by Illandril

Foreword

The history of Britannia is a very long and complex beast. Quite a bit of this history is only really interesting to historians, and everybody else just wants to know the bits and pieces of history that really shaped our world. There are also many closely related bits of history, with the realms of Tokuno, Ilshenar, and Heartwood so easily accessible. With that in mind, I give you the “short” version of Britannian history, from the end of Lord British’s Rule up until today, April 8, 2009.

The End of Lord British’s Rule

Before the beginning of the end, Lord British was absent from the throne for an extended period of time. The reasons for this absence have never been discovered, but this time period marks a good starting point for explaining the end of his rule. The first act after his return was to establish the post of Commander of the Royal Britannian Guard. This Commander held a position on the Royal Council, and acted as a visible presence of the Royal Council and Royal Guard for the citizens of Britannia. Shortly after the Commander was named, Minax began forging alliances between enemies of Britannia. To thwart her efforts, Lord British opened the doors to allow ordinary citizens to join the Royal Britannian Guard. Minax continued to pose a threat to Britannia for many months, with the aid of power gained through a shard of the Gem of Immortality. Lord British explained to the citizens of Britannia that each shard of the Gem of Immortality contained a mirror world, each with their own copies of Lord British, Minax, and most other people. During the memorial for Lord Blackthorn, he explained that he has become one with the other Lord British copies, and decided to leave the world to protect the fragments of the Gem of Immortality so that people may maintain their individuality. As the earth year 2003 came to a close, Lord British gathered up the remaining fragments of the Gem of Immortality, and departed to the Ethereal Void to keep them safe, He left Britannia under the guidance of the Royal Council.

The Royal Council’s Early Years

For the longest time, Minax continued to threaten Britannia. She gathered numerous enemies of Britannia to aid in her battles, and kept the Kingdom in a constant state of fear of attack. As tensions grew from the attacks, Anon, the Grandmaster Mage of the Council of Mages, withdrew from the Royal Council in favor of focusing his efforts towards keeping Magincia safe. During a slight break from Minax’s threats, another arose. The forces within Despise came across a collection of ancient magical weaponry, and used it to attack the city of Britain.

When the Minax threat returned, it seemed she had shifted her focus towards Tokuno. Minax had some extra help this time, from Dupre, whom she had put under a spell to make him obey her. The Royal Council responded to the Empress of Tokuno’s requests for aid, and fought back against Minax. Eventually, she was defeated in a battle in Tokuno, and Dupre was returned to his normal self. It is not believed that Minax was actually slain in this battle, but there have been no confirmed reports of her since.

The Ophidian War

For a while, Britannia was mostly without any major threats. There was an old lady, named Inu the Crone, who regularly preached of her prophecies in Britannia, but few of them impacted Britannia directly. It wasn’t until Ricardo, legendary thief, stole the Artificed Scion from the Ophidians that Britannia was once again thrust into turmoil. The Ophidians were very upset over the loss of their artifact, and attacked Britannia for not returning the Scion. With their attacks, the Ophidians brought a new threat with them, Ophidian Berserkers. The cities of Papua, Vesper, Serpent’s Hold, and Skara Brae fall under siege for nearly two months before the source of the Ophidians new power was discovered. Mages found that the source of the disturbance of teleportation spells, the Justice protection barriers, and the Ophidian Berserkers was deep in the heart of the Terathan Keep. Warriors attacked the Keep, and found a large Blackrock Pillar, protected by a swirling vortex often called a Blackrock Beast. After a difficult battle, the pillar was destroyed, scattering fragments of Blackrock throughout Britannia in the process. For his part in inciting the war, Ricardo is charged with High Treason, and put on trial. The trial took a long time, but the prosecutor, Casca, convinced the court that Ricardo was Guilty.

Followers of Armageddon Strike

Casca’s efforts during the Ricardo trial brought him great esteem. He was quickly promoted to Royal Ambassador, and given a position on the Royal Council. Ricardo, on the other hand, was left locked in an unnamed dungeon, awaiting execution. The scattered Blackrock slowly caused many mages to go crazy, and encouraged one mage to take up the effort to construct a Blackrock Detector in Moonglow. Before the Blackrock Detector could be created, a large quantity was collected near Haven by hooded strangers. It is believed that these strangers were the cause of a massive explosion that destroyed Haven, put Clainin in a coma, and transported a New Haven to the island from the future. The Followers of Armageddon were once again a threat to Britannia, and the Royal Guard made attempts to hunt down any remaining members. Before this could be completed, however, a large force of Demons invaded Magincia, completely destroying the city after a short war. The Royal Council, worried about any more threats Blackrock might bring upon them, funds the Blackrock Detector project. Upon completion of the Blackrock Detector, something malfunctions and tears open a rift to a copy of Moonglow that is overrun by the Shadowlords. The Shadowlords used this opportunity to stretch their influence into Britannia. Before long, the Shadowlords forged an alliance with Crimson Dragons and the Followers of Armageddon, and began to attack Britannian cities. During one Royal Council meeting, the Follower of Armageddon attack, killing all but three members of the Royal Council – Clainin (who was still in a coma in New Haven), Casca (who was imprisoned), and Avery (who appeared to have been aiding the Followers of Armageddon). After an investigation, Casca is rescued and Avery is captured under suspicion of High Treason.

The Rise of Casca

Through private meetings, a new Royal Council is formed. As their first public act, Casca is made King Pro-Tempore of Britannia. Sherry the Mouse takes time to let it be known that she has many doubts over Casca’s right to rule, and if Avery is guilty or not. Clainin began to awake from his coma, and was attacked almost immediately by a healer that was supposed to be looking after him. The healer’s attack was thwarted, but Casca ordered that Clainin be moved to a secret safe house for safety. Shortly after Clainin is relocated, the Justice barriers begin to reform around the Britannian cities. Taking advantage of this blow against the Shadowlord and Crimson Dragon threat, Casca gathers up some adventurers to go to a cave where a crystal is being guarded by a number of monsters. After the monsters are all defeated, Casca destroyed the crystal and announces that the crystal was used by the Crimson Dragons to help their attacks. Despite a Crimson Dragon rushing at the crowd, and a Platinum Dragon fending off the Crimson, Casca declared that Britannia was now safe from the Crimson Dragons. Shortly after the attacks stopped, however, Clainin’s safe house was compromised. Melissa, a servant of the shadowlord Nosfentor, gathered a number of Shadowlord faction members to attack Clainin. After killing Clainin, Melissa cast a spell with the aid of Blackrock, which severely damaged the building and completely destroyed Clainin, removing any chance of resurrection.

Tomorrow

For now, that is all that can be said about Britannian history.