What brave mortal will extinguish her candle? Who would be so foolish to travel between villages at night? What of pious kine, holding torches aloft in one hand, their faith brandished in the other? The darkness hides a multitude of monsters the world over. The plans of vampires dwelling the shadows, from different regions, with different beliefs.
The societies they form for their own protection, and philosophical furtherance they pursue to give meaning to lives without light. The domains they build, designed to keep out the intruding flame of life. The horror of combat, fought only by the embers of a bonfire, every sword slash a shadow, every clash of metal even more deafening for the lack of illumination.
V Dark Ages Companion explores the literal and philosophical cut and thrust of a life lived in the dark. Inverted and subverted beliefs, rotting kingdoms, and dedication to blood β both its procurement and spillage. Our Dark Ages are a time even harsher than the real Middle Ages, not just for mortals, but also the vampires preying on them. It is difficult to find meaning when all you know is darkness. Setites and Lasombra are therefore urged to don shades, hoods, or wide-brimmed hats.
I wanted Companion to expand on V Dark Ages , and the Dark Ages lines of the previous two decades and saying that makes me feel old. I asked my gaming groups what they wanted to see in a Dark Ages book. I read forum posts and reviews of V Dark Ages. I also researched what readers loved about the historic Dark Ages material. I thought about what a Companion should offer to both players and Storytellers. It explores it in a way designed to evoke the mood of the places we visit.
We examine domains of varying sizes, to see how chronicles may be different from one to another. If you wish to set your chronicle in intimate surroundings, where schemes are small and every Cainite knows her neighbour, the small Norwegian island of Bjarkarey or the provincial British town of Bath receive in-depth coverage, complete with plots, characters, and ways to make those domains β or domains like them β your own. The same options are present, should you desire somewhere untouched by established lore.
