Travelers tell of lands to the east, beyond the shattered Byzantine Empire and the Crusader kingdoms of Outremer, where sorcerers ride carpets and whirlwinds, where worship and trade openly in the great cities, and where fi re is the sign of .

Those travelers speak the truth.

Take your saga to the east, with details of the Islamic lands of the Mythic Middle East — Arabia, Persia, and the lands beyond. Zoroastrian still call on Divine power, although their days of glory are long over, and scholars rejoice in libraries and schools that dwarf the young universities of Europe. Jinn haunt the deserts and mountains, and live and trade in the cities. But this is not a land ready for Hermetic magi to seize, for the Order of Suleiman is no myth, and its sahirs are everywhere.

Were you to tell of these lands for a thousand äәnÊUÊ- Ê£‡xn™Çn‡£ÓÎ‡È nights, you still would not exhaust their wonders!

äәnÊUÊ- Ê£‡xn™Çn‡£Ó·ÈÊUÊfÎÓ°™x 53295

9 781589 781238 777°/-‡ -° " ^Ó䣣Ê/Àˆ`i˜Ì]ʘV°ÊÊÀˆ} ÌÃÊÀiÃiÀÛi`° The Cradle & The Crescent Credits

AUTHORS: Niall Christie (Intro & Saga, History, Arabia, , ture references that they don’t get. Niall would like to thank his co-au- Appendix), Erik Dahl (Order of Suleiman), Lachie Hayes (Intro & thors and the line editor for all their help, and in particular for picking Saga, Jinn, Arabia, Silk Road), Mark Shirley (Mesopotamia, Persia, up the magic lamp that he dropped; and also Guy Le Strange and Mu- Appendix), Alex White (Zoroastrians) hammad ibn Jubayr, invaluable guides through the desert. He would like DEVELOPMENT, EDITING, & PROJECT MANAGEMENT: Chart to dedicate his portion of this book to three people: to Matt Ryan, for LAYOUT & ART DIRECTION: Michelle Nephew setting this genie free; to Angus MacDonald, for much sheik, rattle, and PROOFREADING & ART DIRECTION ASSISTANCE: Jessica Banks roll; and to Steph van Willigenburg, for being his Water of Life. PUBLISHER: John Nephew Erik Dahl lives in a strange, far-off land with its own rules of magic COVER ILLUSTRATION: Grey Thornberry and its own order of exotic wizards who are surely secretly plotting to CARTOGRAPHY: Sean Macdonald, Jesse Mohn, Michelle Nephew, take over Mythic Europe. His contributions to this book were inspired by Andrew Smith and dedicated to the participants of Grand Tribunal America 2008, which INTERIOR ART: Jason Cole, Kelley Hensing, Jeff Menges, Grey Thornberry took place August 15–17 in Berkeley, California, and included: Jerry ADDITIONAL ART: John Leighton, 1,100 Designs and Motifs from Historic Braverman, Paul Briscoe, Toshi Casey, Niall Christie, Mark Faulkner, Sal- Sources; Ernst and Johanna Lehner, Astrology and Astronomy; Gustave ly Hutchinson, Kurt Konegen, Angus MacDonald, Mark Pascual, John Doré, The Doré Illustrations, Doré’s Illustrations of the Crusades, Doré’s Post, Thomas Scott, Chris Van Horn, Eric Vesbit, and Debbi Winslow. Dragons and Monsters, The Doré Gallery; Jean Lêon Gêrôme, Many thanks to all of you, for your help in establishing such a memorable Great Men & Famous Women III; Matthäus Merian, 1300 Real and Fanciful and enjoyable magical tradition! ARS MAGICA AWESOME EST. Animals; Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld, Treasury of Bible Illustrations The jinni known as Jarkman (Lachie Hayes) hails from far beyond ARS MAGICA FIFTH EDITION TRADE DRESS: J. Scott Reeves the Mountains of Qaf, in a city where it always rains and seasons change PUBLISHER’S SPECIAL THANKS: Jerry Corrick & the gang at the Source. within a day. Perhaps one day he’ll master the Travel magic to attend a FIRST ROUND PLAYTESTERS: Pelle Kofod, Christian Rosenkjaer Andersen; Grand Tribunal, but until then he’ll stick to Storytelling. Lachie thanks Jason Brennan, Justin Brennan, Campbell, Robert Major; Niall for summoning him into this circle, then letting him loose to make Donna Giltrap, Malcolm Harbrow, Hicks, Richard Love; mischief. He also thanks his other co-authors Alex, Erik, and Mark for Angus MacDonald, Brian Watson, Quetta Watson, MacDonald, their help and support along the way. Special thanks to Timothy Fer- Wendell “BSP” Joyner; Paul Briscoe, Bryan Jacques, Erik Johnson, Kurt guson for inspiring Lachie to start writing seriously and helping him Konegen, John Post; Matt Ryan, Alexis Kristan Heinz, Daniel Ilut, understanding faeries, which was invaluable for the Jinn and Silk Road Robert W.B. Llwyd; Christoph Safferling, Jan Sprenger; Sean Winslow chapters. Apologies to Marko and the Light of Andorra crowd for disap- SECOND ROUND PLAYTESTERS: Pelle Kofod, Christian Rosenkjaer pearing without explanation just as the saga got going — now you know Andersen; Mark Barltrop, Alex Coyne-Turner, Mark Lawford, why. Lachie would most like to thank his wife, for putting up with Mid- David Staveley, Simon Turner; Jason Brennan, Justin Brennan, Elisha dle Eastern medieval madness. This is his first book for Ars Magica. Campbell, Robert Major; Leon Bullock, Peter Ryan, Chris Barrett; Mark Shirley is the descendent of Robert Shirley who, with his Paul Briscoe, Bryan Jacques, Erik Johnson, Kurt Konegen, John Post brothers, sold cannons to Shah Abbas of Persia on behalf of Queen THIRD ROUND PLAYTESTERS: Jason Brennan, Justin Brennan, Elisha Elizabeth I. Robert married the Shah’s ward, Teresia, a Circassian prin- Campbell, Robert Major; Leon Bullock, Peter Ryan, Chris Barrett; cess, and became the shah’s ambassador to Christendom. Mark feels Christoph Safferling, Jan Sprenger his Persian bloodline, though many generations diluted, enhanced his enjoyment of writing for this project. AUTHOR BIOGRAPHIES Alexander White has an Honours degree in medieval and classical history, and a Master of Public Policy and Management from the Uni- Niall Christie is (still) a medieval historian who lives in Van- versity of Melbourne. In between occasionally publishing Sub Rosa (an couver, Canada. He likes books, history (no surprise there), roleplaying, Ars Magica fan magazine), Alex works as the campaigns coordinator tyranids, singing, and tormenting his students with antiquated pop-cul- for the National Tertiary Education Union in Melbourne, Australia.

Ars Magica players participate in a thriving fan community by subscribing to email discussion lists (like the Berke- ley list), compiling archives of game material (such as Project Redcap), maintaining fan-created web sites, and running demos through Atlas Games’ Special Ops program. To learn more, visit www.atlas-games.com/ArM5. You can also participate in discussions of Ars Magica at the official Atlas Games forums located at forum.atlas-games.com. Copyright © 2011-2013 Trident, Inc. d/b/a Atlas Games. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this work by any means without written permission from the publisher, except short excerpts for the purpose of reviews, is expressly prohibited. Ars Magica, Mythic Europe, and Charting New Realms of Imagination are trademarks of Trident, Inc. Order of Hermes, Tremere, and Doissetep are trademarks of White Wolf, Inc. and are used with permission.

Digital Version 1.0

2 The Cradle & The Crescent Contents

ChapterI: The Formation of the Suhhar ... 20 Al-Iksir (The Elixir of Life) ...... 41 A Golden Age ...... 23 Initiating the Arts ...... 42 Introduction & Sagas 8 The Crusading Suhhar ...... 23 Experimentation ...... 43 HOW TO USE THIS BOOK ...... 8 CULTURE ...... 25 Warping and Corruption ...... 43 ON THE SETTING ...... 8 Organization ...... 26 Integration ...... 44 Strangers in Foreign Lands ...... 8 How Sahirs Live ...... 29 Hermetic True Names ...... 44 Social Structure ...... 9 CHARACTERS ...... 29 Scientates Suleimanis ...... 45 Islam & Islamic Law ...... 11 Sahir Virtues and Flaws ...... 30 Hermetic Realm Initiation ...... 45 Crime and Punishment ...... 11 New and Modified Virtues ...... 30 Solomonic Devices ...... 45 The Pillars of Islam ...... 11 Invocation of Spontaneous Solomonic Spells .....45 ...... 12 Names of Power ...... 30 Independent Solomonic Magic .....45 BUILDING SAGAS ...... 12 Sahir ...... 30 SOLOMONIC ARTS ...... 45 Founding a Covenant Sihr ...... 30 Sihr ...... 46 in the Mythic Middle East ...... 12 Solomonic Alchemy ...... 30 Discerning Jinn ...... 46 Founding a Chapter House ...... 13 Solomonic Astrology ...... 30 Summoning Jinn...... 46 Itinerant Covenants ...... 13 Solomonic Physic ...... 30 Bargaining with the Jinni ...... 46 Joining a House of Wisdom ...... 13 Solomonic Storytelling ...... 30 Solomonic Alchemy ...... 48 Tales of Two Orders ...... 13 Solomonic Travel ...... 30 Solomonic Alchemy The Hermetic Crusades ...... 14 Vizier ...... 30 Spell Formulas ...... 49 The Followers of Yatu Magic ...... 30 Sanctuary in the sand...... 49 the Circle Return ...... 14 New and Modified Flaws ...... 31 [Spirit]’s oasis ...... 49 An Hermetic Embassy? ...... 14 Bound Spells ...... 31 Cracks in the earth, Magi of a Different Order ...... 14 Patron ...... 31 [Spirit] weakens the ground ...49 Thus spoke Zarathustra ...... 14 (Realm) Spirit Companion .....31 Summon forth the purest Holy Knives of Alamut ...... 15 Sahir Character Creation ...... 31 flame, to set alight those CHARACTERS ...... 15 Virtues and Flaws ...... 32 who oppose us ...... 49 Virtues ...... 15 Experience ...... 32 The wind is my armor, Educated (Islamic)...... 15 Spirits ...... 33 my armor is the wind ...... 49 Flaws ...... 15 Laboratory Activities ...... 33 Bear me upon ...... 15 Aging and Warping ...... 33 breath of stone ...... 50 New Abilities ...... 15 SOLOMONIC MAGIC ...... 33 What Jabir found Islamic Law* ...... 15 Solomonic Spells (Naranjs) ...... 34 inside the rock ...... 50 Theology: Islam* ...... 15 Summoning Spells ...... 34 Rain of heavenly fire ...... 50 Formulaic and Ritual Spells ...... 35 The vigilant guardian ...... 50 Chapter 2: History 16 Vis (Taqa) ...... 37 The wondrous box Seasonal Summoning ...... 37 of Al-Fazari ...... 50 THE ANCIENT EMPIRES ...... 16 A Solomonic Laboratory ...... 38 THE RISE OF ISLAM ...... 16 Solomonic Astrology ...... 50 THE CALIPHATES ...... 17 Vis Manipulation ...... 38 Solomonic Astrology THE MONGOL INVASION ...... 18 Arcane Connections ...... 39 Spell Formulas ...... 51 Naranjs ...... 39 The blessed day, Bindings ...... 39 the apt day ...... 51 Chapter 3: Order of Suleiman 19 Seeking and Scouring...... 40 The picture of [Target] ...... 52 HISTORY ...... 19 Warding ...... 41 What is the state of The Umayyad Summoners ...... 19 Servant Spirits (Khuddam) ...... 41 [Target]’s health? ...... 52

3 The Cradle & The Crescent Is [Target] a spirit? ...... 52 Close the red To the highest Where is [Target] at wounds of war ...... 55 mountains of Qaf ...... 59 this moment? ...... 52 Jabril’s blessing ...... 55 Warm as the life of day ...... 59 What are the words Solomonic Storytelling ...... 55 We will meet again that surround [Target]? ...... 52 Solomonic Storytelling as the seasons turn ...... 59 Hearing the Spell Formulas ...... 56 Sight of many lifetimes ...... 59 heart’s speech ...... 52 The tongue has no bone, The magical minaret ...... 59 What do [Target]’s yet it crushes ...... 56 By the light of enemies intend? ...... 52 Wrathful breath of the ominous moon ...... 60 When and where the desert wind ...... 56 The oubliette al-wazir ...... 60 was [Target] born? ...... 52 Move along, move along ...... 56 Will [Target] survive [Spirit], his arms wide ...... 56 Chapter 4: The Jinn 61 tomorrow’s battle? ...... 53 Make their eyelids heavy Solomonic Physic ...... 53 and their heads to fall ...... 57 TERMINOLOGY OF JINN ...... 62 Solomonic Physic Peal of familiar voices ...... 57 Jinn Defined Mechanically ...... 62 Spell Formulas ...... 54 A light distraction ...... 57 Common Jinn Traits ...... 63 Balm of the barmakids ...... 54 You will not remember Jinn and Free Will ...... 63 Strings of the me when I am gone...... 57 Pious and Impious Jinn ...... 65 sanguine heart ...... 54 Sow the seeds for Pre-Islamic Jinn ...... 67 Rend his flesh and tear a crop of betrayers ...... 57 Pagan Jinn ...... 67 his organs ...... 54 [Spirit]’s cave ...... 57 Creating Magic Jinn by Example: [Spirit] sits on the Solomonic Travel ...... 57 Baghl and Ighraq al-Siq ...... 68 fever’s edge ...... 54 Solomonic Travel Learning from Jinn ...... 71 Insight of the ancient jinn ..... 54 Spell Formulas ...... 58 Corrupt Jinn ...... 71 The hollowing curse ...... 54 [Spirit] brings The Dangers of Distinction: Siphoning the the curse of Bayna ...... 58 Dark Faerie or Infernal?...... 71 warrior’s bile ...... 54 The hush of solitude ...... 58 Ghula, Faerie ...... 71 [Spirit], let me Through the gray haze ...... 59 Ghul, Infernal ...... 72 lean upon you ...... 55 ...... 74

List of Inserts

Muslim Views of Europeans ...... 9 Other Middle Eastern Spirits: Zoroastrian Magi ...... 93 The Mythic Middle East Non-Jinn ...... 61 Supernatural Abilities Taught in Ars Magica...... 10 Jinni Names ...... 63 by the Mobeds ...... 94 The Unholy Trinity ...... 11 Jumayl, A Jinni Guide ...... 64 New Ability: Mobed Lore ...... 94 Soft Places: Tales into the Supernatural ...13 Bali’ al-Ard, a racehorse ...... 65 Adjuration Guidelines ...... 95 War on Two Fronts? ...... 14 Bottles of Suleiman, True Names ...... 95 The Sacred Vessels ...... 16 Slaves of the King...... 66 Using Vis ...... 95 Story Seed: The Mongol Threat ...... 18 Variants on the Genie Wonders Guidelines ...... 96 Story Seed: Disputes over the Caliphate ... 18 of the Lamp Motif ...... 68 New Wonders Guidelines ...... 97 Legends of the First Council ...... 22 Baghl, an Earth Jinni ...... 69 Mobed Beliefs on Astrology ...... 98 The Families of ’s Seal ...... 24 The Buran of Yenghissar ...... 70 Saoshyant’s Elixir ...... 99 Majlis Story Seeds ...... 27 Ghula, Faerie ...... 72 New Durations, Ranges, and Targets .....99 Majlis in Baghdad ...... 28 Ghul, Infernal ...... 73 Long-Lived Mobeds ...... 100 Other Summoning Arts ...... 31 A Typical Demonic Qareen ...... 74 Zawba’a, Whirlwind of the Desert ...... 103 Sample Sahir: ‘Arkhaman Story Seed: A Pious Companion? ...... 75 Arabian Steeds ...... 104 Laqy al-Hayz al-Nahr ...... 34 Story Seed: An Unwanted Guest, Saluqi ...... 104 Kharrat the Braggart, an Infernal Jinni ...35 and an Unexpected Invitation ...... 75 Pagan Deities of Arabia ...... 105 Spells with Arcane Connections ...... 36 A Note on Historical Accuracy ...... 82 Falconry in Arabia ...... 106 New Hermetic Virtues ...... 44 Story Seed: The Accursed Turanians...... 83 Kohl ...... 107 New Solomonic Virtues ...... 44 Story Seed: The -Blooded Story Seeds for the Najd and Yamama, Non-Magic Sihr ...... 47 Paladins of Manochir ...... 83 Bahrayn, and the Empty Quarter ....108 Typical Duties for Sahirs ...... 47 The Mazdean “World Year” ...... 84 Story Seeds for the Holy Cities ...... 111 Magical Defenses ...... 48 Saints and Relics ...... 85 The ...... 112 Solomonic Alchemy Guidelines ...... 49 The Staff of Yoisht Frayana ...... 85 Arab Poetry ...... 114 Solomonic Astrology Guidelines ...... 51 Story Seed: A Heretical Revival ...... 87 Suleiman and the Queen of ...... 115 Solomonic Physic Guidelines ...... 53 The Sacred Cord ...... 88 Story Seed: Farida’s Fears...... 115 Solomonic Storytelling Guidelines ...... 56 The Mazdean Calendar in Detail ...... 90 Story Seed: The Food of Sana’a ...... 115 Solomonic Travel Guidelines ...... 58 Haoma ...... 91 The Nisnas ...... 116

4 The Cradle & The Crescent Wizards and Qareen ...... 75 Chapter 5: Bareshnum ...... 88 Jinni Weaknesses ...... 75 Padyab ...... 88 Other Folk Traditions Mythic 81 Nahn ...... 88 That Ward Against Jinn ...... 76 A MYTHIC HISTORY ...... 81 Riman ...... 89 Jinn and Other Zoroastrians under Islam ...... 82 Daily Rites ...... 89 Expressions of the Divine ...... 76 The Mazdean Church ...... 82 The Yasna ...... 89 LANDS OF THE JINN ...... 76 MAZDEAN FAITH ...... 82 Birth, Initiation, Marriage, Jinnistan ...... 76 Ohrmazd ...... 83 and Burial ...... 89 The Mountains of Qaf ...... 77 Mazdean Divine Beings ...... 83 Birth ...... 89 Al-Khadar ...... 77 Ameshaspand ...... 83 Initiation ...... 89 Mortal Scions of the Jinn ...... 77 The Yazdan ...... 84 Marriage...... 89 ‘Afrit Blood ...... 77 Frohar ...... 85 Burial ...... 91 Ghula Blood...... 77 Heaven ...... 85 The Mazdean Calendar ...... 91 Jann Blood ...... 78 Reaching Heaven ...... 85 Mazdean Scriptures ...... 92 Mythic Scions of the Jinn ...... 78 Limbo ...... 85 Avesta ...... 92 Virtues and Flaws ...... 79 Resurrection and The Yasna ...... 92 New and Modified Virtues ...... 79 Judgement ...... 85 The Visparad...... 92 External Vis ...... 79 Fire ...... 86 The Videvdat ...... 92 Faerie Sight ...... 79 Mazdean Dominions ...... 86 The Khordeh Avesta ...... 92 Faerie Speech ...... 79 Ahriman ...... 86 The Yasht ...... 92 Reputation as Confidence ..... 79 Mazdean ...... 87 MAZDEAN CHARACTERS ...... 92 New and Modified Flaws ...... 80 The Daevas ...... 87 Virtues and Abilities ...... 92 Intangible Flesh...... 80 Demons ...... 87 New Ability: Dead Traditional Ward ...... 80 ...... 87 Language (Avestan) ...... 92 Monstrous Appearance ...... 80 Mazdean Heresies ...... 87 New Virtue: Sovereign Ward ...... 80 RITES AND PRACTICES ...... 88 Magian Lineage ...... 92 Vulnerable to Folk Prayers ...... 88 New Virtue: Tradition (Islamic) ...... 80 Videvdat ...... 88 Mazdean ...... 93 Purity Rites ...... 88

List of Inserts (cont’d)

Flying Serpent (Iaculus) ...... 117 The Demon Azi Dahak ...... 143 ‘Umar Khayyam ...... 161 Hadramawt and ‘Uman Story Seeds ....118 Story Seed: The Zahhak ...... 143 The Cypress of Kishmar ...... 161 Giant of ‘Ad ...... 119 Ghuzz Characters ...... 144 The Shansabani ...... 161 Aladlammu and Apsasu ...... 120 Story Seed: The Well of Hindijan ...... 145 An Assassin by Another Name ...... 163 Demons of Mesopotamia ...... 121 Salt of Seven Colors ...... 145 New Nizari Virtues...... 164 Girtablullu ...... 122 The Kajarani Worms ...... 145 Initiation Scripts of the Nizaris ...... 164 Mushhushshu ...... 123 King Jamshid ...... 146 Story Seeds for The Great Rivers ...... 167 The Courtship of Shirin ...... 124 The Imamzadihs of Shiraz ...... 147 Genghis Khan and the Fall Story Seeds for Samarra and Baghdad... 124 The Black Man ...... 147 of Transoxiana ...... 168 Story Seeds for Al-Mada’in Persian Rugs ...... 148 Bactria Story Seeds ...... 169 and Dayr al-Aqual ...... 126 The Alchemist of Ahwaz ...... 150 Ship of the Desert ...... 170 The Epic of Gilgamesh ...... 127 The Balu Tribesmen ...... 151 Story Seed: Caravans ...... 171 Story Seeds for the Great Swamp ...... 129 Story Seed: The Lion-Shah ...... 151 Story Seeds for Bukhara and Otrar ...... 172 Ighraq al-Siq ...... 130 & 131 Hyrcanian Vis...... 152 Elephants in Persia ...... 173 Story Seeds for and the Jazira...... 132 Hyrcanian Tiger ...... 153 The Heavenly Horse of Farghana ...... 174 and ...... 133 The Caspian Gates ...... 153 Badakhshan Story Seeds ...... 175 More Story Seeds for the Jazira ...... 135 Story Seed: Sealing the Breach ...... 154 The Gutluk-Temir Minaret...... 175 Playing an Arzanjani Brass-Smith...... 136 The Simurgh ...... 154 Blue Stones of Mythic Europe ...... 176 Story Seeds for Azarbayjan and Gilan ...137 Gazelle, Persian ...... 155 Ruq ...... 176 & 177 and the Water of Life ...... 137 The Rig-i Jinn ...... 156 Ruq Story Seeds ...... 178 The Fate of Baylaqan ...... 138 Why Go to Hell? ...... 156 Story Seed: The Black and the Blue .....178 and Khidr ...... 138 Rostam ...... 157 Horse, Steppe Pony (Turpanus) ...... 179 Story Seed: Sorcery, Treason, and Plot ..139 The Idol of Zur ...... 157 Story Seed: The Endless A Greater Armenian Covenant ...... 139 Lake Zarah and Mount Khajeh ...... 158 Nomad Cycle ...... 179 The Shahnameh ...... 141 Story Seed: The Riddles ...... 158 Mongol Trooper ...... 180 Peri Faeries ...... 141 Rishtah ...... 159 Mongol Spirit Shaman ...... 181 Pairika Demons ...... 141 Story Seed: Save the Books ...... 160 Mythic Mongols Story Seeds .... 182 & 183 Nasu Spirit ...... 142 The Footsteps of Imam Reza ...... 160 Steppe Spirit Story Seeds ...... 183

5 The Cradle & The Crescent New Virtue: Knowledge Chapter 6: Mythic Arabia 102 Kutha ...... 128 of True Names ...... 93 ’...... 129 LANDSCAPE AND SOCIETY ...... 102 THE MOBEDS: PRINCES OF MAGIC ...... 93 Hilla ...... 129 Hazards of the Deserts ...... 103 Mobeds in Western Eyes ...... 94 Najaf ...... 130 The Bedouin ...... 104 Mobeds and the Kufa ...... 131 Bedouin Wizards ...... 105 Suhhar Sulayman ...... 94 THE JAZIRA ...... 132 The Magic of the Mobeds ...... 94 Brothers of the Tribe ...... 105 Mosul ...... 132 THE NAJD AND YAMAMA ...... 107 Mazdean Hedge Magic ...... 94 Barqa’id ...... 133 Tayma’ and Khaybar ...... 108 Holy Powers ...... 94 Nasibin ...... 133 BAHRAYN ...... 108 Invocation ...... 95 The Astrologers Hajar ...... 109 Adjuration ...... 95 of Nasibin ...... 133 THE EMPTY QUARTER ...... 109 Wonders...... 96 Mount Judi ...... 133 THE HIJAZ ...... 109 Holy Virtues ...... 96 Non- and Amid ...... 133 Adjuration ...... 96 the Holy Cities...... 109 Raqqa and the Dream Interpretation ...... 96 ...... 110 Battlefield of Siffin ...... 134 Invocation ...... 96 ...... 111 Harran ...... 134 Wonders...... 97 The Edessa ...... 134 Holy Abilities ...... 97 and the Ka’ba ...... 112 The Sanjah Bridge ...... 136 Adjuration*...... 97 Al-Ma’la Cemetery Arzanjan ...... 136 Dream Interpretation* ...... 97 and the Mosque of the Jinn ...... 112 AZARBAYJAN ...... 136 Invocation* ...... 97 Ta’if ...... 113 Lake Urmiya ...... 136 Wonders* ...... 98 The Cult of the Maragha ...... 136 GILAN ...... 137 Group Magic ...... 98 Daughters of ...... 113 Barvan ...... 137 Holy Mobed Mysteries ...... 98 ‘ASIR & YEMEN ...... 114 MUKAN ...... 137 Blessing of [Ameshaspand] Sana’a ...... 114 Bajarvan ...... 137 (Minor Mystery Virtue) ...... 98 The Valley of ‘Abqar ...... 115 ARRAN ...... 138 Mazdean Alchemy Ma’rib ...... 115 Baylaqan ...... 138 (Minor Mystery Virtue) ...... 98 HADRAMAWT ...... 116 SHIRVAN ...... 138 Mazdean Astrology Frankincense and Myrrh ...... 116 Shamakhi ...... 138 (Major Mystery Virtue) ...... 98 Iram, City of a GEORGIA ...... 139 Celestial Durations ...... 98 Thousand Pillars ...... 118 Tiflis ...... 139 Celestial Blessing for ‘UMAN ...... 118 GREATER ARMENIA ...... 139 Holy Spell Casting ...... 99 Muscat ...... 119 Righteousness of the Wise Nizwa ...... 119 (Minor Mystery Virtue) ...... 99 Chapter 8: Mythic Persia 140 Saoshyant’s Elixir Chapter 7: RECENT HISTORY ...... 141 (Major Mystery Virtue) ...... 99 PERSIAN SUPERNATURAL FACTIONS .... 141 Gifts of Gayomart Mythic Mesopotamia 120 The Yatus ...... 141 (Major Mystery Virtue) ...... 100 THE STARVING ...... 121 The Mobeds ...... 142 Asha (Truth): True Faith 1 ... 100 Tiamat’s Creatures ...... 122 The Nizari Isma’ilis ...... 142 Vohu Manah (Good Mind): ...... 123 Zahhak ...... 143 True Faith 4 ...... 100 Qasr Shirin ...... 123 The Ghuzz ...... 144 Hauvatat (Wholeness): Samarra ...... 124 FARS ...... 145 True Faith 6 ...... 100 Baghdad ...... 124 Arranjan ...... 145 Ameratat (Immortality): The Dar al-Hikma ...... 125 Darabgerd ...... 145 True Faith 8 ...... 100 Golden Baghdad ...... 125 Kajaran ...... 145 Mobed Initiations ...... 100 Al-Mada’in ...... 126 Istakhr...... 146 Mobed Initiation Scripts ...... 100 The Christian ..... 126 Kish ...... 146 Initiation into Dayr al-’Aqul ...... 126 Abarkavan ...... 146 Mythic Alchemy ...... 100 Dayr Qunna ...... 126 Mount Kavarvand ...... 146 Initiation into Dayr Hizqil ...... 127 Shiraz ...... 147 Mythic Herbalism...... 100 The Ruins of ...... 127 Shapur ...... 147 Initiation into The Great Swamp ...... 128 Yazd ...... 147 Dream Interpretation ...... 101 The Ruins of Uruk ...... 128 JIBAL ...... 148 The Whirlpool at Ubulla ...... 128 Isfahan ...... 148 Basra ...... 128 Kargas Kuh and Siyah Kuh .... 148

6 The Cradle & The Crescent Kirmanshah ...... 148 Bamiyan ...... 162 The Mines of Lahzvard ...... 177 Kanguvar ...... 149 Firuzkuh ...... 162 The Roof of the World ...... 177 Qum ...... 149 The Minaret ...... 162 Turris Lapidae, Rayy ...... 149 Ghazni ...... 162 the Stone Tower ...... 178 Savah ...... 149 Kabul ...... 162 Beyond the Roof Takht-i-Suleiman ...... 150 THE NIZARI ISMA’ILI STATE ...... 162 of the World ...... 178 KHUZISTAN ...... 150 History ...... 162 Khashgar ...... 178 Ahwaz ...... 150 A Sect of Assassins ...... 163 The Taklimakan ...... 179 Gundeshapur ...... 150 The Da’wa ...... 163 THE MYTHIC STEPPE ...... 179 Ramhurmuz ...... 150 The Nizaris Today ...... 163 The Great Steppe ...... 179 District of the Zutt ...... 151 Alamut ...... 165 Tashkent...... 179 KIRMAN ...... 151 Nizari Characters ...... 165 Talas...... 179 Bardasir ...... 151 Mundane Mongols ...... 180 Jiruft ...... 151 Chapter 9: Great Tengri ...... 180 MAZANDARAN ...... 151 Lesser Steppe Spirits ...... 181 Daylam ...... 152 The Silk Road & Beyond 166 Mythic Mongols ...... 183 Qumis ...... 152 TRANSOXIANA ...... 166 Magus-level Shamans? ...... 184 The Great Wall of Gurgan ..... 153 The Great Rivers ...... 166 Mount Damavand ...... 154 The Oxus ...... 167 THE GREAT DESERT ...... 154 The Jaxartes ...... 167 Appendix A: Dasht-i Kavir ...... 155 The Sea of Khazar ...... 167 Languages and Names 185 Garmah ...... 155 The Aral Sea ...... 168 MUSLIM NAMES ...... 185 Naband ...... 155 Kyzylkum Desert ...... 168 PERSIAN NAMES ...... 186 Dasht-i Lut ...... 156 Bactria ...... 169 SELJUK NAMES ...... 186 Gandom Beriyan ...... 156 Balkh ...... 169 SAMPLE NAMES ...... 186 Sanij ...... 156 The Ruins at Ai Khanoum ...... 169 Sample Muslim Isms ...... 186 MAKRAN ...... 156 Sogdian Rock...... 169 Sample Persian Isms ...... 186 The Gedrosian Desert ...... 156 Sogdiana ...... 169 Sample Seljuk Isms ...... 186 SEISTAN ...... 157 Samarkand...... 170 Sample Laqabs ...... 186 Dartal ...... 157 Bukhara ...... 170 Sample Nisbas ...... 187 Zaranj ...... 158 Kasri Orifon ...... 172 KHURASAN ...... 158 Otrar ...... 172 Appendix B: Timeline 188 Herat ...... 158 Khwarazm ...... 173 Karakum Desert ...... 158 Gurganj ...... 174 Merv ...... 158 Kath ...... 174 Appendix C: Bibliography 190 Mashhad ...... 160 Farghana ...... 174 Nishapur ...... 160 GENERAL REFERENCE ...... 190 Khojend ...... 175 HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY ...... 190 Mihr ...... 161 Osh ...... 175 RELIGION ...... 190 Quhistan ...... 161 Badakhshan...... 175 MYTHS AND LEGENDS ...... 191 GHUR ...... 161 Wakhan ...... 175 OTHER ...... 191

7 Chapter One Introduction & Sagas

Ahlan wa sahlan! Welcome to The Cradle here to develop exotic characters to sup- of great wonders for those who are brave and the Crescent, the guide to the Mythic plement your covenant’s membership, be enough to seek them out. This book re- Middle East for Ars Magica Fifth Edition. they spirit-summoning sahirs, impetuous flects this perception by heightening the This book explores a part of the Mythic jinn, or mysterious Zoroastrian mobeds level of supernatural activity in the region. world beyond the control of the Order of (see Chapters 3, 4, and 5, respectively). Most people of the Mythic Middle East Hermes, including the lands known in the Second, this book provides tools for have no less respect for the supernatural modern day as the “cradle of civilization,” you to build an exotic story arc, or excit- than do their counterparts in the West, from which our earliest records of human ing adventures set in the region or the su- but they are also much more used to en- civilization stem — the lands to the east of pernatural realms it contacts, as a diversion countering such elements. By adopting the Hermetic Tribunal of the Levant, lands from a conventional Europe-based saga. this vision of the region we will frequently known in Europe only through occasional You may also choose to use the information be doing violence to the historical reali- accounts of pilgrims and other travelers, on Middle Eastern magic and the Order of ties of the period, though many of the su- supplemented by a multitude of (at times Suleiman to develop powerful non-Her- pernatural elements that we mention are wild) rumors and speculations. metic antagonists or allies for your saga. based on beliefs and ideas expressed in In this book we present this region as a Alternatively, you may wish to set your historical sources from the time. However, setting for Ars Magica sagas. We describe entire saga in the region, in the form of a it is important to remember that this is the geography and history of the area, in- new covenant of Hermetic magi striking not a book on Middle Eastern history; it cluding in particular many of its mystical out into lands previously unexplored by is instead a supplement for the Ars Magica sites and supernatural denizens. W e also the Order, encountering the various chal- roleplaying game that merely draws inspi- give particular attention to Mythic Middle lenges and magical traditions of the area. ration from the historical texts. Eastern magic, the jinn, Mythic Zoroastri- Finally, and most adventurously, you anism, and the Suhhar Sulayman that is also can cast Hermetic magi aside entirely, known as the Order of Suleiman. playing a group of Middle Eastern mages Strangers in and their companions seeking to make a name for themselves, and immersing your Foreign Lands troupe entirely in the region. We have not given full details on every Broadly speaking, characters who are How to Use place, creature, or supernatural item found members of other faiths living under Islam within this book. We have given suggested follow the usual guidelines for character statistics for some of these, but in many creation, although very few are members of This Book cases the precise statistics will depend on the nobility, and none may be members of This book is intended as a full-blown the power level of your saga. Thus our main the religious classes. Many living setting for sagas and adventures, with the emphasis has been on providing the legends under Islam are involved in the civil admin- expectation that it will be a source for sto- and stories that may be used as inspiration. istration, while many are merchants. ries set within the region. The text assumes The Jews are, for the most part, ortho- that there is no existing Hermetic presence dox Rabbinites, though some Karaites do in the area but, throughout the book, you still live in the region. The Exilarch — the will find story seeds that are intended to spiritual head of the Jewish community — draw Hermetic magi and their followers On the Setting lives in Baghdad, making it an important away from their covenants and lead them to city for the Jews, at least in theory. the lands of the Middle East. The following In the minds of the people of Mythic The situation with regard to the Chris- are just some of the possibilities that this Europe, the Middle East is a distant and tians is rather more complex, as there are a book offers to players of Ars Magica sagas. strange place, home to all manner of mon- large number of different Christian groups First, you may simply use the rules sters, spirits, sorcerers, and kings — full living in the region covered by this book.

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