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The core setting of the Fourth Crusade RPG is an altered Earth in the early 13th Century, having been changed by the introduction of the Awakening event which brought myth to reality. A few other changes exist to the world which alter the course of history, such as the advent of gunpowder and firearms being incredibly limited due to the rarity of the chemicals needed to produce a firearm, thus leading to a greater focus on refining medieval combat even further into history than in our own time.
GMs are free to use settings of their own which aren't the core setting, and some additional settings exist as well with allowing for new technological eras, others surrounding a real-life historical event, or a setting focused on a specific genre. It is also possible to completely remove the magical elements from the Fourth Crusade in order to try and run a pure historical fantasy game.
Earth's History
Earth's History
The Awakening (1182 AD)
The Awakening (1182 AD)
Known to most as "The Awakening" or "The Shaking", the Awakening began first when two simple Irish peasants encountered an ancient cave together, and uncovering a strange stone obelisk twice their height and written in Ogham script. Confused as to what they were witnessing, the two debated among each other what they should do and they agreed upon trying to test the obelisk's weight to see if they could both carry it to town, as well as wanting to investigate the cave further. One of the two carefully approached and reached out to gently brush his fingers along the script, and to his shock and alarm the script began to shimmer and glow a bluish white color. They were both knocked on their feet as a series of earthquakes erupted across the world, including right beneath them where the obelisk was - growing a bright blue and looking like nothing the two had ever seen before. And as soon as this fantastical event started, everything fell silent in the cave except for the rocks from the ceiling clattering onto the ground as they were shook out of their place.
Illuminations faded from the obelisk as it began crumbling to pieces out of nowhere, scaring the two who ran from the cave in fear of it collapsing due to the earthquake as well as losing their discovery as it was irreparably shattered into many pieces. Shaken to their very cores, the two villagers left for home, unknowingly having started the single largest worldwide event to date.
When the obelisks across the world caused the earthquakes, a powerful energy of brilliant blue expanded from each obelisk and continued to do so until the entire Earth had been covered by the bluish energy. Just as quickly as it expanded however it faded away all at once, having served its purpose as a 'portal' of sorts and allowing other beings to enter Earth from beyond. Humans of the time referred to it as the Fae Wilds, the Distant Land, Legend, or even just 'the Beyond'. In truth, various places had all converged in on themselves in order to form one singular plane of existence composed of many realms. All aspects of the multiverse prior had forged together, and had interwoven itself in order to bridge gaps between each and every universe untouched by one another.
For the people of Earth it was a sudden change as their world was now inhabited by new and unknown creatures, magic had begun to be used for the first time, and creatures they spoke of in legends and tales were suddenly real. This sudden influx of new beings and concepts once thought impossible has left many people bewildered and wanting to know why and how this came to be. Despite this, they are saddled with this new reality and must learn to adapt...
Integration (1185 AD)
Integration (1185 AD)
Three years after the Awakening took place, the major political powers of the world have begun to start implementing laws and adapting to the new world around them. In this year, the Holy Roman Empire introduces the first Mage's College in Nürnberg, as concerns grow around the idea of magic users existing, and people see the often untamed power going out of control and causing problems. The Mage College of Nürnberg begins studying the various aspects of magic, determined to document and control its power in order to make use of it. Following the Mage College of Nürnberg, several more colleges are formed in the Byzantine Empire, England, France, Sweden, Egypt, and Persia. These early mage colleges all had different practices and methods of study differentiating them from one another, even creating their own styles of magic matching their cultures however all served as 'beacons' of magical energy congregating in one region, and creating leylines in the regions due to the abundance of magic users in one area.
Outside of the focus on magic, people have warily accepted humanoids into society after three years. Some humanoids claimed to already have relations with humans, others were difficult to distinguish from regular humans outside of minor differences. Primarily; Dwarves begun forging new kingdoms and dynasties under the ground and in the mountains, Elves found treetops and woodlands to begin setting up their residences, and Orcs found homes primarily in the desert regions of the Middle East and forging nomadic warbands.
In their attempts to create new territories, borders would often overlap or be separate entirely from the kingdom they inhabit within. Dwarves whose kingdoms were forged deep underground did not bother attempting to claim the lands above them which were owned by the previously held human kingdoms, meanwhile other Dwarves instead chose to offer deals to nobles and people within their area in which they would integrate their land into the lord's and offer their quality of services. This pattern extended to Elves as well, save that those Elves who wished to dwell among the trees who often came into conflict with the soldiers of the region, but not exploding into full blown war.
Outside of the major species (Elves, Dwarves, and Orcs) other species were less populous in the European region, and may have been localized to specific regions but otherwise were nowhere near large enough communities to start nations of their own.
Beginning of the Crusade (1201 AD)
Beginning of the Crusade (1201 AD)
In the years following the Awakening, regional politics remained largely similar and unchanged from the path to the Fourth Crusade. The Fourth Crusade will soon start in an effort to reclaim Jerusalem, a large force being amassed by Christendom as the Pope had managed to secure non-human humanoids as additional troops, promising Baptism and forgiveness of sins to those who agreed to join.
By 1202 AD, the Fourth Crusade will begin...
The section below includes massive spoilers for not only Fourth Crusade but also the setting of The Fade, beware. In addition, the information presented within the section is information no player character would likely ever know or discover as it is merely present to give the players greater context to the setting.
Pre-History
Pre-History
Truth is harder to pinpoint in the setting of the Fourth Crusade, as the past is murky due to lack of proper bookkeeping and the influence of word of mouth. Religion and the cosmos of the universe are equally strange as different faiths had different beliefs as well as different inferences on history and the world.
In the beginning; the Fae Wilds and the universe were separate, created by the hand of a primordial force whose true name could not be uttered - not even by the gods and higher powers, and only great deities even know of the force's name. This force is regarded as 'Chaos' which was the natural state of all existence and nonexistence. In its creation of the universe and time, it also ended up creating the first of the gods who would reside within the Fae Wilds while the other universe would serve as their home.
The names of the first gods were lost to time except for two whose names survive but their existence as the original gods borne through Chaos is unknown. These two gods are Yahweh (YHVH) the god of light and Silask the god of knowledge.
The first gods were left within a new universe with little beyond themselves to entertain themselves. This lasted millennia until a turning point occurred, as the first gods learned the art of creation and that in order to learn the secrets of their creation, they first must create. Thus, the gods began creating the galaxies, cosmos, and worlds which inhabit the universe, and eventually...life. Experimenting, the gods made various creatures, too unintelligent to live past a few generations and their creation driven by curiosity and a desire to learn more.
This creation occurred at an ever-increasing rate, growing faster and more efficient. It was only after countless experiments with life and beings that intelligent life began. This intelligent life, ignorant of its own creation, asked the gods present why they came to be. In turn, the gods told them the simple truth; "you are but an experiment, a test to serve as a method for us to learn". Although disappointed with the answer and becoming quiet, the gods began creating more instances of life. Each god's creation of life differed from another and more species came to exist. The first creation did not reveal the secret of existence to his brothers and sisters, instead choosing to remain silent so as not to lead others to the same disappointment he was lead to. This disappointment however continued, brewing into hatred and resentment for his creators and giving him the curse of life and knowledge.
In order to expedite the process of creation, the gods created magic and taught it to the mortals, however this was not enough. In order for mortals to become truly intelligent beyond the simplistic (although not insignificant) intelligence observed in their current creations, they required a way for mortals to become not only intelligent but creative as well. Harnessing powers from Chaos and allowing it direct access to the Fae Wilds, mortals were able to create on their own as well - however this was an unknowing process and was much more limited. Creation was reserved to belief; as belief in something grew, its reality grew until it came into being. This turned stories into life, and in a sense, made the impossible a reality. Beasts could be created as a myth, and their continued belief made the beast into a reality. In its most extreme case, it could even lead to the existence of new gods, if the conditions were right...
Naming himself as "Evestaval" and managed to convince the god Silask to allow him into his own domain, as Evestaval asked to learn from him. Ever eager to teach to others, Silask accepted Evestaval's request and began teaching Evestaval of many secrets. His time spent learning under Silask was long - spanning thousands of years while life grew outside Silask's domain, nobody having heard from Evestaval in all of that time. In the final year of his learning under Silask, Evestaval had managed to uncover the one secret he desired to learn above all else: how to kill a god.
In order to kill a god, Evestaval would need to acquire a specific weapon belonging to the deity and land a killing blow with it. Each god was known to possess one or multiple of these kinds of weapons, each being manifestations of their power which were used to destroy ancient primordial threats unleashed by Chaos' naturally fluctuating energies.
Silask foolishly trusted Evestaval wholeheartedly, and didn't know what was to come - Evestaval had stolen an axe owned by Silask known as the Foe Slayer in the tongue of the gods. In the dead of night, Evestaval used the axe to behead his teacher and committed his first act of deicide. In his slaying of Silask, he drank the blood of the god in order to acquire the power which Silask held as well as storing the blood for use of other mortals he met. This earned Evestaval the title of the first Godslayer, and the first god to come into being after the creation of the original gods. Though no different in power, gods which were not of the original gods had little or no connection to the original primordial force which had created all things.
Knowing the other gods would soon rise in protest and anger against him, Evestaval took the blood of the late Silask and divided it to a cabal of fellow mortals who drank from the blood and they too acquired the power needed to ascend. Together, Evestaval and his followers would attempt a coup against the gods, believing themselves to be wronged by their very creators. This didn't go as planned however as a group of the followers unsure of the veracity of the fanatical Evestaval's claims, consulted the gods themselves instead - warning them ahead of time of the coming assailants as well as earning the favor and forgiveness of the gods for the acquiring of godhood.
Believing to have taken the gods by surprise, Evestaval stormed their home - the universe. Although all gods in their own right, the followers and Evestaval were unaware of the issue which manifest itself: gods could not harm one another. Only a mortal would be able to take up arms against a god, allowing them the chance to either ascend themselves and become a god, or reject godhood and remain a mortal. Because those who were challenging the original gods were now gods themselves, they couldn't harm their enemy.
Confused and saddened, the gods asked the group what they hoped to achieve from this, and those who begged for forgiveness would be forgiven. Evestaval and a small contingent stayed vigilant, others with less fervor and belief in the righteousness of their goal abandoned their former leader, asking for forgiveness and proclaiming Evestaval as the propagator of this madness.
Despite his attempts to attack his creators, Evestaval was powerless before them. The original gods agreed to an idea, one which would prevent Evestaval from being an issue any longer. There they would begin to merge one after another into a greater and greater being than once before, and it seemed as though infinity was being multiplied, and the result larger than the infinity they once started with. Yahweh was who remained, serving as the combination of the original gods and the only original god now. Through His actions, He separated the body, mind, and soul of Evestaval. The body would remain in the Fae Wilds and was hidden far from prying eyes. His mind was also sent to the Fae Wilds, left in another hidden location. Finally, his soul was kept in place at His side, keeping a watchful eye over it to ensure any spark of rebellion it had was brought to rest the moment it tried.
After Evestaval's effective death and ensuring his revival could not take place, Yahweh allowed the others to return to the Fae Wild, even those who defied Him to the last, on the condition that they never speak of Evestaval. For if they did, He would personally ensure they would share his fate, and have their name scratched from the history and memory of any who could remember them. In turn, the gods returned to the Fae Wild and begun their work. Yahweh allowed them to create in the same manner He had when split, teaching them how to create life and worlds for them to inhabit. In addition, he forbade them from ever entering His domain again, reiterating his threat to them if they ever did.
Once back in the Fae Wild, the gods begun creating in the same manner as Yahweh had previously, even being taught by Him as to how create and how to maintain said creations. Maintaining belief was key in maintaining power and influence. Gods who were to fade into obscurity were doomed to a life as lesser gods, with power but no followers to call upon and do their bidding. Yahweh instead chose to begin a new project of His own, expanding His home and converting this new space into a new universe for him to tinker and manage in His ever-present desire to perfect His creations. There, only angels and other heavenly beings of His creation were allowed, and in His realm he would re-use the design one of his many creations - Humans.
The Convergence
The Convergence
Convergence was part of Yahweh's plan from the start, one final reset to all creation to allow perfection. In order for this to occur, the Fae Wild must endure an apocalypse in which He was slain by one looking to revive Evestaval, and the humans of his universe must find the Leylines hidden throughout the world. These two events would inevitably coincide with one another, and lead to both universes merging and forming a reset of sorts while both universes merged. To those living in His universe, it would seem as if these new creatures and beings came from nowhere. To the new inhabitants of the universe, it would seem as if they always existed there and instead merely woke up from an ever-changing dream.
This event also led to the new merged universe retaining one of the main traits of the Fae Wild; the ability to make myth into reality, and create through the power of belief. This ability was still not widely known or understood, but this new world would see the advent of many "truths" conflicting with one another, while being impossibly right and wrong at the same time. It ultimately meant reality was comprised of many contradictions within itself, and attempting to understand and reveal these contradictions lead to madness and existential dread until the subject eventually commits suicide.
It is in this new, 'perfected creation' that the setting of the Fourth Crusade begins...
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