Britannia 1
From Atlantic Roleplay Wiki
Title: Britannia Vol I
Author: Hands of Virtue
Political History of Britannia
The dark ages of Britannia is the name given to that long span of time when the infamous Triad of Evil stalked the realm and challenged all to defy them.
The first era of the Dark Ages came to an end with the degeat of the evil wizard Mondain and his minions, as chronicled in the very first Ultima. The feudal lords were weak and scattered, consumed by trivial wars over the scraps left by the passing of Mondain.
It was throught eh valiant efforts of an unlikely hero that the foul Mondain was tracked to his lair and slain.
A Few years of restless peace followed Mondain's downfall. So long had the world shuddered beneath Mondain's yoke that many found it hard to believe that he had actually dissappeared. In truth, his teachings were far from dead. His apprentice, Minax, rose to power soon after and challenged the fledgling city-states that were beginning to evolve. Another age of despair was sweeping the land.
Minax's powers upon her maturity surpassed that of her mentor. With this power she swept the continent with utter terror, twisting and corrupting everything.
Time itself could not elude the evil Minax, for even the past could not protect those who sought refuge from her. Finally, there arose yet another hero out of legend who dared challenge her in her own castle and destroyed her. This ended the Second Era of Darkness as told in Ultima II.
Twenty years past, filled with tranquillity and prosperity. Then disturbing omens appeared, followed by a mysterious appearance of a fiery island.
And so began the Third Era of the Dark Age as told by Iolo the bard in Ultima III. It was during this time, Lord British, sovereign of a imcipient empire called for heroes of the people to assemble.
Only four answered this call. To them fell the responsibility to destroy Exodus, the son of Mondain and Minax.
They trailed leads transversing dungeons and mountains, and to this day all are remembered in song for their valiant efforts. The mystical Time Lord assisted them, and helped them elude the great Earth Serpeant and gain access to Exodus's Fortress.
The very bricks of the Keep rose against them as described in Iolo's tales to reach the evil off-spring. Little is said concerning the final confrontation, other than evil had been defeated, and thus passed the third member of the Triad of Evil.
From the rubble rose Sosaria, and Lord British was able to unite all of the people of the mainland, and even a few of the distant isles, and bring them under one rule. The new Empire of Britannia brought about a long sought after peace, and a time of prosperity.
Numerous expeditions were launched to destroy the remaining pockets of evil, and to explore the new world, mapping most of the sovereign nation.
With the Triad defeated, Lord British dedicated himself to raising the quality of life for his subjects.
To this end, three mighty structures were built. The Lycaeum, where in sits the great observatory, Empath Abbey, where scholars meditate upon the teachings of the ancients, and the Great Castle of the Knight's Order of the Silver Serpeant.
The rest of the realm was divided amongst 8 major towns and cities, each to devise its own political faction, all of course loyal to the king, and all to better the social and economic growth of the fledgling nation. Numerous smaller villages arose between these towns, and all worked toward prolonging the Era of Prosperity.