Cross & Sword:

While San Agustin's history might very well extend back through the recesses of time, Kindred tend to concern themselves only with the history of the city as a European Colony.

Prior to the 15th Century, and the arrival of the Spanish, the swamps of Florida that would one day become San Agustin, were dominated by the Timucua people who dwelt all along the East Coast of Florida.

1492

When Christopher Columbus landed near Venezuela, believing he had landed in India, he brought with him a pair of Kindred who would have a tremendous impact on the course of San Agustin's history. Alexander of Macedon, and his newly embraced companion Daniel Hope left Columbus and his expedition, making their way into and through the wilds of the New World. They would not venture into San Agustin for nearly a century.

1513

Columbus's former first mate, the erstwhile governor of Puerto Rico, Don Juan Ponce de Leon comes ashore near the Timucuan village of Seloy - what would one day become San Agustin. The Conquistador is searching for the Fountain of Youth, and whether he found it or not, he stopped his search once he met the Timucua People. He christened the new land La Florida in honor of Spain's Feast of Flowers.

1520s - 1550s

Spain creates the world's first global economy with vessels going to the New World and the Philippines, trading silver and gold from Panama and Mexico for porcelain and silk from China.

1532

Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto raids Peru's Incan empire and returns to Spain with 18,000 ounces of gold. In 1539, he sets out for North America and lands in Tampa Bay, at the behest of the Kindred, Don Celio Pena de Oviedo.

The Colony is destroyed by Lupines. Don Celio escapes and makes his way to the East Coast, where he encounters Ponce de Leon. He succumbs to his wounds and finds himself in Torpor. At the behest of the Spanish Lord, his corpse is guarded - and protected by - the Timucua.

1559

Spanish conquistador Don Tristan de Luna attempts to settle Pensacola, Florida, but a hurricane stops him at every turn. The Sabbat Malkavian Crawl buries himself beneath the wreckage of the settlement and sleeps away the next few centuries.

1564

The French settle Fort Caroline near present-day Jacksonville.

1565

Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles arrives in Florida and after negotiating his position with the immortal Don Juan and the Timucua, settles in San Agustin. He immediately sets out for the North and removes the French from Florida.

The Mission Nombre de Dios is established, and the Spanish and Timucua people form a union under the guidance of Don Juan and Don Pedro.

1579

The first oranges in Florida are cultivated by the Spaniards in San Agustin.

1586

Sir Francis Drake nearly burns down the city of San Agustin. The first Spanish watchtower is built at Matanzas Inlet, becoming the first navigation aid in what would become the United States.

1607

Daniel Hope, his sire Alexander, and their servant greet the first settlers at Jamestown, Virginia.

1620

England establishes Plymouth, Massechusettes. Juno Queneau escapes the town with the slave, Barbary. The two make their way South, eventually ending up in San Agustin.

1668

English pirates loot and burn San Agustin. Don Celio makes his way to the city, and embraces Juno Queneau. In retaliation, Barbary is embraced by the Brujah Smiling Jack. San Agustin is too small to support even this small vampire population. In the battle for dominance, the Brujah are driven from the city.

1672

All seems for naught, as Daniel Hope, Alexander, and the native Degataga arrive in the city. Daniel Hope establishes an immediate rapport with Don Juan, and the Ancient Masters. With the backing of his Sire, and his aide de camp's muscle, he establishes himself immediately as the Prince of San Agustin. Don Celio and Juno bristle at this turn of events, but are powerless to stand in the way of the superior Kindred.

Operating through the mortal Spanish leadership, Daniel Hope petitions the monarchy in Spain to allow him to build a stone fortress to protect the settlement. Without waiting for word from Europe, construction begins immediately on the Castillo de San Marcos.

1740

In an effort to further establish San Agustin, Fort Matanzas is built 14 miles to the south of the city.

1763

The Spanish lose Florida to England. Doctor Noel Benjamen joins the ranks of San Agustin's Kindred. Redd Smith - an escaped slave and prominent figure at Gracia Real de Santa Teresa de Mose, is embraced by a nomadic Gangrel.

July 4, 1776

The Declaration of Independence is signed. The Kindred of San Agustin begin immediately to vie to move Florida into the United States' hands. They are thwarted at nearly every turn by Don Celio - an avid proponent of Spanish dominance in Florida.

1783

The United States and Great Britain sign the Treaty of Paris, ending the American Revolutionary War. Spain regains control of Florida.

1813

The public square is renamed "Plaza de Constitucion" to commemorate Spain's Constitution of 1812. Ground is broken on the building that will one day become known as Torrington Plaza.

1821

Florida becomes a U.S. territory. Nathaniel Torrington is among the immigrants to the city.

1837

The Castillo de San Marcos is converted into a prison for Native Americans. Degataga is destroyed trying to free Seminole prisoners. Most of the humans guarding the prison are summarily executed by Alexander and a reluctant Daniel Hope.

1845

Florida becomes the 27th U.S. State. Though San Agustin is the largest city, Tallahassee is named the State Capital.

1861

Daniel Hope and the Gangrel Redd Smith are staked together and stuffed in a tomb beneath the San Agustin Cathedral. Alexander, Don Celio, and other Kindred leaders of the city aid in driving Florida to secede from the United States. Less than a year later, Daniel Hope is freed by a previously unknown ally. Redd Smith, his Childer, and a number of others begin working against the Confederacy. San Agustin surrenders and remains under Union control. Daniel Hope never reveals the name of his rescuer.

1872

The public library is established on Aviles Street. They won't be revealed for nearly a century, but the Tremere have established a foothold in San Agustin.

1874

A new lighthouse is built on the site of the old watchtower. Redd Smith and the Gangrel claim demesne in Villain's Beach.

1878

Henry Flagler builds two luxury hotels, the Hotel Ponce de Leon and the Alcazar. Along with Doctor Andrew Anderson and Don Juan Ponce de Leon, they form the Alumbrados - replacing the Ancient Masters as the defacto masters of the Font, and establishing their private club in the tunnels beneath the two hotels.

1891

Daniel Hope and Nathaniel Torrington expand Torrington Plaza, creating San Agustin's first skyscraper.

1905

President Theodore Roosevelt stays at the Hotel Ponce de Leon. Nathaniel Torrington leverages his power in San Agustin for more influence in Washington DC.

1912

The new alpha wolf of the Seloy Tribe decides the best way to establish his legacy is to rid San Agustin of all vampires. For two years, kindred and lupine wage war with each other. There are many deaths on both sides - mostly mortal.

1914

The war with the lupines results in a fire that claims most of the city from the Cathedral to Mission. Daniel Hope takes a silvered sword and challenges the Alpha to single combat, to end the war. Terms are agreed upon and the two engage in a short, bloody battle. Though he is nearly destroyed, Daniel Hope is victorious - thanks to help from other kindred.

1921

The Riverside Boardwalk (which will become Riverwalk) is established. The Roaring 20s kick into full swing, and the Kindred of San Agustin welcome the boom of new residents as the city more than doubles in size between 1921 and 1930.

1940

A pier, boardwalk, and a new luxury hotel open in San Agustin Beach to attract more tourists.

1942

The Alumbrados and the Kindred Primogen butt heads and a secret war is waged in the city. Several Kindred and one Ancient Master are killed before a peace is brokered by Daniel Hope. The Prince sacrifices his most trusted servant, Christof Heckler, who joins the ranks of the Alumbrados and acts as liason between the Ancient Masters and the Kindred.

1947

The Alcazar becomes home to the Lightner Museum. As a condition of the truce between them and the Kindred, Henry Flagler and the Alumbrados move out of the Alcazar tunnels (which are declared Elysium by Daniel Hope). The Alumbrados move their club to 79 San Marcos Avenue. Bar 79 is opened. No kindred are welcome.

1964

Dr. Martin Luthor King Jr. assists San Agustin leaders in marches, sit-ins, and swim-ins. Daniel Hope begins to retreat from public light, and becomes something of a recluse, though he still meets regularly with the Primogen Council and governs the city through them.

1968

The Hotel Ponce de Leon becomes Flagler College.

1980

Flagler College becomes Flagler University, as the campus expands and a number of satellite campuses are established.

1996

Something dark moves in the shadows of Villain's Beach, and the Gangrel are scared. Redd Smith, Forest Garvan, and the others move south to Anastasia.

1999

Prior to the Week of Nightmares, the Sabbat attempt one final thrust in San Agustin. A third all-out war breaks out on the streets of the oldest city. Many people, and quite a few kindred are destroyed. In the aftermath of the destruction, the Kessler group reopens the Casa Monica Hotel as part of the renovations.

June 28, 1999

The Week of Nightmares. The sheer number of Masquerade breeches, and the constant harassment by the Sabbat cause the Prince of the city to lay down the law. The Kindred of San Agustin close ranks. Any vampires outside the Inner Circle is executed or left to the wolves. The Kindred population of San Agustin is effectively culled.

December 12, 1999

The End of the World in the eyes of the Kindred. Madmen spout prophecies of Gehenna, false sightings of Antediluvian elders and mass embraces by Sabbat holdouts result in a city in utter chaos. In the end, the Sabbat are driven back, the Masquerade is torn, but not broken, and the surviving kindred begin to ready themselves for the probably incursion of Vampire Hunters and hangers-on.

2001

The Second Inquisition makes its first drive into San Agustin. Nearly half the already diminished Kindred population is destroyed or flees the city. Inquisition forces are driven out eventually, but the push-back only strengthens their resolve.

2002

The second push by the Inquisition is thwarted through subterfuge and misdirection, aided by the Alumbrados. San Agustin is thought to be cleared of "blankbody" presence, and only a small contingent is left to watch for new vampires that might fill the void.

Daniel Hope breaks ground on Hope Tower. A year later, the Hope Foundation is created, and Daniel Hope vacates his position as Prince, granting domain over the city to the Ventrue, Don Celio Pena. Hope remains in the city, but rarely - if ever - leaves his Tower by the river. He is, effectively, Autarkis.

2014

Following the attempted embrace of his adopted son, and despite lacking any formal authority, Daniel Hope declares every Brujah in the city to be Anathema. Somehow he manages to destroy them all as they sleep in their havens.

2019

A pair of Brujah arrive in the city, the Outlaw Biker, Bear McTavish and an internet personality called River Daye. Bear continues to behave like a Brujah, using his motorcycle club to establish himself as a power in the city. River falls in with the Bright Group, and later the Hope Foundation, locking herself in Daniel Hope's high rise and isolating herself from Kindred society.

For his own reasons, Prince Celio attempts to declare San Augustin for the Anarchs. With the already insular nature of the "new Camarilla," and the large Anarch population in the city, the transition at first appears to go smoothly.

2020

The Beast arrives in San Agustin and declares himself Prince. The Nosferatu destroys any who dare question his authority, places a Gangrel in the position of Sheriff and picks his own Primogen council from among the clans (and factions) in the city.

Though the Beast declares himself - and his city - to be thoroughly Camarilla, those kindred not under his direct scrutiny continue to act as though no overarching government were trying to control them. Tensions rise and a kind of cold war develops in the City as the threat of a pandemic changes everything about the mortal population for a time.