Greetings!

I was reviewing some campaign notes recently, and was looking over material concerning the ubiquitous Thieves' Guild found throughout gaming and then I was thinking about expanding some material on Assassin's Brotherhoods in my campaign world. I definitely have some religions and political factions that would embrace and support such shadowy organizations!

Does your campaigns have such organizations? How do you detail them? Have they played a prominent role within an area's politics or religion?

I was recently watching an historical video about the Mongol Empire, and one program was about the Mongol invasion and conquest of Persia and most of the Middle East. One of the main highlights concerned how the Mongols annihilated the Muslim Assassins. The Assassin's Brotherhood--from the "Hashin"--had existed for two centuries. The Muslim Assassins had numerous fortresses and mountain citadels, as well as several cities and numerous towns full of their agents, support forces, and sympathizers. While the Christian Crusaders may have had some problems periodically with the Assassins, the Assassins operated mostly against various Muslim Caliphates and Sultanates. Then, as Mongol armies first entered Turkey, fighting against the Seljuk Turks, the Assassins struck against the Mongols, and assassinated an important Mongol general.

That turned out to be a very bad move, for the Assassins. A fatal mistake, indeed.

All the way from the Mongol Imperial capital at Korukoum, the command came down from the Great Khan--

"Crush the Assassins and all of their supporters, their women, their children, everyone, under the hooves of your wrath."

What then followed was that the Mongol armies entered Persia, and swept down from Turkestan, and also into Armenia. The Mongol armies purposefully annihilated entire cities and towns, slaughtering hundreds of thousands of people, even remotely believed to be connected or supportive of the Assassins. Then, the Mongol armies laid siege to each and every Assassin stronghold and fortress, including at Al Amut. The Imam of the Assassins, was captured by the Mongols, and executed. His sons, his wives, all of his family, all of his seed, were all exterminated. All of the Assassins were ruthlessly slaughtered. No one was left alive. Huge piles of gore and bones were left everywhere by the Mongols, and the Mongols tore down and burned every fortress, every city, every town that supported the Assassins in any way. The Mongols never again had any problem, even so much as a whisper of revenge or resistance, from the Assassins. The Assassins had been absolutely annihilated.

It seems strange that for two Centuries, the Assassins ruled as a quasi-shadow government, spreading terror and strife throughout the Middle East, Turkey, and the Levant. The Christian Crusaders were largely helpless against the Assassins, as were the various Muslim states and powers.

The Mongols exterminated them entirely in a campaign that took the Mongols less than two years. After the Mongols had exterminated the Assassins, within just a few years, the Mongols had annihilated the capital city of the Abbassid Caliphate, the glittering Muslim city of Baghdad. The Mongols annihilated somewhere between 1,000,000 and 2,000,000 Muslim inhabitants in Baghdad. The Caliph and all of his family were all exterminated, except for his wife. She evidently was packed off to live deep inside Mongolia, where she eventually died, crushed in misery, despair, and poverty.

With the fall of Baghdad, and the earlier destruction of the Assassin's Brotherhood, the heart of Islam had been crushed by the Mongols. Most of the Near East, all of Persia, Syria, and much of the Levant would be conquered by the Mongol armies.

Nonetheless, despite such a crushing fate historically-speaking, there seems to be some excellent potential for adventure scenarios and drama in being inspired by such Assassins Brotherhoods in a campaign.

Interesting stuff!

Semper Fidelis,

SHARK

The Mongols treated humans the way humans treat livestock. If there's a disease in a herd, slaughter the entire herd, healthy ones and all, and burn the bodies.

For religious and kinship reasons, Muslims and Christians rarely went that far, though the sack of cities could certainly be very brutal. The Mongols were on another level. I do get the impression that the Indo-European/Wagon People/Battleaxe Culture invasion of the north European plain, previously inhabited by Early European Farmers descended from the first agriculturists in the Levant & Anatolia, may have been similarly genocidal, if not so well organised or swift.

I guess the lesson there is that Assassins & similar work best within a common cultural reference frame? The Mafia & Camorra were doing well until Mussolini nearly wiped them out, but then thrived in post-WW2 Italy and North-East USA. In my home culture the IRA, UVF etc started off like the Assassins as political/quasi-military/ideological organisations but have tended to evolve into criminal gangs, similar to the Mafia.  They operate almost exclusively within their 'home communities'. There's a wealthy Italian-American family in my ex wife's home town in rural Tennessee rumoured to have Mafia links. But apart from a rather garish and un-Tennessean mansion in the middle of town (lots of fountains) they wouldn't dream of doing any Mafia-like stuff there, they'd be run out of town real fast.

Yes, I've long thought that the only way to truly eradicate the Taliban is to hire Mongol mercenaries.  The late Qing military did similar things to Muslim rebels in northwest China in the 1860s-70s.  They supposedly killed up to 90% of the Muslims living in the affected provinces.  They later crushed a jihad in Central Asia.  The survivors of that are now known as the Uighurs....

Quote from: SHARK on May 17, 2023, 04:46:55 AM
It seems strange that for two Centuries, the Assassins ruled as a quasi-shadow government, spreading terror and strife throughout the Middle East, Turkey, and the Levant. The Christian Crusaders were largely helpless against the Assassins, as were the various Muslim states and powers.

The Mongols exterminated them entirely in a campaign that took the Mongols less than two years. After the Mongols had exterminated the Assassins, within just a few years, the Mongols had annihilated the capital city of the Abbassid Caliphate, the glittering Muslim city of Baghdad.

Quote from: SHARK on May 17, 2023, 04:46:55 AM
Nonetheless, despite such a crushing fate historically-speaking, there seems to be some excellent potential for adventure scenarios and drama in being inspired by such Assassins Brotherhoods in a campaign.

It's difficult to separate fact from fiction as far as the real Nizari Ismailis. I'm pretty sure that they were on the one hand not good people, and that they did publicly kill enemy leaders -- but I am also pretty sure that they were different from the stories ascribed to them by their enemies. Notably, I think they are famous by Marco Polo's account of them -- but that seems almost certainly rumor created by their enemies.

I think their rule as a quasi-shadow government seeming strange is likely because it is at most hyperbole. The Nizari Ismailis were a minority sect compared to the ruling Seljuk Turks (during most of the state). The Nizari Ismaili survived by holding defensible strongholds and striking hard at leaders who wanted to attack them. They conducted public assassination of leaders as intimidation, but then, the Seljuk Turks used brutal tactics as well.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nizari_Ismaili_state

Within RPGs, I don't think I've had anything like the Nizari, at least within pseudo-medieval games.

More broadly, PCs usually are the ones who are a small band who sneak into an enemy fortress and take out their leadership. They don't call this "assassination", mainly because they're good and their enemies are evil. "Against the Giants", for example, is a good example of a guerilla mission to kill enemy leadership in order to stop enemy attacks.

Quote from: S'mon on May 17, 2023, 06:47:13 AM
The Mongols treated humans the way humans treat livestock. If there's a disease in a herd, slaughter the entire herd, healthy ones and all, and burn the bodies.

For religious and kinship reasons, Muslims and Christians rarely went that far, though the sack of cities could certainly be very brutal. The Mongols were on another level. I do get the impression that the Indo-European/Wagon People/Battleaxe Culture invasion of the north European plain, previously inhabited by Early European Farmers descended from the first agriculturists in the Levant & Anatolia, may have been similarly genocidal, if not so well organised or swift.

Greetings!

"The Mongols were on another level." Oh yeah, man. Totally, my friend! It seems so quaint as the enemies of the Mongols bluster and strut about, proclaiming their arrogant defiance and scorn towards the Mongols...and then they proceed to get absolutely wrecked, not just having an army defeated, but their cities, their entire populations, being rapidly and utterly annihilated.

It's like, dude! You really don't know what you are dealing with here. The Mongols have you outclassed in every way possible, like a human stomping on an ant hill. You are utterly helpless and pathetic--you just don't know it yet. Everything that you are, your entire society, your entire people and culture, are about to be scourged and cast into the flames, and the Mongols will make it all look so easy, and your destruction will come upon you far faster than you can even comprehend.

Incredible level of genius involved. Not even with just Genghis Khan, as his descendants carried on the same ruthless policies of absolute victory. A Mongol Army was literally like a modern-day nuclear weapon.

The Naziiri Assassins look so pitiful, as their proclaimed fortress strongholds were laid siege to, all the defenders slaughtered, and then the Mongols tore every brick down, and burned everything to ashes. Rinse and repeat. No mercy, no negotiation. The Mongols gave the Assassins one opportunity to negotiate--and then, ok. The switch is flicked, and the fire comes down. Assassins are done and gone for. Them, their children, their siblings, their parents and grandparents, and their children. Your seed is annihilated, and even your memory is scourged. Even the whisper of your community being supporters--boom. Absolute annihilation. The Great Khan said no. Their defiance and threatening us, killing a Mongol general--they are judged. Exterminate them all.

It is interesting though, how the Imam of the Assassins, he was so accustomed to dealing with other Muslims, and Christians. He thought he was powerful, and strong, and always secure in his impregnable fortresses. It is equally amazing though, how all the way from Karakorum, the Mongol capital, the Great Khan sent his command down, to the legendary Mongol General, Hulagu, thousands of miles away, on the edge of Persia.

Then, Hulagu's vast Mongol army went into action. The Naziiri fortresses were all surrounded by Mongol columns pouring in from everywhere. There is no help coming, and no escape is possible. Then,doom sweeps over the Naziiri, fortress by fortress. Town after town, city after city, were encircled, battered down, and their people slaughtered like sheep. And then, as I have read, huge piles of gore, bones, and skulls, piled high. The stench so overwhelming as to be repellent for miles. Men, women, children. The young and the old. Even animals, as well. All slaughtered, and burned. All standing as an absolute symbol of the doom that awaits any that resist the Mongols.

Another quote I read..."There are no one left at all. There is no one left to even cry or moan."

I read about one Muslim city, in Kwarazam, that was annihilated. Even several years afterwards, witnesses claimed that the site was only visited by merchants passing trough, and the circling swarms of vultures and ravens. Piles of corpses, bones, and gore were piled high, and left just as it was. There was no one to bury anyone. Everything was just absolute destruction, and ashes.

Semper Fidelis,

SHARK

Hey SHARK!

Were there specific vids on the youtube you can link? Or were these documentaries from some other source?

Can you recommend any books by chance?

Thank hombre.

I love assassins, and use the guild system, had a few PCs that were members. Haven't ever done much with them politically though. Just haven't got to it yet.

Quote from: Thorn Drumheller on May 17, 2023, 07:15:45 PM
Hey SHARK!

Were there specific vids on the youtube you can link? Or were these documentaries from some other source?

Can you recommend any books by chance?

Thank hombre.

Greetings!

These are *FANTASTIC* Historical videos!

Semper Fidelis,

SHARK

The Mongol Conquest of the Khwarazmian Empire



The Conquest of Ukraine and Marching to the Gates of Europe

Greetings!

Here are two more excellent videos, dealing particularly with the Mongol campaign against the Nazarii Assassins, and then, the Conquest of Baghdad, and the Conquest of the great Muslim Abbasid Caliphate.

Semper Fidelis,

SHARK

The Campaign against the Nazarii Assassins


The Conquest of Baghdad

Greetings!

Thorn Drumheller, my friend, here are just a small selection of excellent books that I recommend. I have all of these and more in my own personal library. I think this selection of books are a solid foundation for understanding the overall history of the Great Steppe, and especially understanding the Mongol Empire and its achievements.

Semper Fidelis,

SHARK

The Steppes, Central Asia and Far Asia (7 Books)

Central Asia in World History (New Oxford World History)
Golden, Peter B.

Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World
Jack Weatherford

Genghis Khan: The Man Who Conquered the World
Mclynn, Frank

Genghis Khan: His Conquests, His Empire, His Legacy
Mclynn, Frank

The Secret History of the Mongol Queens: How the Daughters of Genghis Khan Rescued His Empire
Weatherford, Jack

Warriors Of The Steppe: A Military History of Central Asia, 500 B.C. To 1700 A.D.
Hildinger, Erik

The Empire of the Steppes: A History of Central Asia
Grousset, Rene

Greetings!

Here is a solid overview of the Mongol Empire from Genghis Khan to Kublai Khan. Special emphasis and detail focuses on military tactics and battles on various campaigns. The program is by Kings & Generals. Commentary, Narrative, Graphics, Maps, Animations, are all excellent.

Semper Fidelis,

SHARK

Greetings!

Here is one of my favorite historical films. Mongol: The Rise of Genghis Khan.
The film covers Temudjen's early years as a child, growing into manhood, and the battles and struggles along the way, culminating in a final battle and his rise from being Temudjen, to being Genghis Khan.

The movie has English subtitles, and is otherwise very accurate in language, equipment, weaponry, and more. The film features some really outstanding actors, excellent musical soundtrack, writing, direction, action, and cinematography. The film was done on location in Mongolia, Russia, and Kazakhstan.

It is a gripping film, showing his romance with his first and primary wife, Borte, complex family and tribal relationships, all taking place with the backdrop of Temudjen's frequent hardships and tribulations. Seeing him slowly rise to gain absolute power and authority is exhilarating. Mongolia, and the entire world, will be forever changed.

Semper Fidelis,

SHARK

Holy crap!!! Thanks for the links and book suggestions SHARK. You're a gawd among men.

Yes, thanks, SHARK. I watched the first video on Khwarazmian Empire, and then read a little more on it.

I was intrigued to hear about the Mongol aspirations to trade routes. The video had a lot of purple prose about the fighting, but what was fascinating to me is the richness of the Mongol trade caravan to Otrar in 1218. Genghis Khan put a lot of effort into sending out a rich trade caravan to Khwarazmia, only to have its hundreds of Mongol traders slaughtered and their goods stolen.

It seems like the war with Khwarazmia was the pivot where the Mongols turned from having local ambitions against the Xia and Jin, to wanting to become a world-spanning empire like Macedonia earlier or Britain later.

I've wanted to learn more about central Asian history, which is often a huge black hole in most people's historical knowledge.

Has anyone had a Mongol or central Asian themed campaign? I could see having that as a future campaign setting.