Intrigues
Kraków 1325 AD is, first of all, an exciting card- and boardgame. Within the game, an absurd world (where the Middle Ages are uncomfortably close to modern times) was created: the world of Intrigues.
There is no need to read about this world to play the game. A tiny part of the story is printed on the Intrigue Cards, just for fun. But for those who want to know more about the secret world behind the cards, here is a sample.
Internal Combustion
Where many brave knights have failed, a
young shoemaker invents a way to slay
the Wawel Dragon. He kills a lamb, guts
and fills it with a mixture of sulphur and
tar, then sews the animal back up. At
night, he puts the stuffed lamb in front of
the dragon's cave.
The next morning, the city dwellers are
woken up by a mighty blast on the banks
of the Vistula. After devouring the spiced
lamb, the fire-breathing Dragon rushed
to quench its unbearable thirst at the
River. The creature's stomach exploded,
leaving no trace of the foul beast.
The shoemaker is handsomely rewarded
by the King, marries a princess in the
Cathedral and will spend the rest of his
life eating mutton and embellishing his
heroic story.
Holy Warriors
The King and Church decide to commit
several regiments of Kraków's finest troops
to distant, epic battles in defence of the
Christian Faith.
To fund the troops' new uniforms, their
transport and upkeep, the Churches have
special prayer meetings, while the King
hosts a number of Sponsored Dinners. For
weeks on end, the Holy Warriors practice
and parade in and around the city, creating
a festive atmosphere.
Everyone is proud of these fine young
soldiers, who will soon have the privilege
and opportunity to spill vast quantities of
their blood in direct service of Gods Will.
River Legends
A small group of elderly fishermen, led by an
enigmatic figure known as the Ancient
Mariner, use the river taverns to tell the
legends of the Vistula.
They fascinate large audiences with ancient
tales about The Fog of Death, The Blind
Ferryman and the Monster in the Shallows.
Told after dark in the smoke-filled alehouses,
these stories terrify the patrons, touching their
primeval fears of darkness, ghosts and nature's
mysteries.
Christian religious beliefs are unhinged by these
powerful Pagan legends.
Even grown men are
trembling with fear to go out into the dark,
especially on windy or misty evenings. They
prefer to order another beer and wait for the
safety of numbers when leaving the tavern
together.
This quite suits the Mariners, as they receive a
cut from the evening's takings.
Grave Robbery
It is easier to rob the Dead than the
Living, especially since they don't resist,
call the Guard or give evidence in court.
Locating the loot and gaining
unfettered access to gold-filled crypts
and burial sites requires thorough
research and planning. But grave
robbers are patient men, while their
victims are in no hurry either.
The victim's relatives, enraged by the
sight of ravaged crypts and ransacked
tombs, question why God Almighty
could not even allow their loved ones to
Rest in Peace.