-

forming lead to gold simply indicates the amount of knowl-

edge they still lacked.

Latin remained the primary written language of Europe.
However, for the first time documents were also written, and
event printed, in local everyday languages. This also contrib-

uted to the decline of the Church, in this case as the repository
of human knowledge and wisdom.

T

HE CLOCK: The classic “monastic

hours,

or bells, was the traditional method of timekeeping in

this era. The actual length

the amount of daylight. in

of

each monastic

each

day, since the hours were

clock”

of eight

hour varied

with

timed to the sun's position rather than an absolute measure.

New mechanical clocks were just appearing

in

the richer

towns and cities, mainly on public buildings. Clock mecha-

nisms were still cumbersome and complex,

using

weights

and counter-weights. Coiled spring clock mechanisms were

not invented until the next century.

T

HE CALENDAR: For simplicity, in

Darklands

all holi-

days occur on the same date each year, and there are no leap
years. In reality, holiday dates were a difficult and complex
art, since medieval Europe used the Julian Calendar, created

in 46 BC by Julius Caesar. Although this calendar included

leap

years,

it produced an error of one day every 128 years,
resulting in considerable confusion by the 1400s. This prob­lem was not corrected

until

the

1580s,

when Pope Gregory

sponsored adjustments still in use today.

Popular holidays in Germany during this era include the
Christian celebrations of Easter (April 15th) and Christmas
(December 25th),

plus Shrovetide (February 1 1th), Maidult
(May, 1st) and Michaelmas (September 9th). Of these,
Shrovetide was the largest. Other well-known dates during
the

year include the Vernal Equinox (March

21st),

Holy
Thursday (April 12th), Ascension (May 26th), Corpus Christi
(June 1lth), Midsummer Eve (June 21st), the Autumnal
Equinox (September 22nd), All Hallow’s Eve (October
30th), and among certain heretics the Last Sabbat
(December 26th).

.+The%ities

of the Empire

c+=

Germany had a plethora of small cities. The largest, Cologne
(Koln

in German),

had about

30,000 people (6,000 to 7,000

families) by the end of the century. This is similar to London

and somewhat smaller than Paris, but vastly smaller than the

100,000 of Naples (in southern Italy), nor to mention
Constantinople or the great cities of Asia. For this reason,
some historians refer to German cities as “towns.”

The Imperial Free City was an institution

unique to

the
Empire, Normally cities were subject to whatever noble man
ruled those lands. But in the Empire, certain cities became
direct subjects of the Emperor (which,

of

course, changed

whenever a new Emperor was elected). Typically cities

“bought” this status by giving both
emperor large sums of money. Often the rich

saved

and waited for the right moment,

Emperor

selected a few men to run the city’s day-to-day affairs.
Important laws, decisions about foreign policy, etc., were
made

the wealthy families who financed the city’s freedom. The
laws and rules naturally
generations, as family fortunes
lems

participation in city government. Many cities obtained their

freedom in the late 1200s or 1300s, so by the
ripe for political

walls during this period,
prepared for war
nobles attempted to retake a free city on some pretext. A few
even

tively independent from its titular ruler, the archbishop.
Then laxness
of Mainz, Adolf of Nassau, to sneak his troops into the city.
After ten hours of confused street-fighting he captured “his”

city

industry and trade.

had a

and

mechanical devices were prized everywhere. Even
internationally renowned museums value an
or gold drinkingcup made in a
as Nuremberg

anything for a price. Larger cities usually have greater

tion and higher quality. In addition, not every city includes

. every aspect of

swordsmith's guild, a cathedral, and/or a slum, while others Fuggers:

others do not.

desparately

Once free, a city formed its own council (or “Rat”) which

by

the Rat as a whole. The Rat generally consisted of

could result when new, rich families were denied

German cities were extremely self-protective. Most built

succeeded. For example, until 1462 Mainz

and thenceforth tiled it with an

Free or not, the cities of Germany were the center of

reputation for

careful

attention to detail. German arms, armor,

CITIES

&

needed funds for some war or ceremony,.

favored

revolts.

had

or

were actively at war. More than once

among

the city guard allowed thi Archbishop

Even at

(Nurnberg), Salzburg, or

ADVENTURING: In cities

urban life.

this early date, Germany already

fine craftsmanship, good workmanship,

For example, some cities have aconcept developed

the

former noble and the

citizens of

when

the noble or the

their interests: In future

rose

and fell, political

1400s

a city guard, and frequently

iron

list.

late-medieval

German city, such

Leipzig.

you

can find almost

a city

prob-

they were

was

effec-

and

today,

early astrolabe

selec-

The largest cities of Germany include (in order of size)
Koln, Lubeck, Hamburg, Danzig, Strassburg, Nurnberg and
Ulm.

Others nearly
Dresden, Mainz, Trier, Worms, Regensburg,
Munchen, Prag and Wien (Vienna).

its

in addition to the Council Hall,

All cities have a seat of government, either in the Council

Hall

(usually termed

Some cities include a fortress or barracks for self-protection,

Every city has a central

square where notices are posted,

and a marketplace where gpods
are commonly bought and sold.
This marketplace, sometimes

includes offices of the

or Medici banks; or even a new

the “Rat” or “Stadthaus”) or

the

Leihhaus (a

that size include Bremen, Leipzig,

Augsburg,

a fortress.

Fugger

by

the

pawnshop). Marketplaces
frequently
pharmacist, who might have
various alchemical materials.

Every
church, representative of the
many in the city. Cathedrals
are frequent, although most
are still unfinished. Cathe­drals frequently have patron
saints and/or relics. Virtually
every city has a monastery of
some

sort.

monasteries are especially common in

(the North Sea coast). Their specialty is providing well-

trained clerical staffs to churches and cathedrals. For the
adventurer, monastic libraries are excellent sources of
religious knowledge.

Industry and crafts are ostensibly regulated in cities by
the guilds. The guilds control all work in a specific field,
insuring high quality and requiring all members to charge a
“fair” price. Useful guilds include swordsmiths (for hand-to­hand and
missile weapons), armerers (for metal armor), clothmakers
(for non-metal armor). and artisans (for miscellaneous items
and tools). Smaller cities and various rural hamlets just have
a blacksmith,
armor, usually of lesser quality.

physicians. Alchemists may be willing to sell or trade knowl­edge and materials, while physicians can be helpful in curing
physical ailments.

travellers. Every city has

celebration, sometimes

prices are higher during the fair. Shrovetide
common celebration.

activity sponsored by the state, rather than the church.

thrown

weaponry), bowyers and gunsmiths (for

who

can fashion certain types of weapons

Also in the guild district you may find alchemists and/or

Virtually every city has inns of some

an annual

linked to

A few cities have universities, centers of intellectual

the west and Friesland

fair. This was a time of

a trade fair,: Naturally

include a

city has

Praemonstrater

sort,

its parish

a place for

is

the most

For an

or

adventurer, these are excellent sources of information about
alchemy and various saints. University cities include Restock,
Ko1n,

Wittenberg, Erfurt, Leipzig, Freibetg, Freiberg-im­Breisgau,
berg. Universities founded late in the 1400s are not included.

Over three dozen common occupations are available to po-

tential adventurers. These allow adventurers to develop
skills and abilities. Theoretically,
determined allowable occupations. However, after the Black

Death, Europe was underpopulated. People could and did

travel about, dropping their old life and inaking a new one.

When this is combined with the growing importance of

wealth

mobility results.

Women had a carefully defined role, subservient to the male.

Women

older single women

sirable and possibly unsavory. Overall, the female sex was seen

by the Church as more dangerous and potentially sinful than man.

problem. Many cross-dressed as males, disguising their “true”

nature. It is impossible

For example, as late as’ 1700, the finest duellist and best

secret agent in Europe was the Duke d’Eon. To this day

nobody

Duke dressed convincingly for both roles!

social convention entirely, making their own rules. Joan of

Arc

head for French forces fighting the Englishin the later stages
of the “Hundred Years War” during this period. Her
death and martyrdom occurred after she fell into En-

glish hands-(in 1430).

sentiment about bender, women
opportunities in

Wurzburg,

.

(rather than land-holding), considerable social

Medieval society was also quite conscious of gender.

were

supposed to create and nurture families at home;

Women, of course, adopted their own solutions to this

is

sure whether “he” was a man or woman, since the

A few of the boldest, most charismatic women ignored,

is

one example. She was a charismatic military figure-

In either case, and in keeping with a more

Prag, Basel, Wien,

QZI

Ordinary Life cs-,

or

working women were considered unde-

to estimate

Darklands.

Female character’s graphics are

Pressburg and Heidel-

in the

Middle Ages birth

how common this was.

modern

are allowed

virtually

equal

included in

Darklands

but feel free to use a “male” appear-

ance for female characters who are cross-dressing.

The only exception to this equality is in religion. Certain

clerical occupations are only available to males. However,

this is balanced by various saints who provide greater ben-

efits to women.

M

ILITARY OCCUPATIONS:

RECRUIT

in a mercenary company or nobleman’s army.. After

Most

soldiers bkgin as a

receiving training in basic weapons and various specialities,
they are considered a useful
concern is with weapons.

SOLDIER, where

VETERANS

once

again their

have mastered the

military life. They can pursue non-military interests, or

strive for excellence in a specific weapon. The, last step is
becoming
city guard.
management skills.

A

entry to the aristocracy is becoming a

great courts of the Empire, perhaps even that of the Emperor

himself. Courtiers become adept at negotiation, urban living,
and clerical matters, but have only limited opportunities for
weapons practice. For a person of noble birth,

mote is inheritance
rounded range of opportunities, depending upon one’s inter­ests.

leading contingents
clerics can
The pinnacle of aristocratic success is

personal
ence; especially in leadership and management.

could and did buy their sons a PRIESTHOOD. . This is

CAPTAIN

RISTOCRATIC

of one’s own mercenary

Here

one develops leadership and human-

OCCUPATIONS: For

COURTIER

company or

most, the

in one of the

the alternate

-

as a NOBLE HEIR. This provides a well-

KNIGHTS

are invariably noblemen, fighting and often

in

an army. Successful captains or

acquire

patents of nobility and become knights.

the MANORIAL

LORD, with

lands. These leaders have a wide range of experi-

C

LERICAL OCCUPATIONS: Noble

or

wealthy families

easiest

also

final

step

possible is an appointment as BISHOP. The Church

prohibits women from becoming Priests or Bishops.

In addition to the traditional monastic orders, there are

also

new, mendicant orders. These FRIARS travel the world,
begging for sustenance and helping the needy wherever they
find them. An even more ancient tradition is the
finds

some private, lonely place to contemplate privately the

meaning of religion and virtue.

Monasteries also allow

alongside

the monks. Unlike novices or monks, oblatesmake

no commitment to a monastic life. In effect, an oblate is like

high

a modern student, with the monastery serving as a private
school.’ Historically, many monasteries received

from families who sent sons or daughters to be oblates.

M

ERCANTILE OCCUPATIONS: Travelling PEDDLERS are

the simplest of merchants, selling small
peasant-s and farmers, then car-

open

rying simple country crafts back
to persons with significant intellectual training (such as into the city, where they can
clerks. professors, etc.) or social status (such as nobles.

leaders,

etc.).

Otherwise,

through

a monastery, where one begins as a

NOVICE NUN.

A few years as a novice normally results in

acceptance as a member MONK or

can

aspire to being a PRIEST (if male), ABBOT or

the usual entry into the

NOVICE

NUN

in the order. Then one loads of

village trade them for more small items.

Church is

MONK or

LOCAL

TRADERS

have

what greater substance, with

enough capital, to take

goods

between a city

ABBESS.

The and the surrounding country-

some-

wagon-

OBLATES,

lay students taught

simple

HERMIT, who

a stipend

items

to rural

the guilds, these traders pf-

ten undercut the guild

large businesses or noble courts.

sys-

~,

tem by engaging peasant

wives and other rural labor to

make cheap copies of guild nobleman.

products, especially clothing.

These “cottage industries" Finally,
helped fuel northern Europe's
economic development in the pursuits confer knowledge of alchemical

equivalent, resident position in
might

become

one

ence, alchemists

Specia1ists

PHYSICIANS

can become an ALCHEMIST. With experi-

ascend to

in medicine and the

and. treat the sick.,

MASTER

the court

of a powerful

human body

ALCHEMIST . Both of these

formulas,

provide.

simple components, and a starting Philosopher’s Stone.

TRAVELLING

CHANTS

international traders
a larger

economic

the world. Marco Polo

wealth

is needed as

who link

European

network, and who reach out to

was one

capital, but

such

the

rate with the investment and the risk. The

become

MERCHANT-PROPRIETORS,

wealthy managers of an in- plots, or grouped together in the center for protection.

are

the national and ability or

cities

together into

merchant.

rewards are

most

Considerable

ternational business., These managers Stay at home, while

subordinates take risks and travel for them.

CRAFTSMEN: Medieval Europe had no factories and
production lines. All goods were hand-crafted. In
craftsmen specializing in a certain sphere quickly learned
form guilds. Originally similar to labor unions, guilds

became the sellers as well-as creators

of their

goods. Guilds
established rules for both, prices and quality. In a guild, a
person

training and experience,

CRAFTSMAN
MASTER CRAFTSMEN

starts as

an

APPRENTICE CRAFTSMAN to

then

graduates to JOURNEYMAN

. After a suitable period, the most skillful

and leaders of the guild.

THE

INTELLIGENTSIA: In

addition to monastic educa-

MER- COMMONERS

always

the

rest of

chants, guilds, and large

backs and willing hands for

commensu-

successful

and villages. Homes might be spread out among the farmed
cially,

hibited from

no

fact, unhappy

inclination

work as .a common

The countryside is composed of small farming hamlets

the residents are

AND

THE

COUNTRY: Those without the

to pursue more complex pursuits can

LABORER in a

households

city or town.

always need

many tasks.

PEASANTS,

tied to the land and pro-

leaving without the landowner’s permission. In

peasants

can and do flee to tha independent

cities cities, where residence for a year and a day gives freedom. In

to

many larger villages, especially those with a neighboring

soon

noble manor, some residents are HUNTERS, usually for the lord.
They specialized in taking game from uncultivated land.

Germany

by nobody; making

as well as noblemen.

gain initial

Unlike England, in
erty or owned
one, commoners

become UNDERWORLD AND UNDERCLASS:

nals are

THIEVES, specialists in robbing people or dwellings.

A few of the brightest and best-talking are

most

woods

hunting available

are Imperial

Most urban crimi-

SWINDERS,

to

strong

every-

tion as an oblate, monk, or nun, one can, be a STUDENT at a outwit their victims in various ways. In the countryside, all
university, where literacy, Latin and clear thinking are the manner of fugitives hide in the forests, becoming
main topics, along with a certain amount of religious back­ground. This opens the door to various
The most common is that of

CLERK,

advanced

professions.

who functions as scribe

and bookkeeper for noblemen, businessmen, or guilds. Se-

prey on passing travellers, or sometimes terrorize small hamlets.

The most humble of all the underclass is the

thi penniless wanderer without family or residence, barely

surviving

from

day to day. Any variety of

BANDITS who

VAGABOND

disaster creates

Mer-

Offi-

prop-

who

;

these miserable, creatures. Sometimes their struggles and
privations provide an inner strength (not to mention pragmatic
experience) that helps in later life.

. T

HE LIFE

that some “sea change” in life &used the person

adventuring. Nobles or

sessed

by war

have their fortune ‘ruined, and any

OF

ADVENTURE: In all cases, it is presumed

to start

clerics

might be suddenly

or family

misfortune, great merchants might

manner

of disaster, or

dispos-

simple wanderlust, might cause a person to abandon the “easy”
life and seek

A

truth,

justice for all, and everlasting fame.

DVICE FOR ADVENTURERS: In childhood, the major

decision- is whether to favor certain attributes (making the

character truly outstanding in those), or to divide EPs evenly.

,

Beware of short-changing strength and endurance, since
such characters die quickly. Intelligence is critically impor­tant

to would-be alchemists. Somebody will

leader, and he or she should

have

superior charisma (and

need

to be-the

good "Speak Common” skill). Also consider having a sec­ondary “battle leader” with good perception and superlative

fighting

attributes, who takes over from the “meet and greet

leader” at appropriate times.

The first five years of adult life are the most important.

Characters receive a great deal of experience, allowing them

to learn a lot quickly. The next five years are also important,
although the experience gained isn’t quite so large. After that
experience varies solely with the profession selected. Re­member that many professions may adjust attributes as well
as offer opportunities

for skill

increase. If you are

depending

on a certain attribute, avoid professions that might reduce it!

After age 30, aging

begins

to reduce attributes. Endur­ance, strength and agility suffer first, then perception and
charisma, and finally intelligence. The amount of loss gradu­ally increases, especially from age 45 onward. Old warriors

may

have superior skills, but are very brittle, with less
endurance and strength than younger men and women.
Remember

skills,

there's

also

that while adventuring can increase your

almost no way to permanently improve

at-

tributes; Therefore, a younger, stronger, but less experi-

enced character

must suffer with his or her poor skills during

Fortunately the inexperienced learn quickly (or

a

has

long-term advantages, although you

early adventures.

die

trying).

The last occupation of a character before adventuring
determines his or her starting equipment. Therefore, certain
occupations are very useful immediately before adventuring.

One of the most popular is a military pursuit, since the character

ends up with weapons and armor. Knights, of

best equipment, followed by Veterans,

Lords and

Soldiers,

in

that order.

course,

Captains,

have the

Manorial

for

cr53A Land of Myth and

Germany is

be traced

a land rich

in folk stories and fairy tales. Some can

to

the pre-Christian age where barbarian Franks

Legend we

worshipped northern gods like Odin and Loki. The Dark

Ages spawned the Siegfried

myth:

an invincible

dragon-

slaying hero doomed by an ancient curse he carelessly

nored. Many of the fairy tales collected by ‘the 19th Century
brothers Grimm come

from the

Middle Ages. Their random
violence, capricious events, and conflicts between material,
wealth and propersocial station echo popular concerns of the
late medieval and early modern eras (1400 to 1700).

GEOGRAPHY: The Greater Germany of Darklands has a

wide variety of geography. Except for the geest (heath) along
the North Sea coast, the entire

area

was originally dense

forest. Open land only exists because man cleared the forest is mostly

farming.
first, while the hills and mountains remained tree-covered, a
darkly ominous presence

In Germany skies
frequent storms from the North Sea. The colder air
ground fogs that cloak valleys and lowlands with a white
blanket. Winters
so

heavy

The

like the heath and moors of Scotland or Nova Scotia. The

land is very flat, tabling slowly into the North, Sea. The

coastline is a huge wetland with large tidal marshes

disappear
winds off the North Sea discourage trees,

Conversely, along the Baltic
Oder, the land is flat but heavily forested. The original Slavic
peoples, now heavily mixed with German colonists, are still
sparse. Many future centuries will pass before this region,
becomes known as “the North
brooding Eastern forests evoke visions of barbaric savages

raiding Christian farmsteads, even if the reality is more likely
to

be a troop of Polish lancers charging battered, doomed, but

still defiant

Central Germany, between the Rhine

south of the
dominated by the Thuringian Wald (forest) and the Harz.
Both are low mountains covered
is more rugged, with precipitous ravines and various places of
evil repute, including Brocken, a high; frequently clouded,
lightning-blasted mountaintop, and the Hexentanzplatz ("the
place where the witches dance”). The Harz is also a tine
mining site. However, some of the richest mines in Central.
Germany are

“the ore

Typically, the

are cold

snow

slides off, rather than collapsing the building.

geest

of Friesland, peopled by the Wends, is much

beneath

grass and brush.

Teutonic

geest

and north of the Danube, is a fertile land

lowlands

that overlooks

are

overcast more than clear, with

and snowy.

the sea, during

and flatlands were cleared

fertile valleys.

Steep roofs arc preferred,

high

tide. Cold, biting

so

the ground

coast

and to the east of the

German plain." In this see the

Knights.

and

with

dense forest. The Harz

the Elbe,

along the slopes of the Erzgebirge (literally.

mountains")

near Freiburg and Dresden.

causes

that

cover

The Rhine River origi­nates in Switzerland, in the
southwest corner
Germany. As-it flows north- .

ward to the sea, most of its

length passes through heavily
forested mountains and countryside of Germany, there are many common sights.
ridges. Eventually, between Travelling merchant; with wagons and guards are common-

Duisberg and Wesel, its delta place. Due to the bandits and tolls,
to the North
welter of waterways through hazards to human
Holland and Belgium. Al-

though the Rhinelands are Another common sight is the travelling friar. Such

frequently rugged, there are counters are to be dreaded, since some friars use religious

more than enough fertile

leys and small plains

a large population, including and food (roughly in that order!).

its many ancient cities.

The Danube originates constant danger. Even

in the Black Forest, near the lands under feud, where each side regards all others, as
start of the Rhine, but flows eastward toward Hungary and
the Balkans. The south bank is a great watershed of plains

and marshes, formed by rivers flowing from the Alps north
into the Danube. This fertile plain is the heartland of Ba-

varia, with the trading cities of Ulm and Regensburg, the

banking center of Augsburg, and somewhat to, the north
famous

craftsmen of Nurnberg.

South of this, the Alps themselves

guarding the heartland of Switzerland and the northern

Italian plains. Its passes are only open in summer. The
iuttine. ice-covered spires still inspire awe today. Medieval
man

imagined

inaccessible heights. legal rights, and might take um-

North of the middle Danube is the great basin of Bohemia, brage at “poachers.” The best

‘~ formed ages ago by a giant meteor. Its capital is Prag (Prague),

but in this century it is most famous for silver mines and is
religious

Ziska.

Although Germanic in this age, the common people An extremely common danger to

all

manner

fanaticism: the Hussites, followers of Huss and

of

places

form

and

of Greater the unexpected.

Sea

becomes a take uncommon or unexpected

to sustain

a mighty rampart

things

among the sible land, regardless of their

have slavic roots; many speak Czech. To
is a slightly strange, uncertain place where one must expect

w

Ordinary

FELLOW TRAVELLERS: When travelling the roads and

ones.

about the intentions, of anyone they meet.

val-

sentiment and the hint of eternal damnation to virtually
extort almost anything from anybody, especially drink, money

In war-torn

potential enemies. During a feud ambushes, raids, and simple
murder are commonplace.

A variety of other people also risk the rigors and danger

of travel, from simple vagabonds and refugees

bedecked.

the

H

UNTING: Germany is covered with

of

them untouched by human habitation, while others grow
on farmland left v&ant after the Black Death. Unlike other.
realms, nobles have few legal claims on the
allows more hunting by commoners. However, nobles some­times claim any and all

way to avoid such

to

camp in remote areas.

ANDITS

B

lands,

noble

parties going to

entanglements

& RAUBRITTER:

military scouts or entire armies

worse

Germans,

Humanity

many of these

routes,

preferring natural

Merchants are naturally nervous

is

,the

risk of travelling into

or from

acces-

some tournament.

dense forests,

c+

Bohemia

merchants

to

boldly

some

forests,

which

are

en-

a

65

at at extorting river tolls. He preferred to toss his victims from

his clifftop overlooking the river, enjoying the screams as

Germany river tolls were so common and so costly that
merchants preferred
and greater difficulty.

THUGS

AND THIEVES:

ful. Many

council
weekend on a square or green. In times of danger,

might be supplemented

These two sources provide the troops at the gates and walls,

as well as the nightwatch. Almost every city has a late-night
curfew,

and a peaceful population. However, many
down
This is the most dangerous part of any city. The next
dangerous activity is trying to stay outdoors or. in a ruined
building,

travellers is bandits. The hills, mountains and
Germany provide innumerable lurking places
scum. Bandits are frequently
from more lawful cities and manors. Whenever a judge

decided to banish

him), that criminal became a problem

and

dungeons

Only prisoners held for

languish in dungeons for years.

There are no long-term prisons for criminals in this era. in such circumstances!
One is punished as necessary,
course, some bandits have good reasons for their occupation
They might be dispossessed, struggling to live
can. Many were unemployed, or defeated mercenaries.

The worst of these bandits are the “raubritter,”

knights; A raubritter usually claims a small piece of territory,

based on his possession of a fortress. Supported by his band.

of thugs, he extorts tolls of all sorts from

A famous Austrian raubritter on the Danube

a criminal

are short-term “holding pens” until trials.

criminals

(rather than mutilate or kill

ransom

or political purposes might

then freed

banished or exiled

elsewhere.

(if still living). Of

anyone

forests

for

human

Local jails

however they

or

robber

passing near.

didn't just

Thieves usually prey on the weak and defenseless; only

of

rarely will they iisk capture in the "better" parts of

The citizens may be unhappy with the government,
versa.
violence, or threatened violence, before they are resolved.
To this end, “thugs”
streets; looking for suspicious activity and punishing it.

Urban politics is a dangerous and stressful occupation

In the 1400s Europeanshad a fanciful and mythological
of the creatures inhabiting the world. Even the great natural­istic studies of the 1500s (Abroise Pare and Konrad Gesner)
still included human hermaphrodites, fur-covered women,
children with dog’s legs, demons created
bian

stop

ossibilities and dangers are listed below. Always ex-

P
pect the unexpected.

cities

and/or

afterwhich it is illegal

Most German cities are well-regulated, with clean srreets

areas

inhabited by the poor and/or a criminal element.

rather than

Sometimes travellers find a city in the midst of upheaval.

Political

&Beasts

unicorns, etc. Only some of the more common

they plunged to the rocks below.

overland

Within cities life is more peace-

are self-governing, with citizens forming a

serving in a

by

spending money for a

stresses often require a

hired

and Monsters

In

fact, in

travel, despite its slower speed

urban

militia

a hired mercenary

to be on

the streets until dawn.

by each party prowl the..

15th

Century

that

drilled each

the

company.

have

slums, run-

room

at the inn.

town.

or

certain amount of

w

by

sorcerers, Ara-

most

militia

most

vice

view

WOLF: Packs of wild wolves are among the most com­mon dangers to
famine, wolves were
pulling down their victims in the middle of a street!

travellers

known

in Germany. In fact, in times

to invade towns and villages,

The

of

likelihood and determination of a wolf attack depends on

their hunger. Since wolves attack for food, they only bring,

down what

they need

-

frequently one

person,

rather than

the entire party.

BOAR:

Boars are common in medieval forests. If threat-

ened, they. will fight to the death, and their method of
fighting is

to make

warning of an attack

ferocious charges. Sometimes the only

is

the rustling of thickets as

the boar

hurtles toward you.

Once committed to a fight, boars continue to their dying
breath. For example, impaling a boar with a normal spear
doesn't stop it; the boar continues charging as the spear slides
through its body, undeterred by an

eventually

mortal

wound.
This is why “boar spears” have a crossbar neat the point.
Furthermore, boars continue to attack until all their

nents

are dead or have fled.

EAR: Like boats, bears are

B

animals.

When hungry they will scavenge human

unpredictably

oppo-

dangerous which is usually in high alpine lands. The tatzelwurm easily

camps or

settlements, and become angry if disturbed. Threatening

bear’s cubs is a sure way to provoke a fight.

Bears are among the strongest of wild animals, formidable

opponents in hand-to-hand fighting. However,

they

are also

fairly intelligent. Painful wounds may demoralize them, and

unlike boars they do not always fight to the death.

Bearskins have

GIANT SPIDER: There are spiders as large
that hunt for
immediately eat is killed,

some modest

prey,

including humans. Any prey they cannot

value in

then

bundled for later use. Giant

most marketplaces.

as

big dogs

spiders are fast and have poisonous fangs, but can be driven

away

unless

starving. These creatures are frequently

ported in

mines,

and

forests, but

ruined buildings,

TATZELWURM: This

there are tales of spiders found in

and (once) inside a

large,

vicious lizard has two legs

a long, whip-like tail It is very agile,

have a poisonous bite. It fights tenaciously

cathedral.

and is rumored

for its

re-

to

territory,

son

climbs trees, and has been

a

The tail of the tatzelwurm is reputed to have magical

properties. Alchemists have

reported

not yet found

in the deep forests.

a use for it, but the

very rumors help enhance its value in the marketplace.

W

EREWOLF: These are men who have given themselves

to a devil, who gives them the power to transform from man

to wolf, and back again, as they desire. Werewolves usually

trick humans by appearing in human form, then transforming

and killing their victim in an unguarded moment. The goals

of a

werewolf depend on

gers and

human

lusts

soul.

who gives

his

Predictably, a

the hun-

that

drive their

soul to a devil

per-

can have quite unpleasant desires!

In a famous case of the late

1500s "Stubbe Peter" terrorized

[

the area around Cperadt and
Bedbur in Germany. Peter was

driven by unnatural lechery and lust for females, from small
girls to attractive women. He would
a wolf, transform to a man and ravish her, then transform
to a

wolf and

his own son.

SCHRAT: This large, hairy, hulking creature of the woods

is

also

known as the “wodewose.” Roughly human-shaped,
schrats are simple-minded, unable to speak, and Frequently
either angry or lustful (so

“wild man”). Many have greenish hair,
small trees by some travellers. Others consider them
formed ogres. Little good can be expected from a schrar; if it

cannot be avoided, it usually must be fought Women should

be especially careful around them, as they could be captured
and defiled. However, the schrat’s companion, the holzfrau,
is very different.

HOLZFRAU:

female

“faun.” It is the normal ‘mate to a schrat. Holzfraus

kill her. He disliked most men, and killed

much

This, large, hair-covered but humanoid

is also

known as the "waldmannlein". “woodwife” or

chase

down a victim

back

so that another nickname is

and

are mistaken for

de-

are

as

intelligent; beautiful in their own peculiar way, and generally
friendly,

tools. They are many
lost humans in the woods.

erful creatuers are a
in the deepest forests and most remote mountains to avoid

capture and death. Ogres are hunters: Their great favorite is
the taste of human flesh. Falling into their power is almost

invariably fatal. Fortunately, ogres are also stupid. More
than
way out of the pot!

usually within small cracks in the rock. Their thin bodies and

spindly

areas.
not especially brave or intelligent. They hate human miners,
and frequently set traps, ruin ore veins, cause fires,
generally do their best to kill the human invaders. Fortu­nately, individual kobolds are’ weak fighters,’ with poor
weapons

Then the situation depends on the attitude of their dwarf

ruler. When

very dangerous opponents.

underground, in mountains and/or caves. They are ‘small,
dark, and slightly twisted. Cunning and dangerous,
frequently rule a clan of kobolds
consider humans a numerous but
but sometimes useful. Their gifts to humans are frequently
double-edged, with
example, the famous Ring of the Niebelungen, made by

Albrecht the Dwarf from the cursed Rhinegold, caused the

death of all who owned it, including the hero Siegfried.

cians,
ably, therefore, they can command some of the same powers

as witches and other satanic cults.

especially

O

GRE: These semi-human, large, misshapen, but

one potential victim has

KOBOLD:

limbs let them move through apparently impassable

They are hostile to all who invade their realm, but are

and no

Sometimes kobolds

DWARF:

Some dwarfs are reputed to be great sorcerers and magi-

which suggests they are in league with Satan.

if regularly given offerings of food and

cases

of holzfrau kindness to lonely,

continual

These small, dark

armor beyond their leathery skin.

directed by dwarfcunning, kobolds can become

These semi-humans creatures

both

danger to mankind. They hide

literally

creatures

are

ruled by the

advantages and disadvantages. For

talked his or her

live underground,

far

and/or

gnomes. Dwarfs

inferior

race, mostly pests,

craftier dwarfs.

prefer

to live

Presum-

pow-

and

:

they

GNOME: These are creatures of the rock itself, elementals
that embody the living spirit of the earth. Gnomes are not
easily aroused, but some dwarfs and kobolds know the secret.

do not

Certainly humans

and do not really understand what

motivates them. Many believe that gnomes are disturbed if

humans tunnel into their homes.

Gnomes can cause tremors, cracks and quakes. They can

also leave their home in the rock and

fashion

a body from

loose rock and dirt. These incarnations are very dangerous

but usually brief. Miners believe that unnatural cave-ins are
actually gnomes briefly,

aroused

by a kobold, dwarf, or per-

haps some human transgression.

VULCAN: This is a creature of the deep underground, of Christ, man fights

the fiery depths where rock itself burns. Sometimes they are

too

called “fire elementals,” but this implies

sality. Vulcans

avoid the

surface or

air, preferring the depths Satan's

great-a univer-

of the earth. They may have existed before the fall of Satan;

it is unclear whether they just happen to inhabit hell, or they

;.

actually are controlled by its ruler

Few humans have

survived the encounter. Nobody has

ever

seen

a vulcan,

fewer still have

any

real understanding
of them. The only consistent information is that they are very
active in
mountaintops
nately, these events are brief, after which the

some

mountains, sometimes leaping from

or

migrating down a mountainside. Fortu-

vulcans

again disappear underground.

DRAGON: The dragon is not a natural or living creature.

Instead, the dragon is an embodiment of evil, waiting for the

final

battle of Armageddon (as predictedin Revelations).

Then it will tight with the forces of the Antichrist. Dragons

do not

eat normally: the more they eat, the hungrier they
become, until they eat the entire world. A dragon cannot be
satisfied. The more treasure it has, the more it

desires,

it has the entire treasure of the world and goes mad with the

desire for more. The very existence of a living dragon, with

its

unnatural hungers, causes all types of sickness in the land;

spreading pestilence and evil.

to

Dragons are rumored

tions

are unknowable and certainly unnatural. As a foe, a

be intelligent, but their motiva-

dragon is formidable: well armored, with powerful jaws and
tail, it can spit
combat, but usually

fire

and flame. Dragons have been killed in

with

divine and/or magical weaponry.
Fortunately, the premature awakening of a dragon (i.e.,
before the final battle

w,Heretic$

in the

apocalypse) is quite rare.

and Devil-Worshippers

In this era the greatest threat to mankind is Saran himself.
Satan tempted man into sin, encouraging all evils small and

lage.

Satan could and did

form, offering

any

number of

appear

to people in virtually any

temptations. With the aid of

a

constant

battle not only

to

hold off evil,

but to recover those under

sway.

D

EMONS: These creatures

are

spawned

transported to or materialized

Once

until

w

upon the earth. In their natural form, all are grotesque, with GARGOYLES: These winged creatures are also denizens
beaks. flippers, fish-eves. rat-tails. and worse. Some are great of judgment and hell. They appear on churches as reminders
wizards and magicians, while others are no better than stupid of the evil in the world. Nobody really understands how
thugs, armed with clubs. A few might be strong warriors but living gargoyles are brought into the world, but once “alive”
Satan-worshipping humans usually serve this role better.

Demons can be killed on earth, although many die quite

on

Earth

they

cause desolation and destruction. They can be

killed like animals, but it is unclear whether they die, or

slowly. However, an earthly death simply sends their spirit simply return to hell, like a demon.

back

to hell, where their existence continues. Therefore

demons are almost never afraid of injury or death.

The appearance of demons is a sure sign that either otherwise long

UNDEAD:

Witches and satanic priests, using methods

unknown, are able to recreate

dead.

These

a

semblance of life in bodies

corpses

may contain various
Satan-or, his henchmen/worshippers are near. Demons al- amounts of flesh, or may be purely skeletal, depending on
most never appear randomly

HELLHOUNDS:

tures

that serve Satanic masters. Larger than normal dogs,

These dogs of hell are demonic crea- possible, suggesting that when reanimated, the bodies retain

they are skeletal, with
ferocious

fangs.

Properly speaking, hellhounds are a specific species of
demon. They are something like
mad wolves. . organize

rat-like

or

on their

own.

their age. Communication with the undead is supposedly

some of their former knowledge and abililies.

tails and large mouths full of WITCHES: Frequently

a

have made

pact with a devil. They give themselves entirely

into the power of Satan, and in return receive various unholy

ever-hungry,

ferocious, and evil gifts or powers. Some witches are solitary. Others

“sabbats”

where they lead a small congregation in

female,

these, are people who

the unholy rites df devil-worship.

Witches are known to have, powerful curses, which can

cause sickness or death.

Witches can

Summon spirits that
influence the minds of the unwary, causing illusions, unnatu­ral

emotions, and evil acts. This includes summoning Incubi
or Succubi to leadastray the, unwary. Witches can summon
demons for various specific, short purposes. Witches, using
various invocations

Witches can have their

or ointments, can fly on ordinary objects.

bodies.

Temporarily inhabited by a

devil. This occupation can transform their body into another

form and shape. Witches sometimes can

change others
human into beast form. Finally, witches have somecommand
over

evil weather, and can sometimes call hail or lightning,

H

ERETICAL CULTS: The unhappy condition of the

Church inspired various splinter groups throughout the
Middle Ages. For example, the

Cathars

(sometimes termed

“Albigensians”) created a splinter cult in the 1140s

eventually declared heresy, resulting in a series

"crusades"

in the

early 1200s

within France that extermi-

of bloody

nated them.

from

that was

.

Another splinter
Hussites. Ian
debated theological

guaranteed safety,

cil of Constance in 1415.

group,

now active in Bohemia;

Huss

originally sought Church reform, and

issues

within Church guidelines. When,

he

presented his views at the great Coun-

There

he was betrayed, condemned

are

the

as a heretic, and killed.

This

inspired a

great rebellion in Bohemia, rallying

around a new Hussite religion, and led by the military genius

Jan Ziska. The

important

Emperor was unwilling

province,

so nobles from the rest of Germany

formed armies, year after year,

for

to lose

such a rich and

campaigning into Bohemia,

to stamp out rebellion and recapture rebel strongholds..

Historically the rebels eventually fell

to

bickering among

themselves on religious issues. Disunited and without exter-

nal

allies, they ultimately were defeated by Imperial forces.

T

HE TEMPLARS: The most famous heretical cult of the

Middle

Ages was the Knights of the Temple. Originally

formed during the Crusades to help provide military man-

power and

officially

recognized in 1128, they became a rich

and successful order, despite military reverses in Palestine.

Unfortunately, unlike

they

ended up with an extremely

their brother

order, the Hospitallers,

large, rich

headquarters in

the heartland of Europe, outside of Paris.

In the early

1300s,

King Philip IV (“the Fair”) of France,

inspired’by the dispossessed nobleman Esquiu de Floyran,

decided to pursue accusations of heresy against the Templars.

The Pope, recently “relocated” to Avignon in France, agreed.

In

a few years the order was destroyed. Its leaders and
members, questioned under horrible tortures, admitted to
devil-worshipping rites, including keeping the Head of

Baphomet, a demon, on the wall

of their

council chamber,

where they could receive information, advice, and instruc-

tion

from

Satan. The great wealth of the Templars was
declared forfeit to the King of France, who thereby man­aged to escape virtual bankruptcy.

soon

The Templars were

gland. Their

disgrace

insured the quick demise of their

remaining fortresses and

crushed in France ‘and En-

possessions

in the eastern Mediter-

ranean. However, in Germany and eastern Europe the fate of

the

Templars varied widely, depending on the attitude of

the local prince. Unlike France, no great extermination

befell them within the Holy Roman Empire.

Combat in the late Middle Ages was far more than a battering
match between plate-armored lackwits that ended in mutual
exhaustion. In this era personal armor reached its zenith,
including
ons, as well as entirely new inventions such

armor, suits of which still grace various armories and castles
‘throughout Europe. The technology and craftsmanship de-

manded by true plate armor is quite astounding.

then complete saftely was an unobtainable goal. Tournament

armor

cumbersome for
and
fight all day, rather than collapsing from exhaustion and heat
prostration after a few hours. However, even a full suit of

“battle” plate Armor was extremely

not only

The 15th Century was the heyday of “gothic” plate

‘Plate armor used steel rather

provided the most protection, but was too bulky and

simpler, so men could move, use weapons freely and

plate armor, but also hand-to-hand weap-

as

the handgun.

thin

simple iron, but even

most

fighting. “Battle” armor was lighter

expensive.

No king

prince

noblemen or the rich, who personally owned warhorses and

plate armor, brought them to war.

The now-traditional crossbow, refined and improved
the centuries, was joined by the handgun. Gunpowder artil-

lery

Century, but man-carried weapons such as the handgun were

new in the 15th. Well-made handguns offered greater dam­age power and greater penetration
any bow or crossbow. However, handguns were more
pensive and slower to fire than
slower than traditional bows.

concept of the era was the invention (or rediscovery) of the
16-man-deep “pike phalanx.” Originally used by Alexander

the Great’s Macedonians

or

trained infantry to reliably repulse any cavalry charge, no
matter how heavily armed and armored the riders. This was
because horses simply could not be
selves upon the forest of pike-points. Pike infantry was also
quite effective when it charged to the attack, some
considered unstoppable except by better pikemen.

of pikes
pikes. Cavalry still existed, but it was no
military arm.

its dramatic effect on a Feudal society already fractured by the
Black Death. With infantry armies, any ambitious and wealthy
lord could hire troops, spend a few months equipping and
training them, and
knightly codes and feudal system quickly gave way to primi­tive military capitalism. Now money was
element in prosecuting war. This produced enterprising
men who, for a fixed fee, offered to
lead appropriate troops. These entrepreneurs were the great

could

afford to equip an

There were also advances in missile

(of uncertain quality) existed in Europe during the 14th

In hand-to-hand

As a result, successful armies in the 1400s used a mixture

and various missile or melee infantry to defeat the

Another result of the

(melee)

have ‘a formidable fighting force. The

combat, the dominant military

in

growing usefulness of infantry was

entire army

weapon technology.

over

a longer range than

crossbows,

the 300s BC, pikes allowed

which in turn were

trained to

find, equip, train, ‘and

impale them-

longer the

the most

in it. Only

over

ex-

even

dominant

important

mercenary captains. Their “free companies” (because they skill is lessened if he simultaneously faces other

,

~fjj!j$

operated free-lance), large and small, were an important part Bad visibility &id/or impaired eyesight further reduces the

of many European armies.

Despite these changes,

Castles and tower “keeps” dominated all military

Primitive cannon only served
building and reinforcement, designed
bardment. Artillery technology was not quite advanced

batter

enough to
gradually change during the next two centuries). As a result,

many wars that began with promising battlefield victories
ended in long sieges, with no
fortresses changing hands. For example, the great English
victory

at Agincourt in 1415 did not end

War. In fact, the war had started in the 1330s and ended in

the 1440s

military affairswere still medieval: a man behind strong walls

was a strong man indeed.

Despite the changes in military methods and equipment,

personal combat in the 15th Century remained

eyeball-to-eyeball. Even missile troops were

close, to penetrate the armor of their targets. Combatants

personally reached out to maim and kill. In Darklands, damage to strength represents real, physi-

his target, and what sort of damage he might inflict. Weapons

and armor interacted in complex
advantages and disadvantages. There was no one, universal

weapon good in all situations.

-

To this end, a warrior concerned himself with how to hit cal wounds that take time to heal. Damage to endurance

HITTING

of blows, where the striker and his opponent compare their

weapon skills. Each must have sufficient strength to handle dreds of dead, especially

his/her weapon well, or their chance of hitting

versely,

opponent

course, can

taneously fights additional opponents, while a target's weapon armor-penetrating ability as well

a man with extraordinary strength can

and have a superior chance of hitting. Shields, of hand fighting. ’

In addition, a stiiker’s abilities, are reduced if he simul- :

down a well-built fortress (this would none. Shields are especially advantageous against missile

and then in

The Nature

THE TARGET:

block

incoming blows, reducing the

one

thing remained the same.

to

spur a

a French

new

wave of fortress weight carried by the target can be important. A man with

to

withstand

result

beyond one or two Visibility

the

Hundred Years

victory. In this sense,

of Battle

obliged

ways

to produce

Hand-to-hand

combat is a series

suffers. Con-

beat

chance

strategy.

bom-

essentially

to get if the enemy scored a hit, the

various

aside his

of a hit.

chance of hitting.

When firing

the target’s

more than a light load loses agility, a heavily-laden man has
very little agility, and an overburdened man has virtually,

fire because the direction of attack is more predictable than
hand-to-hand strokes, even if the missile is too

Despite
blows, moves and counter-moves that yield-a proportion of
hits and misses. Typically,

means it hits frequently, while the disadvantaged side hits

rarely.

When considering tactics, remember that every fight

is

a gamble. Even the

tionally lucky day and

D

AMAGE: These risks are why warriors wore armor.

Those who expected hand-to-hand lighting

heaviest armor

some and preferably all of the damage.

represents exhaustion, shock and general

eral, unless one is very unlucky or has very low endurance,
endurance will reach zero before strength. Therefore, fight­ers tend to collapse before they die. Historically, many‘
battles involving thousands

of troops yielded only hun-

those battles
around face-to-face, hand-to

Therefore,

weapon,

one

missiles,

agility.

Agility is reduced by encumbrance, so the

also

plays a large role in missile fire.

all

these considerations, battle is still a flurry of

they could

must

consider its

the skill of the firer is compared to

a

great advantage to one side

worst

opponent may

score

a devastating hit!

use comfortably. Therefore even

armor would absorb at

which

centered

with each

have

battering.

opponents.

fast

an excep-

favored

In

to see.

the

least

gen-

as its raw damage

very destructive
such as

relatively trivial damage if it bitting

just, bounced off

In

penetrating” hits sometimes missile fire hits.
inflict a few points of endur-

ance loss (which is easily

gained later). They rarely in-

flict any

wounds, which-take time to-, and face this new threat.

. heal), and if they

damage

one point. lands

the ability of armor to protect
or weapons to penetrate. In can’t penetrate the enemy’s armor. Here the extra damage

Darklands,

of quality difference yields

one

level change in penetration or protection.

In battle, non-penetrating hits only cause a small amount
of endurance damage. Weapons that bare&penetrate armor could be extremely small.
cause

some strength damage,, as well as higher endurance PARRY: Here a fighter devotes

losses. Fully penetrating hits achieve the full damage poten-

tial

of the weapon. Big, destructive weapons like halberds,
two-handed swords, etc. can produce lots
the strongest man is unlikely to Survive more

three such blows.

Reduced endurance and strength do not affect agility,
carrying ability or
However, once the tight is over, reduced abilities can cause
problems. A character may be obliged. to stop using certain

weighty items, or else take the time to rest and regain strength.

&Tactical

All tactical options apply to
Missile firers cannot use them. However,. tactical options
may have some effect on missile targets. movements. Conversely, when firing at the enemy,

needs to temporarily

weapon

use requirements during battle.

DpFions’a-,

hand-to-hand (melee)

a

sword,

Darklands

strength loss (real

is

rarely more

Varying quality affects

every ten points achieved by hits that penetrate more than offsets the re-

of damage.

power. A

weapon,

might do attention to defending himself. The

the armor.

these

"non-

do,

the

than

Even

than two or

combat. is hard enough! The best way to avoid enemy missile fire

BERSERK: A ‘“berserk” fighter concentrates on making

many powerful

in hand-to-hand

df. his

making it easier

since otherwise they might

re-

when a second or third warrior joins a fight in progress, a,

berserk attack can be useful until the victim decides

slowly, but places those strikes carefully: If the strike

increases

duced

who hit infrequenrly, take large gambles with, this tactic. If

they hit, they

defending himself. He strikes infrequently, and with
duced chance of hitting. However, the enemy

difficulty striking the fighter.

arrives. Basically, a parrying fighter uses weapon-handling
skills to defect enemy blows. The greater the skill, the more
effective the parries. Obviously, this tactic
area-effect weapons

other alchemical

strikes.

This tactic is

VULNERABLE SPOT: Here a fighter

on a

This tactic is best for skillful warriors whose weapons

number

This tactic is useful when a fighter is outnumbered, or

MISSILE TACTICS: There are

sile fire. Simply hitting the target (which is usually

to

get behind

blows

against

combat increase

However, his vulnerability

for

opponents to hit

especially useful for

less-protected spot with thinner

the chance

of penetration.

of attacks. However,

may

do well. However, their chance of hitting

hold

such as

or

magical attacks.

trees,

walls, etc., using them to screen

the

enemy

figher's

.

fighters

be

unable to score hits. Similarly,

strikes much more

less

most of

off a powerful foe. until hell,

dragon-flame, demon-fire, and,

no

special tactics for mis-

as does

him. This includes

skillful warriors,

is useless

and pays

also

of

his efforts id

little,

chance of

the soeed

increases,

lesser

skill,

to turn

hits,

armor.

This

a re-

has

equal

against

moving)

your

it is

wise

it

is

to position yourself with lots of open ground between the:
firer and the target. Best of all, slow the enemy’s approach
with terrain and/or stone-tar potions.

Crossbows, arbalests and handguns
ing times. Unless the enemy also prefers a long-range missile
duel, you'll probably have time for just one shot before hand-

to-hand fighting

It is possible to organize a patty into two ranks, with the

first fighting hand-to-hand while the second supports them

with missile fire. However, this requires exceptionally skilled

missile

users. Only high-skill characters can “shoot past”

‘friends accurately. Those with lesser skill will find their fire

blocked by friends in front of them.

mM&etient

general, a party should try to, position itself so the, entire

In

party fights the enemy one by one. This allows you

and conquer.” If this is impossible, the party might use terrain

or potions to slow down, delay, or confuse at least some of the

enemies, while it concentrates
well-armored and skillful character might step up and en­gage

multiple enemies with "Parry"

of the party to concentrate on the few remaining enemies.

“F

LEE” TACTICS: This option is the only way to “disen-

gage” a

guard.” The others flee behind them while the pursuing

enemies are stopped by the rear guard. Then the rear guard

character from combat. The character need not flee

far. Note
allow disengagement, since the automatic “fight anybody

within range” prevents
an attacking enemy (the

a

common tactic is to

disengages, hopefully covered by missile
more distant friends.

in a crowded melee. Normal “Walk toward” moves don’t
work because the character instantly stops becase

that normal

Whenactually disengaging the

The “Flee” order is also useful when trying to maneuver

occurs.

"Walk towards”

the character from

character

have

and Position

on

the rest. In some cases, a

stops and fights instead).

one or

two

all have

orders, allowing the rest

orders

walking

entire

party from battle,

characters

long reload-

d-,

to

“divide

often

away

act as “rear

fire

from their

don’t

from

enemies

so

close. With a. “Flee”

are

move, a character can, “edge

past" an

party allows

enemy far better.

Group Movement:

This is convenient when

large

ploring
less in
threatens, change from group

individual

to

On a larger scale, it is
also dangerous, to split the
party. This invites one or two

of the party

by

the full force of the en-

emy, before the rest can

rive. In-effect, splitting the

"divide

Each

addition to the

and one hands or two, there are more subtle distinctions. For

example, all weapons have a minimum skill level. If the

fighter’s

d

ramatically. Weapons also have a minimum strength. In

addition, some

(

usually between 27 and 35); beyond which the fighter has an

extra advantage. Typically, the

handier and lighter the weapon,
the

lower this threshold.

When compared to armor, a

weapon that “matches” the

mor just barely penetrates it.

The weapon therefore penetrates
all

poorer armors, and cannot

penetrate a better armor.

areas, but use-

battle.

As soon as

orders.

to

be assaulted

the

enemy to

and conquer” you.

~3

Selecting Weapons

weapon has various advantages and disadvantages. In

obvious

skill is below that level, his combat abilities suffer

weapons

ex-

battle

ar-

ti

ones relating to penetration, damage,

have an

upper strength threshold

ar-

75

.

Finally, all weapons are rated for speed. The faster the
weapon, the
hits are more frequent.

This

signed to cut, slash, and slice into an opponent. These are the FIELD
standard
all situations.

T

WO-HANDED SWORD: This heavy, two-handed swords and axes. Its sole advantage is cheapness and

weapon

skill (19+)
brigandine or chainmail. The full damage effect is formidable.

LONGSWORD:

handy. It requires good

(19+).

effects are large.

FALCHION: This heavy, chopping sword was a
Sidearm of the 1300s. It requires less skill and strength, while
achieving significant damage. However, its penetration only
matches the b&t non-metal armors.

SHORTSWORD:
infighting weapon that requires moderate skill

little strength
matches chainmail and
only modest damage.

more

blows a fighter

category

Penetration matches scale armor

includes the various swords and

"all-purpose"

is the

most

and strength

(13+).

weapons of the

potent

This one-handed weapon is

skill (18+)

This smaller, thrusting sword is a quick

Its main advantage is penetration that

brigandine.

can

deliver,

Weapons&

era,

useful in

of 811 edged weapons. It requires

(21+). Its penetration

and reasonable strength

However, it achieves

SMALL

BLADES: These weapon matches plate
serve as
PONIARDS have better pen- straps or bars. The weapon requires little skill (10+), great
etration
and brigandine), while
GERS do a little

weapon’s is presumed to have brigandine. It is a. useful choice

a SMALL
handle, but not very powerful.

slow, two-handed
accomplishes maximum like

common

(match

A

character without any giant cudgel, but its penetration only matches chain and

KNIFE. This

BATTLEAXE: This large, like a small pick. The long point is good against plate (which

and therefore requires less skill

axes,

de- slightly cheaper, and slightly less destructive.

almost to

matches

quick

and

and

damage

favorite

(16+)

and

sidearms. Most cudgels were

chainmail strength

more damage. cheaper and easier to handle (Skill 9+, strength 25+)

is easy to unavailable or beyond a tighter’s abilities.

weapon it matches), while the flat head on the

damage,

sword,

capability

does modest damage,

easy availability.

Theseweapons are designed to achieve superior penetration
against
skill. Their damage potential is less than edged weapons,

the importance of penetrating
preferred weapons in this century: For example, the great
Hussite general
a military hammer.

weapon can penetrate plate armor. However, it requires
considerable skill
damage than a longsword. It is

made by specialists for specialists, at a high price.

DAG-

but has

and usually is cheaper.

HAND

felling trees than combat. It barely penetrates cuirbouilli,

AXE: This one-handed weapon is similar in

to

AXE: This two-handed weapon

,wImpact

strong armor,

GREAT HAMMER: This large, unwieldy, two-handed

G

IANT CUDGEL: This extremely heavy, two-handed

(27+),

GIANT

MILITARY

a mace.

poor penetration (it

and

strength to wield

.

the falchion. However, it is easier to handle,‘,

and

weighs

Weapons

but require superior strength and/or

armor

Jan Ziska

and is relatively

MACE

HAMMER:

Reasonably fast and light (skill

is traditionally

(20+)

and strength

also

armor

with sheer force of impact.

wooden

OR MAUL: This two-handed weapon is

clubs

when giant cudgels are

This one-handed sidearm looks

matches scale).

than

the two-handed

is better suited

more

than the smaller.

cw

frequently made them

portrayed carrying

(24+),

and

does

anuncommon weapon,

reinforced with metal

cheap.

than the

other

side can

12+,

strength

It

but

less

either

be used

15+), it is the favorite sidearm of many knights. Its main

drawback is

M
lar, but is now outmoded by plate armor, which it cannot
penetrate. The mace produces
tary hammer, but requires less skill

even though it weighs a bit more.

CLUB: This simple, one-handed weapon could be al-

most anything, including
mace, it inflicts daniage by concussion, but its penetration
only matches scale armor. Furthermore, the
slightly superior to a small blade. Fortunately, minimum skill
(4+) and strength (16+)

a,

poor damage potential.

ACE: This one-handed sidearm was extremely popu-

more damage than the mili-

(8+)

and strength (14+),

a small

log or a heavy stick. Like a

damage is but

are

both low.

l ‘w

These weapons have flexible ends, allowing the
up and over obstacles like shields or parrying weapons. Flails
are slower weapons, but can be very

relies mainly on large shields for protection.

TWO-HANDED F

on peasant tools used to thresh grain. Bohemian Hussite

rebels favored this weapon. The big flail is powerful
to match chain or brigandine, achieves good damage, and
requires only
some skill (18+) and is quite heavy.

MILITARY F

weapon, inaccurately termed a “morning

scale,

but does

fearsome in appearance, its utility in battle is limited

These weapons all have a longhandle, ending with a blade,

point or

are fairly slow and heavy

penetration and damage.

PIKE: This exceptionally long (l8-21’) and heavy (about

17 Ibs.)

spear. It is a popular infantry weapon for stopping cavalry available, with damage power

modest (20+) strength. However, it demands

blunt end, as appropriate. All

two-handed weapon looks like an extremely long the heaviest throwing weapon

LAIL: This large, slow weapon is based

LAIL: This familiar “ball and chain”

as much damage

weapons,

useful

as a longsword. Although

but

but

user

to reach

if the enemy

enough

star," Qnly

the quarterstaff axes at the French

make up for

matches

it with

charges. However, to be effective it must be used in. “blocks”

8

to

16 ranks deep. Its penetration matches chain

brigandine. Its

formingarmies, despite the need for considerable skill (21+).

LONG SPEAR: This one-handed weapon can match scale
armor, is easy to use (skill 12+, strength 20+), achieves’
reasonable damage, and is cheap. However, is it fairly heavy,
and somewhat slow.

S

HORT SPEAR: This weapon is a “junior” version of the

long spear, lighter andeasier to handle in all respects (skill
8+,

strength 17+), but

course, damage

cheapest of all weapons.

HALBERD: This two-handed weapon has a blade with
various points and/or hooks on the end, depending on the
specific design. Although heavy and slow; its penetration

matches chain
It requires significant skill (19+), good strength (23+), and is

fairly expensive.

QUARTERSTAFF:
is no more than a 6’ length of smooth

penetration barely matches ordinary leather,
fast and easy

penetration occur, damage potential is almost equal to a

sword. However,
use of a shield.

All

these are on&handed weapons. Historians still

how much they were used; for example, some
Agincourt (1415) describe the
English men-at-arms throwing

melee

the

ers insist that

T

HROWING AXE: This is

cheapness

without sacrificing

is

somewhat less. It is among the

or

brigandine, and it does fearsome damage.

This cheap, easily-fashioned weapon

to

handle (skill 10+,

it is

a two-handed weapon, preventing the

-Thrown

just

before

was joined; while

it never happened. ,

is a great attraction to nobles

oth-

wood.

strength 16+).

Weaponsc+

or

penetration. Of

Its miserable

but it is

very

Should,

deba

accounts

of

equivalent to a sword if it connects. Moderate skill (19+) is

needed, and thrown penetration only matches cuirbouilli or

studded leather.

JAVELIN:

This

light spear, about 3’ long, is

easy

to
handle (skill 10+), but rather bulky. Damage power is supe­rior

to an

arrow, while penetration matches scale armor.

DART: Military darts are mostly

or

all metal, with a lead

weight on the shaft for balance and accuracy. Popular-in the

Balkans

and beyond, darts are easily, carried and require

modest skill (11+), yet their penetration matches scale armor.

Damage potential is also modest: slightly less than an

arrow.

In Germany darts are rare and somewhat costly.

THROWING

KNIFE: This lightweight weapon can pen-

etrate non-metal armor, but does little damage. Exceptional
skill (30+) is required.

Bows are the

fastest-firing

long-range missile ‘weapons

available and quite popular throughout Europe. However,

bows are two-handed weapons, and the damage potential of

an arrow is modest. Men frequently survived fnultiple arrow

hits, especially if

LONGBOW:

were imported

armor reduced the force of impact.

Made exclusively in England, longbows

to

Germany

across

the North Sea. Still, these
weapons are rare and costly, especially because the bow can
penetrate all
skill

(25+)

C

OMPOSITE BOW: This Asiatic weapon is the rarest,

most

expensive, and most valuable of all bows. Some Polish

armor. This powerful weapon

and strength (20+).

requires

both

and Hungarian cavalry use these weapons. Great skill (30+)
and good strength

(22+) are needed.

Penetration and damage

is equal to a longbow, but the overall weight and bulk is less

-because it is designed for cavalry use. Construction meth-

oils are outrageously complex: Central Asian bowyers some­times needed ten or twenty years to correctly “cure” the
materials in such a bow!

S

HORT Bow: This is the ordinary, traditional “self” bow

used throughout Europe and beyond. It

requires

moderate

skill (20+) and modest strength (16+). Although unable to
penetrate plate armor, it is fairly effective against anything
else. Damage
cost

and

These devices fire missiles using
power.
were first seen in

potential

weight are less.

w

Mechanical

is the same as the other bows, but its

.

Missiles W

mechanical

or chemical

All of them require both hands. Gunpowder weapons

Europe

during the 14th Century, and then

only as castle-smashing artillery. Man-portable firearms are

new in the 15th Century, but by the 1460s and 70s many
armies, had large forces of handgunners.

CROSSBOW:

This is the standard mechanical bow used

in Europe for centuries. Cocking mechanisms varied from
belthbok-and-stirrup to a simple mechanical lever. Cross­bows can penetrate any armor,, do as much damage as a bow
arrow, are easy to operate (skill 14+)

strength

(18+). However, they are weighty and reload far

and

require modest

more slowly than a normal bow.

ARBALEST:

bow that

hand cranks. It has superior penetrating power,
more

damage, and

skill

than a normal crossbow. Its great disadvantage is a huge

weight (almost 20 pounds), not

I

RON HANDGUN: This simple handgun is typical of

This is a much heavier version of the cross-

uses

even slower reloading mechanisms, such

only requires a little more strength and

to

mention a fairly high price.

does

as

a bit

early, crude firearms. It barely matches plate armor, does

more

damage than an arbalest, and requires less skill (12+)
and strength (17+). Unfortunately it is weighty (14 pounds),
and reloads

B

handguns available from the

more

slowly

RASS HANDGUN: This is typical of the high-quality

than

any other weapon.

best

craftsmen in Europe. Its

penetrating power matches an arbalest, damage is superior to

either

crossbow or

arbalest, and both skill and strength

requirements are a bit less, than the iron handgun. It also

weighs less. Unfortunately, it is very expensive, and not

especially easy to find.

In the Iate Middle Ages, two major types of armor existed;
tournament and battle armor. Many museums and simple
books about armor fail to distinguish
This

leads simplistic

example; many people think tournament armor
battle, and. therefore can't imagine how medieval knights,
managed to move, much less fight.

Tournament

this sport. It was intended to-fully protect the wearer from

injury. The armor was thick and heavy, with

and limited motion. Such qualities were acceptable for tour­naments, but almost
pecially true when battles were not decided by the crash-of
heavy
hand, the use of extremely expensive, specialized tournament

armor helped restrict that sport to the nobility and the Very rich.

Darklands. This

the guardhouse to the battlefield. It was a compromise

armor was covered withcloth; other times men wore tabards,
cloaks or robes on top, to reduce maintenance and moderate

worn over a padded, quilted “arming” garment that reduced

blur.

their tournament arnior in battle, and vice versa.

tion.

cavalry

charges, one against another. On the other

The other arnior type,

between strength, flexibility, and weight. Many times battle

temperature effects (armor can get very hot
and quite cold in the winter). Almost all metal armor was

chafing, as well

Of

course,

the lines between the two armor types

For

example, some knights used some (but not all) of

In

Darklands

Ranked from best to worst, these are (1) plate, (2)
brigandine and chainmail, (3) scale, (4) cuirbouilli and stud- tection than brigandine
ded leather, (5) leather and padded armor

PLATE

ARMOR : This is the finest armor available. It is
made of articulated steel plates that move with-the wearer,
yet keep the body completely covered. It is stronger than any
other types, but also quite heavy..

writers to peculiar conclusions. For

(or

jousting) armor was designed purely for

useless

“every

as

absorbing the impact of blows on the metal.

there are five basic levels of armor protec-

on a battlefield. This was es-

battle

day” armor was worn

between

armor, is the norm in

these types.

was

used in

poor visibility

by troops

in the

summer

from

can

In the 15th Century many

used plate armor on their vitals (head, torso, and sometimes

the, hips). They then used lighter armor on their arms and legs:

BRIGANDINE:
between two layers of leather.
plate armor, it provides almost as much protection. Since the
basic materials include numerous steel plates, the cost is
high. Brigandine armor covering the vitals
infantry forces throughout Europe in the later 15th Century.

CHAINMAIL:
European warriors. Made of small, interlocking metal
it produce’s a flexible but strong garment. Chain skirts,
leggings, shirts; etc. are all common. “Chain” provides as

much protection as brigandine, with less weight, but at a

slightly higher price.

S

CALE: This is thecheapest metal armor still in common

use, popular mainly in Eastern Europe. Scale armor is-made
of small metal scales that overlap. The overlap conceals laces
that hold each scale to
poor protection against upward-thrusting blows, which slide

between the scales. Therefore

scale armor provides less

chainmail, but
cantly cheaper.

CUIRBOUILLI: The
gest non-metal armor available,
cuirbouilli is stiff leather moul-

This is a “coat of plates” sandwiched

This is the old, traditional metal armor of

it

is

well-equipped

Easier

to assemble than true

a

leather backing. Scale armor gives

pro-

or

signifi-

stron-

soldiers only

is

common among

circles,

ded into curved

wax. The result

buckled on like metal.,
protection than any metal armor. Of course, ii also weighs
much less: a complete suit of metal armor might be 45
pounds, while complete cuirbouilli coverage is only
third to one-quarter of that.
than metal armor.

S

TUDDED LEATHER: This armor is stiff but flexible

leather reinforced with metal rivets, coin-sized “plates,”
and/or metal rings. The combination provides protection
equivalent to cuirbouilli, but with fewer manufacturing
problems (and thus a lower cost). On the negative side,
studded leather weighs

L

EATHER: This ancient form of armor is used by those

who value speed and agility more than protection, or
who can’t afford more! Many armies saved armor costs by
giving infantrymen metal armor for vitals and leather armor

sections,

is

so hard and stiff that it is worn

then repeatedly dipped in boiling

However,

a

little more than cuirbouilli.

cuirbouilli provides less

The cost

is also much less

in plates,

to 60

one-

those

for limbs. Basic leather
than cuirbbuilli
costs

much less:

PADDED: Also termed “quilted” armor,
has two layers of cloth, with rags and cloth scraps sandwiched
between. The layers are then cross-stitched in a grid-pattern.
This means a slash or puncture only empties the stuffing in
the pocket affected, rather than the entire garment. This
armor provides protection similar to basic leather, weighs
more,

and costs

or

less.

&3

Shields are only useful when u&g one-handed weapons. In
this era all shields had a solid metal rim with
or

light metal covered by cloth or leather. The primary value

of

a shield
value in hand-to-hand combat is secondary. As the penetrat­ing power of missiles increased, the ability of shields to stop
them waned. This is why most armies stopped using shields
entirely’ in the next century: they were ineffective against

the

successors

the least additional protection.

nificantly more protection.

LARGE SHIELDS weigh fifteen pounds, and provide the

most

is in defending

to the handgun.

SMALL S

M

EDIUM SHIELDS weigh ten pounds, but provide sig-

protection.

HIELDS only weigh five pounds,

armor

provides less protection

studded leather, but weighs and

this

protection

Shields

against

cg--r

a face

of wood

missiles. Its protection

and

provide

c-9Deat.hw

A character
There is no way to restore characters from death. To avoid
this final end, either increase a character’s strength or restore
lost

strength through potions and/or the
strength is only temporarily increased, when the potion
miracle “wears off’ strength will not drop below one

In long, extended battles
simply rests for a while (does nothing), you may regain a little
endurance. In most
regained until you leave the action.

dies when his or her strength reaches zero (0).

saints.

Even if

or

(1).

and

explorations, if your party

cases,

though, endurance cannot be

Alchemy was founded as a “science” by the Greeks in that appropriate materials and

Alexandria during the Second Century AD. Its

knowledge was acquired and expanded upon by the Moslem healing potion.

Arabs

after

they swept over the Middle East in the

Arabs also added knowledge gained from the Chinese, with They used simple reactions and experiments to impress

whom they had

Europe

brought, alchemy back with them to

quickly spawned European

Alchemists were early chemists; By combining,

ing, sublimating,, or precipitating

could produce certain simple, predictable reactions. How- successful alchemists were very charismatic and re­ever, without scientific method and vacuum
oped by Robert Boyle in the
discover gases, crucial to the true understanding of chemis­try.

Some alchemists, including many successful physicians, and frequently. private “scientific” symbols. These codes

were content

niques.
phenomenon they observed. Many European alchemists examining their information and challenging it. It also greatly
had clerical training, so some were inclined to attribute

certain results

others indulged in philosophical speculations about the

ture

of the universe. Many

, phers dabbled

Thomas Aquinas.

The plethora of alchemical theory quickly led to wild

speculation. Alchemists observed certain substances chang- must search the land for various raw materials and formulas.

ing color and form. Just as they could precipitate salt from

seawater, so did they hope to precipitate

of base metals. Lead was a popular choice because it was both one good alchemist than

inexpensive and already quite dense. Many theorized that a.

universal catalyst was the

catalyst was

enough chemistry to know that catalysts are not consumed in whenever a party takes up resi-

.

reactions, and

nary value of a universal catalyst.

distant

contacts.

invaded

Others

the Middle

to observe

invented various

to

the actions of invisible demons, while

in

the

“Philosopher’s Stone." They

therefore can be reused. Hence

results and repeat certain tech- and ciphers were to discourage “theft" of their valuable

alchemy, including Roger Bacon

When

experiments.

1600s), alchemists

famous

secret to

In fact, some even

the Crusaders from their audience preferably a rich nobleman. Holding out

East

in the 1100s, they the hope of transmutation, they acquired important court

Europe,

various

materials, they

could not Alchemists were also secretive. They recorded materi-

theories explaining

medieval philoso- versal catalyst, the Philosopher’s Stone, really exists. Novice

gold

this transmutation.

body

of create an

700s.

The Many medieval alchemists

which positions and a good living, at least for a. while. Even if the

gold never materialized, a

dissolv-

pumps (devel-

from solutions tion. It is more useful to have

understood

the

extraordi- dence somewhere, including

hoped city or village inns,

prestige to a noble’s

ful

Duke of Burgundy sponsored many alchemists. The most

markably convincing.

als, experiments

the knowledge. Of course, this also prevented anyone from

enhanced the prestige of one who supposedly commanded

this

secret,

na-

and

This

A

LCHEMY FOR

alchemists have a limited, low-quality stone, bnt with effort

-it can be improved, usually by trading with other alchemists
and university

poor ones.
chemist can mix potions for the
entire party. This is possible

elixir

of eternal life, or at least

court.

and results in

mystical knowledge.

A

scholars. Meanwhile, the budding alchemist

The

most

effective approach to alchemy is

The single good al- I

DVENTURERS

as well

catalysts could

were

showmen (or women).

flashy

alchemist lent immense:

For example, the

a code, a

four

as

shorthand of unique

:

In Darklands,

be found to

a powerful

rich

and power-

specializa-

the

uni-

camping outdoors. Provided you have decent skill, know the
formula and purchase sufficient ingredients, anything can be
created with enough
cause

destructive results. When creating characters, you may

prefer

older,

more experienced

means weaker attributes.

also

It is

other alchemists. However, these can be difficult to find and
costly to acquire, Furthermore, alchemy and other intellec-

tual skills may be needed for successful dealing with
other alchemists.

Many alchemical potions are useful in
attack enemies, reduce their abilities, and improve character’s
offensive
healing potion, is especially useful. Finally, when facing
fiery
those who don't know the requisite saints. .

possible to purchase potions, ready-made,

or

defensive abilities. The

dragons

or, demons, “Firewall” is indispensable for

time

and luck. Of course, bad luck can

alchemists,

even if that BLACK BEAN: This

battle.

"Essence

of Grace,” a

from

They can

Alchemical Materials

Darklands

four general

below
common). Astute adventures will notice that
terials are extremely easy

ture produced a sharp smell. Acquiring and containing this

vapor was extremely

It

is also known as methane.

vices,

can be distilled from

heated, burns quite brightly. It is also known as magnesium.

yellow, can appear in large masses, and frequently figured

important: alchemical reactions. It is also known as

trisulfide of arsenic.

found as
extremely
a compound in certain medicines. Sometimes used in

elassmakine. it is also known as arsenic.

the East, is reddish-brown.
unique but temporary

also

variety of results in v&us

sphalerite, or zinc sulfide.
and invariably contains other trace elements, It is resistant

certain chemicals, can be used as a hardening agent; and is

also known

acid, this can dissolve almost anything, including people. It

is a mixture of nitric acid and hydrochloric acid.

alchemy
"bases"

in

order of rarity

MARSH VAPOR: A

NAPHTHA:

it is

a highly volatile, inflammable oil. Various types’

MANGANES: A rare ore that, when refined, purified, and

ORPIMENT:

WHITE

known as

CINNABAR: This silvery-white metal is usually

a powder, becauseit is extremely brittle. It is

poisonous, but still

ZINKBLENDE:

ANTIMONI:

as

AQUA

REGIA: A very

uses

nineteen

of common

(from

to

natural

difficult

First

used

by the Arabs in incendiary de-

wood,

coal; and petroleum:

This sulphur-arsenic compound is bright,

material,

cocoa.

antimony.

stimulating

This clear; cleavable ore can yield a wide

This silvery-white powder is very brittle,

special substances, plus

materials.

the most

carry, even in large quantities.

gas, whose medieval admix;

because it is virtually colorless.

useful

It has

a strong

effects on the body. It is

situations.

strong,

These are listed,

rare

to the most

these

raw ma-,

(in small-quantities)

originally acquired

taste

and

certain

It is

also

known

volatile and dangerous

also

in

as

from

as

to

G

UM : A sticky, resilient and

includes pitch or resin. The

imported from the Middle East. vitriol, alcohol, distilled water, etc.

MONDRAGORA: A natural substance, reputedly from a

plant, with many mystical properties. such as kupfer(copper), lead,

A

LUM : A very astringent powder,

baking powders,

only known sources were in Italy and Asia Minor (Turkey).

It is also known as ammonium bisulfate, potassium alumi- There are 66 different alchemical formulas, divided into 22
num

sulfate, or sometimes (incorrectly) as aluminum sulfate: different groups. Each formula group has three variations,

C

AMOMILE: A supposedly rare plant whose dried leaves with each variation named after

have various properties; often medicinal. Actually, it is fairly formulas have tower magic numbers; but also produce

common, but easily mistaken.

PITCHBLENDE:

black. When added

slightly glowing material. It is also known as uranium oxide Formulas
or

radium oxide. levels are only important when mixing your

ZINKEN: A bluish-white salt that can improve metals,

especially steel. It also has various medicinal properties. It

also known as zinc.

NIKEL: A hard, silver-white material that can be formed

into a metal. It is much more useful when mixed with other

materials, such as steel, where it adds strength and durability.
It

is also

known as nickel.

BRIMSTONE:

flame and emit a horrible stench (like

sometimes associated with demons and
ful in many cornpounds, including gunpowder. It is
known as sulfur..

PURE GOLD: A dark yellow metal that is very soft
heavy. It is considered extremely valuable. At somewhat
lesser

purity

monetary

considered

belladonna, camphor, hemlock, seed of

shade, thorn apple, henbane, turpentine, etc. Lullus and Brother Elias. This

eye of newt, toad tongues, bat claws, powdered unicorn horn, etc. the enemy, who then act only in

purposes..

MELANCHOLIC (MELANC) BASE: A variety of plants

SANGUINE BASE:

or

alone to induce vomiting. At this time the

A mineral that is a lustrous brownish

to

certain procedures, it can produce a results to the highest.

Pale yellow crystals that burn with a blue

it is formed in bars or small, thin round coins for

useful in alchemy, such, as bell mushrooms,

A variety of animal materials, such as potion is a flash bomb that blinds

strong

material, it

purer

forms generally were

used

in, dyes and ver, and kohle (coal).

rotten

Hell. It

sea

often

CHOLERIC

considered useful, including aqua

PHLEGMATIC

BASE:

A

variety of

BASE:, A variety of

wAlchemica1

lower-quality potion. The three versions are listed in order,
from easiest to

a mixing

amount of luck)

is

inept and unlucky
the rest of the party!

NOXIQUS

Gerard of Cremona,

a powerful stink that reduces this agility, perception, and
skills of everyone within the

eggs). It is center are

is use- quality, from about 5 to 15 seconds.

also EYEBURN:

and

Nicolas

lie

and

holly, night- mulas from Africa, Raimundus

,

or she
pered. Those nearby are ham­pered, but not fully blinded.
Duration
from

about 8 to 25

SUNBURST:

hardest,

also have

failure occurs, the danger level (plus a certain

ARMOA:

more

powerfully affected. Duration varies with

(Egebrn) Formulas from Solomon, Galen

Flammel. If this potion directly hits a character,

is

blinded,

varies

with quality,

(Sunbst) For-

and thus from the lowest quality

various danger

determines the

alchemist

(NoxAxo) Formulas from al-Razi,

and Petrus Bonus. This potion produces

immobilized; and significantly h/am-

seconds.

acids and other liquids

fortis,

vitriol and Roman

common

lime

(calcium oxide), quicksil-

FOrtnulasw

its

original source. Easier

levels.

size of the disaster.

could blowup himselfand

cloud.

Those closer to the

minerals,

These danger

own potions.

,

a

If

An

.

self-defense. Friends are not blinded because the user warns armor is destroyed, any remaining power

theminadvance. Durarion varies with quality, and lasts about 12 the

to 25

seconds.

person.

The amount of

armor

quality destroyed varies

with potion quality and luck, from 3 to

inflicts

15.

damage

BLACK CLOUD: (BlkCld) Formulas from the, Orient, ARABIAN FIRE: (AFire) Formulas from Geber, Zadith,

Rufinus of Genoa, and Michael Scot. This potion slowly and Hugh. This potion explodes

creates a large, black cloud of smoke. This “smoke screen”

is very useful in many situations. However, it cannot be used
in battle

because the screen

S

TONE-TAR : (Stonetr) Formulas from Sina, Albertus

takes too long to form.

like Greek Fire. The amount of damage varies with the
distance from the burst. Armor does not protect against this
weapon; in

fact,

armor also suffers quality damage from the

flames. Even metal armor is affected, as straps burn off and

into

bits of flaming liquid,

Magnus and Robert de Keten. This creates a puddle of sticky movingparts become pitted or misshapen. The quality of the
black goo that slows anyone moving through it. The speed potion affects the amount of damage, as does luck.

reduction varies with the quality of the potion. After about

B

REATH OF

DEATH:

(BDeath) Formulas

from

four minutes the puddle hardens; making the area passable. Smaragdinian tablet, al-Kindi and Simon Cordo. This potion

FLEADUST: (Fleadst)

Flammel, and Richard

causes horrible itching and irritation. The stronger a The quality of the potion affects the

Formulas from al-Razi,

Anglicus.

This creates a

Nicolas

cloud

that anyone near the bursting point. Armor provides no defense.

explodes into a deadly mist that can injure or even kill

amount

of damage, as
character’s armor (on both vitals and limbs), the more his or does luck. The mist dissipates almost immediately.
her skills are reduced. Duration varies with quality,
about 20 to 60 seconds.

THUNDERBOLT:

dr) Formulas from al-Tami­mi, Maimonides, and Arnald

of

Villanova. This potion

explodes like

from

(Thun-

a cannon.

DEADLY BLADE: (DeadBld) Formulas from

Vicent of

Beauvis,

and Roger of Hereford. This potion

Hayyan,

improves the amount of damage a weapon can inflict. The.
increase varies with quality. The potion affects all weapons
except impact and flail types. Duration is about one day.

STRONGEDGE: (StrgEdg) Formulas from al-Majriti, John

of Rupescissa, and Petrus Bonus. This potion improves the
Damage varies with potion.. penetration of a weapon. The increase varies with potion
quality, while penetration quality. The potion only affects edged weapons and polearms.
power, is great at.
explosion

site,

then
quickly with distance. The
explosion

may also

the

Duration is about one day.

decreases

GREATPOWER:

(Grtpwr) Formulas from ibn

Jildaki and Albertus

Magnus.

damage overall quality of a weapon, up

Rushd,

This potion increases the

to a

limit of 99. The amount

armor (reducing its quality). ofincreasevarieswith potion quality. Only impact weap-

E

ATER-W ATER: (Eat- ons, flails and handguns can be improved with this

War) Formulas from Solo-.
mon, Alfred of Sareshel, and
Gerard

of Cremona. This Bitruji, and John Dausten. This potion improves the

potion.

Duration is about one day.

TRUEFLIGHT:

(TruFlt) Formulas from ibn Umail,

powerful vitriol eats through racy of a missile weapon; that is, it increases the chance of a
vitals and limb armor of

hit.

The amount of increase varies with the

potion

whomever it strikes; reduc- ity: Duration is about one day.

ing armor quality. When the

on

the

al-

accu-

qual-

84

HARDARMOR:

Brother Elias, and Leonard of
proves the quality and thickness
vitals and limbs). Thickness increases one or two
while quality improves 20 to 30 points. Duration

TRUESIGHT:

Genoa,

and Leonard of Maurperg. This
person's
varies

perception. The amount of improvement

with

potion quality and luck. Duration is one day.

NEW-

WIND

and John of Rupescissa. This potion
person's

endurance. The amount of increase

(HrdArm) Formulas from ibn

Maurperg.

of one

person's armor (both

(TruSgt) Formulas

: (NewWnd) Formulas

by Arfa Ras,

by Sina,

temporarily

Yazid,

This potion im-

levels,

is one day.

Rufinus

potion

improves a

(10-30)

Michael Scot,

increases a

(7-16)

varies

with the potion quality arid luck. Duration is about one ‘day.

IRONARM:

Ketene, and Hugh. This potion temporarily

(Ironarm)

Formulas by

Jabir,

Robert de

increases
person’s strength. The amount of increase (7-16) varies with,
the potion quality and luck. Duration about

Despite any

son

will not

QUICKMOVE: (Quckmov)

Dausten, and Richard

wounds,

when the potion wears

die for lack of strength.

Formulas by Hayyan, John

Anglicus.

This potion temporarily

one day.

off

a per-

restored varies

tion strength. The restora­tion

is

permanent (i.e., the
potion acts as a “cure”).
FIREWALL:
Formulas by

of

nides, and Raimundus Lul­lus. This potion
mor quality, but only against
flame attacks. Duration is
about one day. This formula
is almost indispensable when
fighting dragons or demons

who have flame weapons.

a

T

RANSFORMATION:

Avicenna, and Nicolaus of
formula can be used to purify certain sites, and if one is very

fortunate,

However, all require a certain amount

"seed" material.

components) exceeds the value of the florin that results.

increases a person’s agility. The amount of increase (7-18)
varies with the potion

quality

and luck. Duration is one day.

When the potion wears off, agility never drops below one (1).

ESSENCE OF
Michael Scot,
ance and

strength, especially the

GRACE: (EssGrc)

Formulas by Galen,

and Avicenna. This potion

former. The exact amount

restores lost endur-

with

the

po-

(Firewal)

Jabir,

Maimo:

enhances

ar-

(Transf) Formulas by Morienus,

Autrecourt.

Potions from this

transform worthless metal into a florin of gold.

of pure

gold to act as

Generally, the cost of

the "seed"

(i.e., the

.

The Universal (Catholic) Church

the historical Church as it existed in the 15th Century. The
beliefs portrayed are appropriate to the people of this era. Of

course, the Church and the beliefs in the

like

the modern Catholic Church. In the late 1500s and early

1600s the Church underwent a dramatic change, a vast

“house-cleaning” during the Counter-Reformation that cured the local nobleman (i.e., strongman).

many ‘ills and created
more, modern man frequently approaches the role of religion,
in life quite differently from medieval man.

In fact, even during

Church as, decadent and/or confused. By 1409 it had no

than three competing Popes (Benedict

Gregory XII

great

“one” Pope was quite

ened by various invading powers. As

Popes of the late 1400s seemed more like secular princes
than theological leaders. Forexample, id1492 Rodrigo Borgia
become Pope
mistress), Cesare

In addition to poor Popes, the Church

other evils. Simony (the sale of church positions, usually to

noblemen) was normal practice. Men who purchased these

in Rome, and Alexander Vin Pisa). In a series of led to a similar

councils, this chaos

Alexander

many

the

1400s many people regarded the

was resolved,

poor,

VI. His

and

Lucretia Borgia, are infamous to this day.

in Darklands

new, vital institutions. Further-

and his city (Rome) was threat-

son and daughter

priesthoods,
rics or archbishoprics could
hold more than one, and fre- Even those who doubted might still pray, if only as insurance.
quently lived somewhere

else entirely! Theyentrusted

day-to-day affairs to

cious

subordinates who were

expected to extract sufficient
gifts, tithes; etc. to make the

purchase profitable!

Despite the rule of celi-

bacy,

clerics from, country

priests to the Pope himself

is based on had mistresses. Excommunications were invoked

voked lo suit immediate political
be purchased that virtually Pardoned any sin - for a price.

game

are

nothing

XIlI

in Avignon,

but

the remaining

a

result, the Roman reward or punish, either now or in the life hereafter. Belief in

(through

suffered many

abbeys, bishop-

rapa-

On the opposite end of the scale, priests in small villages and
hamlets often were as poor as the peasants, ignorant
unable to

superstitution and ignorance. The trade in relics was so brisk
that one cleric quipped that there were enough pieces of the

“True Cross” to make a forest. He was answered that this was

less

just one more holy miracle!

people of
but nobody doubted God’s

miracles and divine aid was commonplace. The concept that
saints interceded between a worshipper and God was

a

grasp, especially if a
Similarly, saintly relics might

kinds of aid.

A miner would pray to St. Barbara,
choose St. Sebastian. Having directed their prayers correctly,
each would confidently expect a little aid in their endeavors.

For similar reasons, clerics from friars to prelates were feared:
they might command divine aid for themselves, or possibly
visit divine displeasure on their enemies. The unspoken
threat of this was enough in many situations.

many dating back to the Dark, Ages. Here monks or nuns

supposedly retired from all worldly affairs and devoted their
attention

flame of knowledge. But in this era, many monasteries and

convents became corrupt. Some

say

mass correctly, and all too often subservient to

Many church ceremonies and beliefs were overlaid with

This confusion of altruistic theology and decadent reality

duality

among the

the land.

A practical person could see a practical value in all this.

Monasteries in this era

to

God. In the darkest ages, monks kept alive the

Clerics might be

saint

was “useful” for specific things.

ends.

worshippers,

existence,

be

expected to provide specific

were a great church institution,

were

and re-

“Indulgences” could

of Latin,

the common

viewed with

nor His ability to

while

thriving business&

suspicion,

easy

an archer might

to

with vast lands, competing with guilds and merchants. Oth-

ers were great political states,
itself a minor principality.

A new development in the Middle Ages

cant, friars, such as the Franciscans. Originally these were

travelling preachers and pilgrims,

helped those in need, emulating Christ’s first disciples. Alas, A specific method for canonizing saints did not exist
by the 15th Century some friars were ignorant louts or lazy until 1638. In
beggars, living from largess. Others were charismatic confi­dence-men, making wild speeches and soliciting donations

for imaginary purposes.

The 1400s were the last and worst years of the “old”

medieval Church. In 1517 Martin Luther posted his famous more than a lifetime activity for any man, and complicated by the

95 theses, sparking the Protestant Reformation, which in

turn sparked the Catholic Counter-Reformation. These twin

events swept away the old Church. In its place evolved the
modern Catholic Church, an orderly, carefully regulated, and
far more altruistic institution.

MORALITY IN
Middle
was
fighting, per se, does not affect
was the important thing. Virtuous goals made the tight
acceptable,
people still treasured peace. Constant fighting was consid­ered immoral too.

heretical activities (such as worshipping Satan) were wrong.
No matter what the situation or extenuating circumstances,
it was never virtuous to attack
clerics. Similarly, upprovoked attacks on the aged, the infirm,
or the defenseless were reviled. However, should a Priest or

Bishop attack with a sword, he could be fought without risk
to one’s soul.

Ages

a

common part of life. The general sentiment

petty or evil goals made it wrong. Of course,

Direct, physical attacks against the Church,

DARKLANDS:

was somewhat different from today. Violence

wMedieval.Saints

In medieval Europe, saints were one of the most popular

aspects of the Catholic Church. Their cults were many and
varied. People

with

a simple concept of their-religion saw

such as

the Abbey of Fulda,

was

the mendi-

men

who lived on alms and and the miraculous.

Ethics and morality in the

was that

virtue.

The goal of the fight

or

pursuing

pr

kill

we,ak,

defenseless

4--1

saints as
prayed for a specific goal. Of course, some churches, cathe­drals,
saints, especially
services and ceremonies promoted a sense of mystery, awe

nized

ate day, plus those popularly recognized in the

tain saints were extremely popular in some areas, while

virtually

fact

the Middle Ages. Many

venerated by inclusion on the Papal calendar.

Barbara was every popular medieval saint, one of the “four­teen holy helpers” and the patroness of miners. In the later
Middle Ages artillery gun­ners chose her as their pa­tron,
ern period she
by architects and builders.
Today most scholars doubt
that she even existed; her
name was removed from the
Vatican’s Calendar in 1969.

TURING: When praying to

saints, the, “skills” of virtue
and religious training are in­valuable. Every saint requires
a certain level. of virtue, so.
the higher your virtue, the
mote saints are available for

prayer. Furthermore, if your

virtue exceeds the required

amount, there is a bonus to
your chance of success.

little more than

and monasteries encouraged a

the

by

the Pope as worthy of veneration on their appropri-

unknown

that

new people were hailed as Saints at every turn.

The

saints in

while in the e&mod-

was

SAINTS AND

demi-gods---

their own

15th Century saints included those

in others. Learning

Darklands include many

adopted

ADVEN-

patron saint(s). Still, even their

of these

someone to whom you

larger

conception of

region.

about

all the saints

popular

are no longer officially

For example,

recog-

Cer-

during,

,

was

The desirabilitydf high virtue, and the requirement that
a person know
suggest that a party have just one "religious specialist."
However, the divine favor (DF) cost for each

very high.

DF

in

one to three calls. Therefore, spreading saintly knowl­edge among the
pray to saints at various times, not just one

The best way
spend time praying (while “staying here” in camp or at an
inn), and to visit city churches and cathedrals
and mass.

large tithes

The rate at which DF is restored depends

religious training.

teries and universities
knowledge of Latin, as well as Reading and Writing, are,
crucial in researching information about saints. Good reli­gious training doesn’t hurt either!

It is quite unlikely that
different saints known in
Greater
least some saints will remain undiscovered.

along with minimum virtue
Actual aid may vary, with the situation. Improvements to

strength

true improvements.

in all weaponry skills. “Translation" is a theological term that

means flying (moving through the air without visible support).
For a key to the

aid

ADRIAN (Virt 43) Dec 1; Chr,

AGATHA

GNES (Virt 19) Jan 2l; improves Local Rep, Chr.

A

If you need to restore large amounts of DF quickly,

The best way to learn about new saints is to visit monas-

Germany, plus the dictates of chance, suggest that at

The reputed aid saints can provide is summarized below,

or endurance

Unless otherwise

is one day.

a

saint before praying to him or her, might

prayer

Frequently a

party can

or

gifts to churches or cathedrals are appropriate.

ti

(Virt 24) Feb 5; Chr, End (more if female).

character will exhaust all his or her

be useful, so

to restore

exhausted divine

around

the land. Needless to say,

Darklands

any

one party will learn all the

Darklands.

required

may be restoration of lost amounts,

“Weapons”

abbreviations,

noted, the

see page 93.

Weapons,

all

party members can

or

two.

on

Saints

indicates an improvement

normal duration for

w

The sheer size of

and their saint day.

End.

favor

for

confession

a

characrer's

can be

is

to

saintly

or

AIDAN (Virt 23) Jan 31;
ALBERT THE GREAT

R&W,

Alch.

ALCUIN (Virt

A

LEXIS (Virt 28) Jul

a little money if extremely poor.

ANDREW

distant lands.

ANDREW
A

NTHONY (Virt 35) Jan 17; Chr,

End;

ANTHONY OF PADUA (Virt 59) Jun 13; Str, Per, Chr, wImp,

SpkC, SpkL.

ARNULF

StrW, Ride.

APOLLINARIUS

routs enemies:

ARBARA (Virt 32) Dec 4; wMsD, Artf; sometimes pre-

B

vents death.
BATHILDIS
BONIFACE
C

ATHERINE

SpkC.
CATHERINE OF

sometimes senses evil
CECILIA (Virt 41) Nov 22; Chr, Improves Local Rep; can

prevent suffocation or drowning.

CEOLWULF

C

HARITY (Virt 40) Aug 1; End; may improve party armor

against flame, greatly improves one person’s armor
against anything.

C

HRISTINA THE ASTONISH& (Virt 54) Jul

sometimes allows translation.

CHRISTOPHER (Virt 31) Jul 25; Str, End, wBow, StrW, WdWs,

Ride; improves travel speed for a week.

CLARE

satanic enemies.
CLOTILDA (Virt
C

OLMAN

44) May 19; Int,

(Virt 14) Nov 30; End, Chr, Improves Local Rep in
THE

TRIBUNE

may

banish a powerful

(Virt 18)

(Virt

(Virt 21)

(Virt 25) Jun 5; Chr, Weapons, SpkC.

OF ALEXANDRIA

SIENA (Virt 33) Apr 29; Per, Chr, SpkC;

(Virt 23)

(Virt

33) Aug 11; Str. End; sometimes

22)

OF CLOYNE

WdWs; helps

(Virt

39) Nov 15; Int, Per,

17;

improves Local Rep, Chr,

(Virt 37) Aug 19; most Weapons.

Jul 18; Str, Per, Weapons, SpkL, R&W,

78) Jan: 8; Str, End; frequently

Jan 30;

Int, Per.

(Virt 46) Nov 25; Int,

or

forsees future.

Jan 15;

Str, Int, Per,

Jun 3; Str, End, Chr, Heal.

(Virt34) Nov 24; Chr, SpkC, SpkL, R&W.

SpkL,

SpkC,

demon.

with

animals.

R&W.

provides

.

SpkL, R&W, Str,

Weapons,

SpkL.

24;

Agl, ‘Chr;

SpkL,

Chr,

routs

88

COLUMBA

COSMAS

(Virt 36)

wPol;

temporarily lose some Per.

Jun

9; Str, End, Chr, wEdg,

(Virt 15) Sep 26;

wImp,

Str,

End, Per, Heal; learn of

wFlI,

St. Damian.

CRISPIN (Virt 28)

Oct

25; improves non-metal armor quality,

reduces enemy non-metal armor quality.

CYPRIAN

(Virt 54) Sep

26;

Int, Alch;

may

stop some

satanic magic.

DAMIAN (Virt 30) Sep 26; Str, End, learn of St. Cosmas.

DAVID

DENIS (Virt

(Virt 30)

May 24; Chr, Int, Per, Weapons, Ride.

38) Oct 9;

Str,

End, Chr,

Rep in distant lands.

SpkC;

improves Local

.

DERFEL GADARN (Virt 57) Apr 5; Str, End, Weapons.

, D

EVOTA

(Virt 26) Jan

17;

Str,

End,

Chr; improves Local Rep

in distant lands; helps to escape or withstand torture.

DISMAS (Virt

53). Mar 25; Agl,

StrW, WdWs, Artf,

Stlh (for

entire party); helps in prison escapes or dealings

with thieves.

DOMINIC
DOROTHY OF

DROGO (Virt 59) Apt 16; Per, Heal,

(Virt 29) Aug 8; Int,

SpkC, SpkL,

in dealings with Dominicans and

MONTAU

improves

Local

intent; may provide a

(Virt 52) Oct 30;

Rep

in NE Germany; helps to sense evil

longsword

inquisitors.

to the

WdWs;

R&W; may

Chr,

help

Per, Heal;

needy.

improves travel

speed for a week.
m.ay

improve metal armor quality and reduce enemy

metal

armor

quality.

DYMPHA (Virt 21) May 15; Agl, Stlh, Heal, End; sometimes

routs

satanic

EDWARD

THE CONFESSOR

Weaponry,

20,

their

ELIGIUS (Virt 29)

enemies.

(Virt 5)

Ride; if

virtue

anyone

is raised, but party loses wealth;

Dec

1; Artf, Alch; certain weapons increase

Oct 13; End,

in party has virtue

Int,

Per;

less than

in quality.

EMYDIUS (Virt 31) Aug 9; Chr,

SpkC;

may purify or destroy

a satanic site.

ENGELBERT (Virt40) Nov 7;

Chr,

WdWs, Ride, SpkC; allows

passage over water.

ERASMUS

(Virt 32) Jun 2; Agl, Per; improves party
against flame or lightning; may help in dealing with
sailors or seamen.

E

RIC (Virt 42) May 18;

Str,

Chr, Weapons, SpkC, Ride;

improves Local Rep in distant lands; may help in deal-

ings with nobility (especially evil

,nobility).

EUSTACE (Virt 41) Sep 20; Weapons except impact and flails,

WdWs, Ride; improves travel through forests for a week.

FELIX

OF

NOLA (Virt 37) Jan 14; Agl, Stlh, WdWs; may. help

you escape from prison once.

FINBAR

(Virt 17)

FINNIAN (Virt

Sep 25;

24) Sep

Per,

10;

Chr, Agl,

Chr,

SpkL.

StrW,

SpkC, R&W;

allows passage over water.

FLORIAN (Virt 17) May 4;

Rep in Austria and Poland;

FRANCIS OF

ASSISI

(Viri 10) Odt 1; End, Per, Chr,

Virt; lose some wealth with every

GABRIEL (Virt 56)

Sep 29; Int, Per; may cause enemies to flee

Weaponry, Ride,

allows passage

successful

improves Local

over water.

SpkC,

prayer.

battle; can sometimes see a person’s mind or heart.

GENEVIEVE

(Virt 73) Jan 3; Str, End; can

prevent

attacks, or

sometimes prevent further fighting.

GEORGE (Virt 23)

Apr

23; Str,

Agl,

Weaponry; Ride; weapons

and, armor quality improves.,

GERLAC

(Virt 34) Jan 5;

GERTRUDE OF

WdWs,

Ride; can help you to nearest

NIVELLES

Str,

End, Chr, Weaponry, Heal.

(Virt 26) Mar 17; SpkL, R&W,

city

instantly; ,

sometimes offers insights into the future.

GILES

(Virt 45)

rarily

lose some

Sep 1; Str,

Agl

End,

and

Stlh,

StrW,

significant

WdWs;

tempo-.

Weaponry skills;

provides some money if very poor.

GILES

OF PORTUGAL (Virt 64) May 4; Int, Per,

Artf, Alch

(very large); suffer -1 Virt and a 1 point wound to Str.

GODEHARD (Virt 39) May 4; End,

some natural

GODFREY (Virt 55)

disasters.

Nov 7;

End,

SpkL,

R&W; can prevent

Artf, SpkC;

may sense evil

in clerics; may prevent a fight.

GODFREY (Virt

in clerics;

55) Nov 7; End,

may

prevent a fight.

Artf, SpkC; may

sense evil

armor

GOTTSCHALK (Virt

44) Jun 7; Weaponry; improves Local

Rep in Wendish (NW) Germany.

GREGORY THAUMATURGUS (Virt

Artf,

SpkC: may briefly improve all

74) Nov 17;
Attributes and

Chr, Alch,

useful in some desperate situations.

HEDWIG (Virt 16) Oct 16;

in Silesia;

HENRY (Virt

may

encourage nobility to reveal information.

61) Jul

Str,

End, Heal;

13; Int,

improves Local Rep

Weaponry;

helps in some

dealings with nobility.

HERIBERT (Virt 30) Mar 16; Str,

Chr; helps

in some dealings

with farmers.

HERVE

(Virt 47) Jun

17; Per; may, sense evil in people.

HILDEGARD (Virt 13)

Sep

17; Per; improves

Local Rep

Germany; may provide. dreams or visions of the future.

HUBERT

ILLYTD
ISIDORE (Virt 21)

ITA

J

AMES THE GREATER (Virt

(Virt

34) Nov 3;

WdWs; may

prevent problems with woodland animals.

(Virt 63) Nov

May 15; Chr,

Rep in distant lands;

(Virt 85) Jan 15;

wPol, wThr, wBow, wMsD, Stlh,

6; Chr, Weapons,

SpkC,

may help

Str,

End, Chr, Heal.

25)

July 25; Str, End, Chr, Virt;

SpkC, Ride.

StrW; improves Local

in dealings with

peasants..

temporarily lose some Int; improves Local Rep in
distant lands.

JANUARIUS (Virt 66) Sep 19;

prevents many animals attacks;

with relic could prevent “any attacks.

J

OHN

OF BRIDLINGTON

(Virt 36) Oct 21;

Str,

End (both

greater foi females).

J

OHN

CHRYSOSTOM

(Virt 37) Sep

13; Chr, SpkC, SpkL; tem-

porarily lose some Per; unavailable during some festivals.

J

OHN

CLIMACUS (Virt 20) Mar 30; increases all skills propor-

tionate to the prayer’s virtue.

JOHN NEPOLMUCHEN (Virt

StrW;

improves Local Rep in Bohemia, especially

may

force

a person to speak the truth.

J

OSEPH (Virt 27) Mar 19; Artf,

J

UDE

(Virt

15) Oct 28; improves attributes and skills, but

some wears off quickly; may help in

JULIAN

THE

HOSPITALER

aids

in crossingbridges, fords or ferries.

22) May 16;

StrW,

Chr, Int,

sometimes Chr.

“hopeless”

(Virt 61) Feb 12;

situations.

WdWs,

Skills;

in W

SpkC,

Prag;

Ride;

KESSOG (Virt
LASDISLAUS
LAWRENCE (Virt 20) Aug 10;

escape or

LAZARUS (Virt

bility of death.

LONGINIUS

31) Mar 10;
(Virt 51) Jun

Str,

End, Chr, SpkC,

27;

Str,

End, Chr, SpkC, StrW; helps to

withstand torture.

80) Dec 17;

Str,

.

(Virt 49), Mar

15;

Agl, Weaponry, SpkC, Ride.

End; may reduce the

Weaponry, improves wea-

pons quality.

LUCY (Virt 77)

Dec 13;

Str,

End, Per.
LUKE (Virt 17) Oct 18; Str, End, Heal.
LUTGARDIS (Virt 60)

Jun 16;

Chr, Per, Virt;

some End; sometimes allows translation (levitation).

MARGARET (Virt 46)

some

benefit to other attributes and skills for females

Jul 20; Str, End (both greater if female);

only; gives one character superior protection from flames.

M

ARGARET OF

CORTONA

(Virt 52) Feb 22:

SbkC, Heal.

M

ARK

(Virt 35)

Oct 7;

Agl, R&W.

MARTIN OF TOURS (Virt 69)

Nov 11;

Str,

End, Chr,

Per, SpkC, Ride; may

sense evil in people.

MATTHEW (Virt

26) Scp 21;
Int, SpkL, R&W; may
help with bankers.

(Virt

MAURICE

wEdg,

81) Sep 22;

Alch;

improves

quality of edged weapons.

M

ICHAEL

(Virt

72) Sep 29;
Chr, Weaponry, Heal,
improves Local Rep;
may improve quality of
weapons and

armor.

MILBURGA (Virt 71) Feb 23;

Chr, Heal;. sometimes al­lows translation (levitation).

MOSES THE

BLACK

(Virt 66)

Aug 28; Weaponry, Stlh,

,

StrW, WdWs.

Heal, Ride.

temporarily

Str,

possi-

lose

End,

NICHOLAS (Virt 49)

Rep in

Lorraine,

NICOLAS OF

TOLENTINO

Dec

6; Agl, Chr, Ride; improves Local

distant lands; may save ships in storms.

(Virt

31) Sept 1;

Restores

all Str,

some End, improves Relg and Heal.

ODILIA

ODO

OLAF (Virt 18)

PANTALEON

(Virt

25) Dec 13; Per;

(Virt 47)

improves local

Jul 4;

Per, Chr, Weaponry, SpkC.

Jul

29; End, Weaponry.

(Virt 56) Jul 27; Str, End,

Rep in

Alch,

Alsace.

Heal; may

discourage animal attacks; improve someone's armor

against flame; allows passage

P

ATRICK (Virt 22) Mar 17; Str, Chr, wEdg, wImp, wPol,

over

water.

SpkC,SpkL,R&W;mayimprovearmoragainstmissiles.

P

AUL THE APOSTLE (Viii 19) June 29; End, Chr, SpkC,

SpkL, R&W: improves Local Rep in distant lands; may
prevent escape from prison

PAUL THE SIMPLE (Virt 70) Mar 1; Str, End;

or

hostage situations.

temporarily lose

considerable Int; may permit one to see into another’s mind.

PERPETUA

(Virt

16) Mar 7; Chr; may discourage animal attacks.

PETER (Virt 58) Jun 29; Str, Chr, wEdg, SpkC, SpkL, Heal;

temporarily lose considerable Per; may allow escape
from prison.

PETER OF ATROA (Virt 62) Jan 1; Int, Per, Ride, Stalh,

but lose a little Local Rep permanently.

POLYCARP (Virt 19) Feb 23; gives significant flame protection

to entire party.

R

APHAEL (Virt 75) Sep 29;

purify or destroy satanic

RAYMOND

PENAFORT (Virt 67) Jan 7; Int, R&W; helps with

church law; allows passage

RAYMOND LULL (Virt 29) Jun 30; Int,

some

Strand End if extremely low.

REINOLD (Virt 27) Jan 7; End,

Str,

sites.

End,

Agl,

Per,

over

water.

Alch,

R&W; restores

Alch,

Artf; temporarily lose

Heal;

some Chr; helps in climbing stone walls, finding secret

doors and

ROCH (Virt 19) Aug 16; Str,

with

plagues.

SABAS

SEBASTIAN

THE

passages.

End, Artf,

Heal; helps deal

GOTH (Virt 64) Apr 12; Str, End, Chr.

(Virt 28) Jan 20; Str, End, Agl, Weaponry

cially wBow), Ride; helps deal with plagues.

Alch;

may

(espe-

. .

STANISLAUS

improves Local Rep in

STEPHEN (Virt 27) Aug 16; Int, Chr, Weaponry, spkC, Ride;

improves Local Rep in Hungary (Pressburg).

SWITHBERT

TARACHUS

attacks.

THALELAEUS

Heal.

(Virt 42)

Apr

11: Str, End, Chr.

SpkC,

SpkL;

Poland.

(Virt 25)

Mar

1; Str, End, Chr, SpkC.

(Virt 50) Oct 11; Str, End, Chr; may stop animal

THE

MERCIFUL (Virt 62) May

20; Str,

End,

THEODORE TIRO (Virt 38) Nov 9; Chr, Weaponry, Ride.

T

HOMAS THE

Heal,

THOMAS AQUINAS (Virt 68) Jan 28; Int, SpkL, R&W,

may help at universities or monasteries.

V

ALENTINE (Vin 48) Feb 14;

V

ICTOR OF MARSEILLE? (Virt 65)

Weaponry, SpkC.

VITUS (Virt 48) Jun 15; Chr; Agl; may

travelling may get you to nearest city;
cause

WENCESLAUS

Ride; improves

WILFRID (Virt 25) Oct 12; End, Chr, Artf, SpkC; improves

travel speed for a week.

WILLEHAD

enemy to hesitate during a fight.
WILLEBALD (Virt 50) Jun 6;
WILLIBORORD

Local Rep

WOLFGANG (Virt 24) Oct 31; Int, Chr, SpkC, WdWs, Ride;

may improve relations with villagers

ZITA

(Virt 23) Apr 27; End, Per, StrW; may provide infer-

mation from servants.

Artf,

APOSTLE

Wdws.

(Virt 24) July 1: Str. End. SpkC.

Str,

End, Chr,

SpkC,

Jul 21;

Str, End, Chr,

dispel1

Stlh, Heal

a demon; when

success

person praying to collapse (End=0).

(Virt 44) Sep 26; Str, Int, Per, Weaponry,

Local

Rep in Bohemia.

(Virt 35) Nov 8; Agl, WdWs, Ride; may

Chr,

SpkC,

(Virt 43) Nov 7; Chr,

WdWs.

SpkC, WdWs;

in N Germany.

or

nobles.

Relg;

could

cause

improves

There are many holy, relics in
abilities of relics are both uncertain and miraculous.

Generally, relics only aid the bearer, not the entire party.
Some relics are weapons of miraculously high quality; which
means that any hits the bearer
large amounts of damage. Some relics may aid
calling upon the related

saint. Other

Darklands.

scores

The

will do exceptionally

relics may improve

powers or

a character

in

the

effects
can even
them. In

affected as well.

among

try using it as a weapon.

of a

saint once a successful-call is made.

improve

rare cases,

To learn more about a relic’s effects, pass it around

the party members, call upon

the attributes or skills of whomever carries

other members of the party may be

any related

A few

saint,

relics

and

n

ABBREVIATIONS +++$@-9

Darklands uses numerous

breviations

various screens. For your con- Flail
venience, they are listed here. FldAxe = field axe

Agl= agility
Alch = alchemy (skill)

Arblst =
Artf
BatAxc = battle axe

Brgdn =
BrHG

Chain = chainmail (armor)
Chr = charisma
CmBow = composite bow
CrsBow=
Curb = cuirbouilli (armor)

DF

to

arbalest

=

artifice (skill)

brigandine

= brass handgun

crossbow

=

divine favor

save space on

ab-

(armor)

End = endurance

FkSpr = forked spear

=

military flail Lngswrd = longsword StLthr = studded leather (armor)

FScim = flaming scimitar MdShld = medium shield

=

Fswrd

GntClub = giant

GrtHmr = great hammer

GtCudg

Halbrd

Hea1 =

HndAxe
Int
IrHG = iron handgun

Javeln = javelin Shrswrd = shortsword

L
LgShld

flaming sword MilHmr = military hammer

= giant cudgel

=

halberd

healing (skill) Ride = riding (skill)

=

hand axe

=

intelligence

=

Limbs (armor area) SmShld = small shield

=

large shield SpkC = speak common (skill)

club

LngBow = longbow SpkL = speak
LngSpr = long spear Stlh = stealth (skill)

=

leather (armor)

Lthr

Per = perception V = Vitals (armor area)
P

Stone

= Philosopher’s Stone

QStaff=

Relg = religious training (skill) WdWs = woodwise (skill)
R&W = read and write (skill)

ShtBow
ShtSpr = short spear

quarterstaff

= short bow

93

Str = strength

=

streetwise (skill)

StrW

ThrKnf = throwing knife

Virt = virtue (skill)
wBow = bow weapon (skill)

wEdg = edged weapo (skill)
wFll = flail weapon (skill)
wImp = impact weapon (skill)
wMsD

= missile device weapon (skill)

wPol = polearm weapon (skill)

wThr

=

thrown weapon
2Hflail = two-handed flail
2Hswrd

Latin

(skill)

=

two-handed sword

(skill)

w

LEXICON

a+#+-~

Place Names Other Terms

Certain cities and riven have different spellings in German

and English. In
that symbol in English (i.e., Luneberg

etc.), or add an “e” after the vowel (i.e.,

More significant changes are listed below. This includes

prominent cities in modern Poland, Czechoslovakia, and

Hungary

BRESLAU: Wroclaw

BROMBERG: Bvdgoszcz
BRAUNSCHWEIG:
BRUNN: Brno

DANZIG:
DONAU:
KONSTANZ:

KOLN:

KUTTENBERG: Kutna

LUXEMBURG: Luxembourg

MARIENBERG:

MUNCHEN:
NURNBERG:
NYMWEGEN:

OLMUTZ:

POSEN:

Poznan

PRAG: Prague

P

RESSBURG: Bratislava

STETTIN: Sczcecin
T

HORN:

WEIN:

Vienna

most cases

names

with an umlaut simply lose

becomes

“a”

becomes

that have reverted to their Slavic names.

Brunswick

.

Gdansk

Danube

River

Constance

Cologne

Hora

Malbork

Munich

Nuremberg

Nijmegen

Olomoue

Torun

Luneberg,

“ae”).

.

The German language frequently uses

For example, “alt” means high, and

compound

“dorf’

means village, so

words.

a hamlet named “Altdorf’ is literally “the high village.” The
short glossary below

covers

common

root

words, and

com-

pounds where they are frequently used terms.

ERG: Mountain. but often a tall

B

URG: Town, city,

B
BURGGRAF:

Castle lord, castellean

or

other

urban

hiH
place

DIET : Congress

DOM:

Cathedral

DORF: Village or hamlet

DORFGRAF:

ELENDESVIERTEL:

ERZ-: Arch-, as in

Village

Slum

count

“Erzbischof’

(Archbishop) or

“Erzherzog”

(Archduke)
GELEITSBRIEFE: Letter of safe conduct, used by merchants
GRAF:

Count

HAUS:

House or building

HAUPTMANN:

Captain or leader

HOLZFRAU: Woodwife or Waldmannlein, female creature of

the woods, frequently the mate of a schrat
KIRCHE: Church
KLOSTER: Monastery

LEIHHAUS:

LOSUNGER:
MEISTER:
MUNZENPLATZ:

OBERVOGT:

PLATZ:
R

AT : Council

Pawnshop

Treasurer

Master

Mint .

High steward

Plaza, square or place

,

94

, .

RAUBRITTER: “Robber knight," from “raub” (robber) and

“ritter” (knight)
REICHSSTADTE:
R

ICHTER: Professional judge

RITTER:

$CHLOSS:

Armed rider, knight

SCHRAT: Wodewose
SCHULTHEISS:
S

CHULZ: Headman or knight-mayor

STADT:

TURM:

UNIVERSITAT: University ’

City

Fortified tower or

Imperial Free City

Castle

or "wild man” of the woods

Bailiff

or judge, usually imperial

keep

VOGT: Steward, magistrate, governor

VON:

Sir, a knightly title (as in “Sir John”)

WURM:

ZEUGHAUS:

worm, but frequently a lizard

Barracks

or

scaled worm

eyg*$oo, DESIGNER'S NOTES a+#@-~

Darklands

computer fantasy role-playing game’s. At MicroProse, we
have grown tired of “hack and slash” adventures, punctuated
by silly puzzles blocking your acquisition of the magic gizmo

that dispatches Foobash, the evil wizard. All this happens in

a world populated mostly with a random assortment of

monsters, sometimes expanded by a similarly random assort­ment of silly villagers, all of whom sprang from a bad imita-

tion of

a real time and place.

people of the era imagined was possible, now really is possible.

Then we took .a few additional liberties

gaming and playability. However, much care was taken to
make this world be the
inhabitants. There are many different adventures in

is an ambitious attempt to expand the

Lord

of the Rings.

Unlike any other game in-this genre,

Darklands is fantasy because whatever

real 15th Century, as perceived by its

“world” of

Darklands is

for

the sake of

set in

Darklands. Some are interelated, but many are completely

independent of each other. Lots of things are happening in
the world. You can be involved in whatever interests you!
This "non linear” aspect of
almost endlessly, or return to it from time to time,
inchnation strikes.

Since reality has

lem was decidingwhat not to include. Microcomputers, circa

1992, are still very limited in their abilities,
budgets. We
similar city layouts, artwork,

manpower in the computer gaming industry to bring alive

every

detail. Therefore, we concentrated on the high spots.

Hopefully it will inspire your imagination to till in the rest.

THE GAME

system for computer fantasy. Until now, fantasy games al-

most universally copied the concepts of “Dungeons&Drag-

ons”(c), including various

vance through various “levels” via “experience points,”

acquiring

quite possible for 20th Level warriors to absorb an entire

mercenary company’s volley of crossbow fire, simply be-

cause the character has so many hit points!

There are alternate and better systems available. They’ve

been used for years in paper role-playing games.

the first to bring these concepts to computer fantasy games.
In

Darklands attributes change rarely, while skills improve

regularly. This means that-you, as a player, must balance the
permanent importance of attributes against the desirability
of higher and higher skills. Best of all, even the most skillful
of adventures
crossbowmen!

One controversial aspect of this
of “virtue” as a skill. Perhaps “virtue”
express the concept of greater mystical understanding. When
characters acquire “virtue,” they acquire greater holiness
and a wider ability to seek miraculous aid. If this seems

trust you'll be

SYSTEM: Darklands uses an innovative game

more “hit points” as they go. In such a system; it’s

cannot survive

Darklands

so

many possibilities, our biggest

etc.

"classes"

means you can play it

as

are corporate

understanding when you see

There simply isn’t enough

of characters, who ad-

Darklands is

target practice by a company of

system

is the-appearance

is

a poor term

as

the

prob-

to

96

improper, remember that in the medieval era the pragmatic
and the spiritual. were intermixed in ways alien to many

study

each new situation. Even an experienced player

can

be

surprised periodically with new situations or results. Best of

modern philosophies. all, thi’s menu system allows the game size and scale to be

Most fantasy games have a magic System. Instead, quite large. You don’t have to deal with endlessly boring

Darklands

tant to remember that both are based on forms of belief

now repudiated.

has religious and alchemical systems. It

The Church portrayed in

Darklands has

is impor-

no relationship

details, manipulate specific objects; etc. Instead, you pick
course

of action and see what

The battle system in

happens!

Darklands

was designed with

care.

We wanted the realism of real-time fighting, including ani- ,
to the modern Catholic Church Forthesakeofgameplaywe mated effects, the clash, of weapons, the ebb and flow
emphasized the miraculous. Modern Catholics. should be

justly proud of the Counter-Reformation (in the 1500s and

1600s) that cleansed the Church, sweeping ancient, supersti-

tious

baggage away, along with all sorts of daily evils

hypocrisy,

Out

of that has come a

vigorous, healthy,

and

and far

more spiritual Church whose quiet role around the globe is

more altruistic and beneficial than many imagine. Be assured
that this game has no secret “hidden agenda” or religious

message, and our apologies to anyone offended by a glimpse but we think it makes the game environment “feel”
into one

of the less

attractive aspects of

European

religious history.

The “alchemy” of

Darklands

represents what some of minor changes in pronuncia-

the finest medieval minds hoped they might accomplish with
their art. Alchemy
However, without

is

the ancestor to modern chemistry.

equipment

to understand gases, and no man alphabet that represents

concept of scientific method, alchemists were doomed to an

imaginary “science.”

Modern

chemists will see brief The biggest problem ‘is
glimmerings, of real reactive properties, but none of the
“formulas” in this game produce the results described. Americans have

Readers and

chemistry is far more interesting and

Perhaps the most innovative aspect of

extensive use of

gamers

should not try alchemy; studying real

menus. We

much more

choose this approach primarily the relationship between

productive,

Darklands

is the

because the traditional “guess the word” or "hear the canned

speech”

side effect:
objects
tion,

methods bored us.

and actions.

with

any

However,

Darklands

is not

As designers, we could

options

and results, simply

this

constrained

has a beneficial ins more familiar, being not

by a data base of unlike their old pence,

create any situa-

by creating a hew
menu and attached logic. The only limits are design time and
imagination!

Of

course, as

a player this means you need to

action. However; we’ve observed that

or impossible for a player to control four

it's

either frustrating

or

five characters

fighting simultaneously in real time. We think “pause

orders" is a perfect compromise between realism arid

enjoyable

HE PRICE OF REALISM: Some playtesters complained

T

gaming.

about our use &monastic hours, medieval coinage and

selected German spellings. We agree it’s a bit more difficult,

realistic
without ruining common
umlauts

tion), but

(which only

avoid the essen,

readability. This

cause

a

is why we include

special character in the Ger-

“ss”

in the

middle

of a word.

coinage,

mainly because

been

“spoiled” by a ridiculously

easy decimal

system.

Older

Britons will undoubtedly find

pfenniges, groschen,

and flor-

schillings and pounds.

Similarly, the

arms and

armor available in the game

are authentic. Historians may

a

of

for

point out that things like courbouilli and
quated in 15th Century Germany. However, such armor was methods

still commonplace in Poland, Russia, and many other locales.
Besides,
essarily afford

not intended to be a justification for German expansion into Church. Recently, some historians have suggested
neighboring countries, including Holland, France, Switzer­land, Austria, Poland and Czechoslovakia. The game only harmless “device” women used
shows the political conditions and borders of that era, rounded power in a male-dominated society. A few go on to
off to a conveniently square map
region
almost any territory is

European attitude that problems are best managed by people "framed" by King Philip's need
living together in harmony, democratically, without racial
cultural bias. investigations confirmed this, but by then, the legend of

the Ternplars in
ideas, from careful reading of primary and
There are no covens, no nature ceremonies,

rites

Malleus Maleficarum,

in
purpose of the

philosophies of that era,

narian themes.

modern conceptions. These were fostered

Century

ries of Margaret Murray. These ideas gained an unreasonably

wide audience when she managed

Encyclopedia
pagan or “modem” witches are
There is no connection between these modem ideas and the the original F-19 Stealth Fighter game). He too eventually
witches of

existed as, a cult
fessions extracted undertorture by the Inquisition and various

who

says

that

relatively poor adventurers cotild

most

modern equipment? ties of real extremists, the "lunatic fringe" of various heretical

The

region

is so

WITCHCRAFT:

or

worship of Diana. The witches here come from the

the

late 1400s by two Dominican friars. The ultimate was a great temptation to either give up or just “publish

Incidentally, this

interest in pre-Christian rites and

Modem historians still debate whether witchcraft really

depicted in

complicated

the game, Greater

area.

that

suggesting a "rightful" owner to

silly.

Instead, we applaud the growing Regarding the Templars, most historian feel they

The portrayal of witches, witchcraft,

Darklands

the classic book about witchcraft, written When development costs

Darklands

Britannica for all

Darklands.

in

is based entirely on 15th Century THE CREATIVE

witches is entirely in keeping with whatever we’ve got,” regardless of quality.

especially

portrayal

its own right, independent of the con- world data), and finally from Bryan Stout (who provided

is quite different from most Eventually, the design

too many decades. Most neo-

based on

scale were anti-

Germany,

The history of this

secondary sources.

no pre-Christian

the recurring

by

the

peculiar theo-

to

get them into the The initial programming, and ultimately

Murrite theories. term

mille-

early. 20th first Sandy Petersen, then Doug Kaufman-to help. All three

.

witch hunters. Some argue that

and beliefs,

was then seized

nec-

or unbalanced people. Others see satanic practices as activi-

is cults spawned by the transparent decadence of the medieval

witchcraft,

this sometimes expanded into a cult of self-delusion, caused by

using various

captive Papacy at

or

and

satanic rites was well established.

impossible without the
of MicroProse software. We originally underestimated the

time, complexity and cost of the project by a large

Hendrick, veteran of many MicroProse military simulators.

are veteran designers and players of role-playing games from

the 70s

animated battle system was created by Jim Synoski,

needed assistance, first from Doug Whatley (who ably

over the

various

was predominantly female, it was a relatively.

natural, mind-altering

The initial design work and research was done by Arnold

and 80s.

veteran

at MicroProse (among other things, he wrote

complexities of the menu logic system, map and

“black boxes" to glue together the game).

created the idea of witchcraft, which

upon

and believed by various desparate and

Avignon.

TEAM: Darklands would

faith and

tasks proved so

the

Inquisition, with its

to

redress the balance of

drugs available at

for cash

Indeed, subsequent medieval

vision of

rose

past the stratosphere, there

and betrayed by a

the

huge that he dragooned

that since

suggest

that time.

were

have been

management

factor

the

entire

long-

took

The artwork demanded by

Darklands was

a vast task. Art

Director Michael Haire developed the initial concepts, in­cluding the "great illustrators" approach to background scenes
that is new and
menting

this

extremely

fitting for the

fell; in an unseemly rush,

subject.

onto

Artino (who

Imple-

roughed out each scene in pen) and Chris Soares (who did
much of the color rendering), assisted by Erroll Roberts and
others. Meanwhile, the other huge

task

was the battlefield
character animation, originally masterminded by Jackie Ross,
then fleshed-out and

refined

by Rawn Martin and Patrick

Downey. The introductory and concluding animations were

entirely the genius of Artino, who

ultimately

used an in-

house animation tool developed by Brian Reynolds. Overall,

got

Darklands needed great art, and it certainly

it. The most
constant complaint of all the artists was that they didn’tget
enough time to (a) add more and

(b)

do an even better job!

Dr. Jeffery Briggs, MicroProse’s “composer in residence,”

is the brain behind the music. However, assembling this in

computer

form, and doing all the sound effects, fell as

usual

upon the overworked MicroProse sound department, led by

Ken Lagace.

We would

also like to thank

Dr. Kelly DeVries for his

kind academic help in various matters relating to the 15th

Century, especially weaponry. We also
of various gaming experts

who

saw-the projects in various

appreciate

the advice

stages. We apologize for sometimes ignoring their advice!

SEQUELS: Darklands was designed

to

permit sequels. It
is possible to have some additional adventures in Germany.
More importantly, it is
elsewhere

in

Europe. The system not only allows moving

possible to create entirely new games

“saved game” files back and forth, but also allows you to load

multiple games

onto your

hard disk and move back and forth

between the nations, in a sort of giant adventure. Let us
know what you enjoyed in

see

in a

sequel, and what setting you

Darklands,

what you would like to

prefer.

There are plenty

of possibilities: the Emperor in Germany has many political

problems and intrigues, England and France are busy finish­ing the last half of the Hundred Years War, after
England falls into civil war (the War
while, Italy is at the peak of its warring

of the

Roses). Mean-

city-states

which

era, Vlad

the Impaler appears in the Balkans (the historical figure who,

ultimately became Dracula), Tamerlane is conquering Cen­tral Asia, and much more. What’s

your

preference?

-Arnold

Hendrick, 1992

;RAPHY ++@+.3

-General

These volumes provide a general background to either the
Middle
reader will discover that these historians have widely differ­ing theories, some of which clash with the analysis of Gothic
Germany given here. For specific information about medi­eval affairs, Green,, Bishop and Fossier are the most useful.

For the best overview of Europe in this era,

Barraclough is unmatched for providing a detailed but well­guided path through the minefield of German medieval
development. For
see

Green, St. Martin’s Press, 1971.

rope, George Holmes ed., Oxford University Press, 1988.

Tenison trans., Cambridge

Denys Hay, Longman,

Barraclough, Capricorn Books, 1963 reprint of 1947 edition. Horst Fuhrmann

Martin’s Press. 1924.

Norton. 1968. early middle ages with those of later times. After the Black

These books provide specific historical insights

important people and events of the region. The most useful much more useful than the commonly available books of

and hiehlv recommended is Du Boulay, the definitive En- Rowling and the

glish

specific issues, Strauss, Cohn and Schildhaus are the best. ndmic

Ages

as a whole, or a specific aspect of it. An astute

interesting

Huizinga

Medieval Civilization in Western Europe;
The

The Oxford Illustrated History of Medieval Eu­The Middle Ages 1250-1520, Robert Fossier ed., S.H. . . Charles the

Europe in the
The Origins of Modern Germanv, Geoffrey Germany

A History of Denmark, Palle Lauring, Dorset Press, 1960.

The Waning of the Middle Ages,

The Fifteenth Century, Margaret Aston, W.W. Many of these books intermix the social institutions of the

*Local

Middl

treatment

and

Aston.

e Ages, Morris Bishop, Houghton Mifflin, 1968.

and Political

of this subject. For

if sometimes radical opinions,

University

Fourteenth

second, edition

H,istoryw

choose

Hay.

V.H.H.

Press, 1986.

and Fifteenth Centuries,

1989.

J.

Huizinga, St.

History-

into

the

a sense

of detail and industry,

Fuhrmann and
early Middle Ages
Vaughan’s great

princes (the last two are noted
cinating

Germany in

Athlone Press,

Nuremberg

Indiana Universit

The Goverr

Fifteenth Cent

: Press,

1965.
__

The Hansa,

Edition

Inc

Carsten, Clarend

Benjamin Arnold

Death, actual social patterns changed greatly, even though
popular perceptions and attitudes

For this reason, Rossiaud , Geremek and Dyer are actually

works in the field.

Leipzig,

Princes and Parliaments in Germany,

Philip the Go

History of

Arnold are mainly for

(1000-1250), included purely as a courtesy.

four-volume work on the Burgundian

the Later Middle Ages, F.R.H. Du Boulay,

19

83.

in the Sixteenth Century, Gerald Strauss,
y

Press, revised edition 1976.

nment in the Rhine

ury, Henry J. Cohn., Oxford University

Johannes Schildhaus, K. Vanovitch trans.,

1985.

onPress, 1959.
od,

Richard Vaughan, Barnes & Noble,

Bold, Richard Vaughan; Barnes

Territories

, Cambridge University Press, 1991.

in

the

, Cambridge University Press, 1986.

Social, Cultural

cc;=,

Economic History

mining, currency,

Middle Ages

Gies family.

1987 completely outclasses all other

those interestedin the

here) is

in Medieval

also quite fas-

Paltinate

Germany;

(c.

1050-1200),

ti

took

longer to catch up.

For information on trade.

etc., the Cambridge Eco-

in the

F.L.

1970.
&

Standards of Living in the Later Middle Ages 1200-

1520, Christopher Dyer, Cambridge University Press, 1989.

The Margins of Society in Late Medieval Paris,

Bronislaw Geremek, J. Birrell trans.,
Press, 1971 (trans 1987).

Medieval Prostitution, Jacques Rossiaud, L.G.

Cochrane trans., Basil Blackwell, 1988.

The Cambridge Economic History of Europe: II:

Trade and Industry in the Middle Ages,

ed., Cambridge University Press, 1987.

Private Life ‘in the Fifteenth Century, Roger

ed.,

Toucan

A

Medieval World, Georges

Harvard University Press, 1988.

A History of Private

Renaissance,

Harvard University Press, 1989.

Everyday Life in Medieval Times,

Dorset Press,

Life in a Medieval City, Joseph and Frances Gies,

Apollo, 1973.

Everyday Life of Medieval

Rowling, Dorset Press, 1971.

Women in the Middle Ages,

Harper & Row, 1978.

We are greatly indebted to Professor Kelly DeVries for use of

his manuscript for an upcoming book on late medieval
warfare. Among the published sources, Contamine offers the
most useful general history, Wise the best military

wargaming-oriented work. Borne

tory of the Hundred Years War; the later half occurring in this

era. Beeler and Oman offer useful insights to preceeding and

later eras,, and are recommended
medieval
cal

information on arms and armor, the WRG (Wargames

Books, 1989.

History

of Private Lie, II: Revelations of the

Duby ed., A.

Life,

Roger Chartier ed., A. Goldhammer trans.,

1968;

*Military

or

early modern warfare was “simple.” For techni-

Cambridge

Goldhammer trans.,

III: Passions of the

Marjorie Rowling,

Travellers,

Frances and Joseph Gies;

University

Postan

&Miller

Virgoe

Marjorie

AffairscL

has the best

to

anyone who thinks

military his-

and

Rcsearch
booklets remain the best available, despite attacks on spe-.
cific information within them.

Jones trans., Basil Blackwell, 1984.

1500, Ian Heath, Wargames Research Group, 1982.84.

Wargames Research Group, 1977.

McBride, Osprey, 1985.

Osprey, 1979.

& Embleton, Osprey, 1983.

wood Press, 1976 reprint of 1956 edition.

Cornell University Press, 1971.

Oman, E.P. Dutton, 1979 reprint of 1937 edition,

David Eltis, Oxford.

& Bergman, Scientific American, June 1.991.

Group) publications and the Osprey illustrated

War in

Medieval Warfare, Terence Wise, Hastings House, 1976:
Armies of the Middle Ages (volumes 1 and 2) 1300-

Armies
German Medieval Armies
The Swiss at War,
Armies of Medieval Burgundy,
The Agincourt War, Lt.
Warfare in Feudal Europe; 730-1200, John
The

Medieval

the Middle Ages, Philippe Contamine,

of Feudal

Art of War in

Warlords. Tim Newark.

“Towns and

“Early Bow Design and Construction,” McEwen, Miller

Europe

the Sixteenth Century,

Defence in Later

1066-1300, Ian Heath,

1300-1500,

1300-1500, Miller & Embleton.

1364 - 1477,

Co1

Alfred H. Burne, Green-

Blandford Press. 1987.

Medieval Germany,"

Michael

Gravett &

Michael

Beeler,

Sir Charles

1-s3 Geo&%phy~

The single best source of medieval German map information
is the Grosser Historischer Weltaltlas, almost unobtainable

in the United States. For basic topography, nothing beats the

Times atlas.
Baedeker travel guides are quite
pre-WWI series kindly lent to

Mittelalter ("Greater Historical World Atlas - Vol. II, Middle
Ages"). Josef Engel ed., Bayertischer Schulouch-Verlag, 1979.

For specific details about specific cities, the

useful,

especially the. rare

us

by Bruce Milligan.

Grosser Historischer Weltatlas

- Zweiter Teil

The Times Atlas of the Worid, Seventh Edition, Times
Books, 1988. Maps by John Bartholomew & Sons, Lim­ited, Edinburgh.

Northern

Southern Germany, Baedeker’s, Charles Scribner,

Belgium and Holland, Baedeker’s, Charles Scribner, 1910.

Austria, Baedeker’s, Prentice-Hall Inc. (for U.S. edi-

tion), third edition, c. 1980s. .

Germany

the U.S. edition), c. 1980s.

Switzerland, a Phaidon Cultural Guide, Prentice-

Hall Inc., 1985.

Atlas of Secret

Press, 1990.

Germany, Baedeker's, Charles Scribner, 1913.

1914.

[West], Baedeker’s, Prentice-Hall Inc.

Europe,

Charles Walker, Dorset

-FolkTales-

No single one of these books is especially useful in itself.

had to assemble bits and

The Ring

trans., Garden

German Myths and Legends, Donald

Avenel Books, 1985.

The Complete

Owens ed., Avenel Books, 1981.

Grimms’

trans., Grosset & Dunlap, c. 1940s.

Werewolves in Western Culture, Charlotte Otten ed.,

Syracuse University Press, 1986.

On Monsters and Marvels, Ambroise Pare, J.L. Pallister

trans.,

Universitv of Chicago Press, 1982 (originally

lished in 1570s).

The

Capricorn Books, 1960.

’ A Dictionary of Fabulous Beasts, Richard Barber

Anne Riches, Macmillan, 1971.

of the Niblung, Richard Wagner, M. Armour

City,

Fairy Tales, Lucas, Crane, & Edwardes ed./

Bestiary -- A

pieces

1939.

Brothers

from all

Grimm Fairy Tales, Lily

Book

of them.

of Beasts,

K.

MacKenzie,

T.H. White,

pub-

:-Religion,

In addition to the works below; the
editions
excellent source of information. We feel Delaney is the best

single-volume work, although short on
dotes. Bokenkotter andBossy present very sympathic church
histories;, yet &en they find it hard to
things about the Church in this era. Those who dispute

(for

opinion of
them. Incidentally, both were acquired at a Catholic-spon­sored bookstore.

ries of chemistry or
invaluable. The Book of Abramelin is very interesting,

its authenticity has been questioned. Fabricius’ self-pub­lished effort is amusing, but few give it serious consideration.

We

Harper & Row, 1987.

Book

Farmer, Oxford University Press, 1987.

bridge University Press, 1983.

Goldhammer trans., University of Chicago Press, 1988.

Bokenkotter, Image Book

ford, University Press, 1987.

1957 book.

&

Mage, S.L. MacGregor Mathers trans., Dover, 1975 reprint
of 1900 book of manuscript reputedlywritten in 1458.

third revised edition.

of Butler's Lives,

the

For alchemy, in addition

Butler’s Lives of

Pocket Dictionary of Saints, John J. Delaney, Image

--

Doubleday, 1980.

The Oxford Dictionary of Saints, Daivd Hugh

Saints and

The Medieval Imagination, Jacques le Goff, A.

A Concise History of the Catholic Church, Thomas

Christianity in the West, 1400-1700, John Bossy, Ox-

AIchemy, E.J. Holmyard, Dover, 1990 reprint of

The Book of the Sacred Magic of Abram&n the

Alchemy, Johannes Fabricius, Johannes Fabricius, 1989

Saints &

revised as research continues, are

medieval Catholic

to various

science,

their Cults, Stephen Wilson ed.,

Patron

we

Saints,, Michael Walsh cd.,

--

Alchemyw

various

multi-volume

interesting anec-

say many

church are

found

Doubleday, 1977.

urged to read

short

pieces in histo-

Holmyard's book

an

positive

our

but

Cam-