Byzantines

The Byzantine Empire is a great political power in the eastern Mediterranean. It is sophisticated and, for much of this period, successfully expansive.

In the literature, Sir Sagramore le Desirious, the son of the Emperor, is from Constantinople.

Byzantines provide only one type of character from Byzantium, since their politics and culture did not change appreciably during the Arthurian and Medieval eras.

## Personal Information

### Homeland

The Byzantine Empire is great, widespread and powerful. It includes many peoples in Europe and Asia under their rule. Whatever their ethnicity, they are foremost Byzantines.

Syria is a province from Asia. Its major city is Antioch.

Illyricum is a province from the Balkans, and its great city is Salonica.

The great city of Constantinople is the capital of the empire, one of the largest and most magnificent cities in the world. It has thrived in unbroken peace and splendor since it was established by Emperor Constantine the Great two hundred years ago.

Table 30: Byzantine Homeland

d20 Roll Home

01-08 Syria, stationed in Antioch

09-15 Illyricum, stationed in Salonica

16-20 Constantinople

### Culture

The Byzantine people are the citizens of the Eastern Roman Empire. They don’t actually call themselves Byzantines, but the knights in Pendragon Britain call them that. They would call themselves Greeks, if speaking culturally; and Romans, if they are speaking politically, since they are the legitimate heirs of the ancient Roman Empire. Nor, for that matter, is their capital city called Byzantium, but rather Constantinople.

#### Self image

“We have been the height of civilization since ancient times. We are the heirs of the Greek philosophers and the Roman politicians. We are a powerful empire, and will continue to be so forever.”

#### Chariot races

Chariot racing with quadrigae (4-horse teams) is extremely popular in the hippodrome of Constantinople. People fanatically support one of the four teams which are designated by colors. The teams, and thus the supporters, have different financial, religious and political inclinations as well. The teams are the Blues, Greens, Whites and Reds.

#### Names

##### Male

Alexander, Alexius, Anastasius, Andronicus, Arcadius, Basil, Constantius, David, Diocletian, Diocles, Galerius, George, Heraclius, Isaac, John, Jovian, Julian, Justinian, Justin, Leontius, Licinius, Manuel, Marcian, Maurice, Michael, Nicephorus, Nicholas, Philippicus, Phocas, Romanus, Stauracius, Theodore, Theodosius, Theophano, Theophilus, Valens.

##### Female

Anna, Eudocia, Irene, Theodora, Yolanda, Zoe. Many of the men’s names have feminine forms as well (Alexandra, etc.).

#### Religion

Orthodox Christianity is the dominant Church here. However, some people follow the ancient philosophers and are Neoplatonists, while another minority is the Manicheans.

##### Orthodox Christian

“We’ve never changed the ways given us by Saint Paul and the Church Fathers. Emperor Constantine the Great, who made our great city, also made Christianity the official religion in our city. Now that the Patriarch in Rome, the Pope, is a captive of barbarians, he is trying to convince us of his fraudulent dominance. The truth is our Emperor is the heir of Constantine and we’ll never agree to Roman rule.”

##### Neoplatonic Christian

“The ancient philosophers have taught us of the nature of the universe and the proper way to live. The ways of Socrates, Plato, Aristotle and the other men of knowledge anticipated the teachings of Jesus and are fully compatible with his Gospel, even if ignorant and ill-educated fools think otherwise.”

##### Manichaeism

“Our Prophet is Mani, Apostle of Jesus Christ by the providence of God the Father. He has revealed that the world is ruled by two gods, one that is good and one that is evil. It is the obligation of upright men to work for Good, worship the Creator, and move towards the Light; and to combat Evil in all its forms. Jesus taught us that.”

### Your Lord

Random Determination:

Table 31: Byzantine Liege Lord

d20 Roll Byzantine Lord

01-15 Your Drungarios

16-19 Turmarch’s Guard

20 Emperor’s Bodyguard

### Father’s Class

Characters all begin armed, trained and equipped as a cataphract. Their Father’s class will affect their Equipment.

Table 32: Byzantine Father’s Class

d20 Role Father

01-15 Thematic Landholder

16-17 Tagmata Soldier

18-20 Officer, see table below

Thematic Landholder: The approximate equivalent of a landholding knight.

Tagmata: Imperial force, maintained by imperial funds, military elites.

Byzantine Officer

d20 Role Officer

01-16 Drungarios

17-19 Turmarch

20 Strategos, “General”

Drungarios: An ofFIcer of the Army, commands a drungae of several hundred men.

Turmarch: OfFIcer commanding a turma, of several drungae.

Strategos: Commander of the entire army from a Theme (region), of several Themae.

#### Cataphract

Characters all begin armed, trained and equipped as a cataphract.

The Byzantines are already efficient horse soldiers, and knighthood per se does not reach them during the campaign.

### Equipment

Scale Mail and open helm (12 points), Mace, dagger, Light Shield (3 points), Great Lance, Compound bow and arrows; Andalusian Charger (with trapper), rouncy, sumpter

#### Modifiers due to Father’s Class

Thematic Landholder: None.

Tagmata Soldier: Another charger.

Officer: Another charger. Superior Armor, +1 to protection.

## Traits & Passions

### Byzantine (Orthodox Christian)

Chaste 13/7 Lustful

Energetic 10/10 Lazy

Forgiving 10/10 Vengeful

Generous 13/7 Selfish

Honest 6/14 Deceitful

Just 10/10 Arbitrary

Merciful 13/7 Cruel

Modest 13/7 Proud

Pious 10/10 Worldly

Prudent 15/5 Reckless

Temperate 10/10 Indulgent

Trusting 8/12 Suspicious

Valorous 15/5 Cowardly

### Byzantine (Neoplatonist)

Chaste 10/10 Lustful

Energetic 10/10 Lazy

Forgiving 10/10 Vengeful

Generous 10/10 Selfish

Honest 9/11 Deceitful

Just 10/10 Arbitrary

Merciful 10/10 Cruel

Modest 7/13 Proud

Pious 13/7 Worldly

Prudent 15/5 Reckless

Temperate 13/7 Indulgent

Trusting 8/12 Suspicious

Valorous 15/5 Cowardly

### Byzantine (Manichaeist)

Chaste 13/7 Lustful

Energetic 10/10 Lazy

Forgiving 10/10 Vengeful

Generous 13/7 Selfish

Honest 6/14 Deceitful

Just 7/13 Arbitrary

Merciful 10/10 Cruel

Modest 13/7 Proud

Pious 13/7 Worldly

Prudent 10/10 Reckless

Temperate 13/7 Indulgent

Trusting 8/12 Suspicious

Valorous 15/5 Cowardly

### Religious Bonuses

After determining your Traits, check to see whether your character qualifies for any Religious bonus. If all the underlined Traits are 16 or higher, then the appropriate bonus applies:

#### Christian, Neoplatonist

+2 Hit Points, +1 Damage, +2 Healing Rate

### Starting Passions

Loyalty (Emperor) either 2d6 or 15

Loyalty (Unit Leader) 3d6

Love (Family) 2d6+5

Hospitality 2d6+5

Honor 3d6

## Attributes & Statistics

### Men

Roll 3d6+4 for SIZ, and 3d6+1 for each other attribute.

### Women

Roll 2d6+2 for SIZ and STR; 3d6+1 for DEX and CON; and 3d6+5 for APP.

## Skills & Combat Skills

### Starting Skills

Skill Male Female

Awareness (7) (2)

Boating (0) (0)

Chirurgery ― (8)

Compose (2) (5)

Courtesy (6) (6)

Dancing (2) (2)

Faerie Lore (2) (2)

Falconry (2) (5)

Fashion ― (8)

First Aid (5) (8)

Flirting (2) (2)

Folklore (2) (2)

Gaming (2) (2)

Heraldry (2) (2)

Hunting (2) (2)

Industry ― (8)

Intrigue (8) (8)

Orate (2) (2)

Play (harp) (0) (2)

Read (Latin) (0) (2)

Recognize (6) (2)

Religion (--) (2) (2)

Romance (0) (2)

Singing (2) (2)

Stewardship (0) (5)

Swimming (2) (2)

Tourney (0) (0)

Battle Use Tactics

Siege Use Tactics

Horsemanship (7) (3)

Mace (7) (0)

Lance (7) (0)

Great Lance (5) (0)

Dagger (6) (8)

Compound Bow (8) (0)

Tactics (10) (2)

Don’t forget to add Individual Skill Choices!

### Special Skill: Tactics

Tactics is the skill of knowing, on a larger scale, what to do in times of war. It is used in place of both Battle and Siege. It reflects the army tradition (as opposed to the heroic).

### Special Skill: Charioteer

It is inevitable that some player will want to have this skill. It is a special skill which allows someone to drive a chariot, and starts at 0. High speed grants penalties of -5 for fast, -10 for breakneck sprinting; while difficult terrain adds more penalties (-5, bad road or non-level surface; -10 for cross country, etc.)

## Luck & Glory

### Byzantine Luck

Note that the Christian Relics will all work for a Manichaeist as well.

Table 33: Byzantine Luck

d20 Roll Result

01 Money: £15 in Byzantine coin.

02 Money: £3d6+5 in Byzantine coin.

03 Money: £5d6 in Byzantine coin.

04 Marvelous Whetstone: When used just before combat, it grants +2 damage; also causes +3 Selfish at all times.

05 Bow of Saint Apollo, a Christian Relic: Grants +2 to Bow Skill.

06 Vial of water from the Jordan River: Grants +5 to Religion (any Christian) roll.

07 Ligament of Saint Cosmas, a Christian Relic: Grants +2 to First Aid to any Christian who uses it.

08 Big Toe of Saint Christopher, a Christian Relic: Grants +2 to Awareness while travelling.

09 Finger of Saint Paul of Tarsus, a Christian Relic: Grants +3 to Piety roll.

10 Vial of Tears of Saint Agnes of Rome, a Christian Relic: With a successful Piety roll, grants +5 to Chastity roll.

11 Bone fragment of Saint Sebastian, a Christian Relic: With a successful Piety roll, grants +5 to Bow roll.

12-15 Persian Courser (Stats are the same as Irish Courser)

16 Camargue ambler

17 Barbary Charger

18 Andalusian Charger

19-20 Destrier, with Light barding (8 point armor, -1 Move).

## Knighting

### Native Soldier Tradition

You are a professional soldier, the finely honed result of 200 years of modern warfare. You come from a traditional military family that owns its own manor in your homeland. You acquired formal rank (equivalent to that of a knight, in your mind) when you were given the arms and armor and blessed by a priest to be the one man in a thousand. This does not warrant the 1000 Glory for being knighted.

## Previous Experience

Get 50 Glory for witnessing each non-battle event. For each battle, get 1d6 x 50 Glory.

### 476

Emperor Zeno rallies the army and conquers the empire that had been taken from him. He is named Emperor of the West by Odoacer the Goth.

### 476-present

Emperor supports Dietrich of Bern in his war against King Odoacer in Italy.