A Fuzion Fantasy role playing game by Dustin Evermore This site © 2000, Dustin Evermore. To navigate this site, click the section you want from the left frame, then select the chapter from the right frame. http://www.actionstudios.com/dol/index.html [4/4/2001 9:35:38 AM] History Religion Druids Saxon Religion Life in Britain The Otherworld http://www.actionstudios.com/dol/settingframe.html [4/4/2001 9:35:40 AM] HISTORY The history of the lands of Dawn of Legends is quite similar to the history of these lands of our world. However, there are some rather critical differences. The following outlines these. Ancient Times In the centuries B.C.E. (Before Common Era), the Celtic peoples populated much of Europe. Although the ancient Celts varied in description, they had a reasonably similar culture. The religion of the Celts in particular helped to unify tradition. The ancient druidic faith held the sum of all the Celt people’s knowledge and laws. The ancient druids generally maintained a neutrality in politics and gained impartiality in as judges of important social matters among the Celtic peoples. It has been said that a druid could stop a battle between warring tribes in these ancient times simply by walking between the armies. None challenged the authority and power of the druids. Coming of the Romans Boudicea, A Bard’s Tale The Romans line every hill, The conquests of Julius Ceasar targeted the druids as the nerve center and unifying force of Spears bright and deadly still, Blood red with silver shields, the Gallic Celts. Leaving behind only bloody fields, Grass green and alive before their advance, Ceasar was able to use politics to divide the Gallic Celts and eventually subdue them. Later Oh, Boudicea, we need your dance, emperors repeated this tactic in Britain and eventually drove the druids to the Isle of Mona, Our children killed and women raped, Only the gods allow escape, called Anglesey today. Soon the Roman governor moved to destroy the great druid sanctuary. Death follows the Roman March, Lifeless eyes watch from every arch, Grass green and alive before their advance, It is at this time, the year 63 Common Era (c.e.) a new development occurred. The great Oh, Boudicea, we need your dance, warrior-queen of the Iceni tribe, Boudicea, outraged by her torture, the rape of her daughters, Chariots of fire led the way, and the confiscation of her people’s lands at the hands of the Romans after the death of her Pulled by steeds of the fey, Armed with spears and deathly frowns, husband, lead a great uprising. Armies of British war chariots, cavalry, and infantry descended They descended on the Roman towns, upon the greatest of the new Roman cities in Britain and slaughtered the garrisons and In the valley of death, the Romans staid, Romans there. The Romans seemed unable to withstand the furor of the enraged Oh, Boudicea, do not fade, warrior-queen. Mounted druids upon their steeds, Armed with might and righteous deeds, Made the Romans pay their due, In the name of all that were lost, even the few, It is here the history of Dawn of Legends splits from the time line of our world. Historically, the In the valley of death, the Romans staid, Roman governor did not hear of the rebellion until after he had destroyed the last druid Oh, Boudicea, do not fade, stronghold. Yet, in the world of Dawn of Legends, the Roman legions never made it as far as On foot they came to defeat the Red, Anglesey before word of revolt reached them! The governor, concerned he may loose his Vowing to fight until their enemies were dead, The men of the green and nature’s own, grasp of Britain, brought his legion about to face Queen Boudicea. The tale of this Destroyed the Romans in name of the Stones, confrontation is told and retold as a proud story of the strength of the British. Yet, it is also a In the valley of death, the Romans staid, Oh, Boudicea, do not fade, tragic one. The army of the Queen of the Iceni was defeated and chose to poison herself The final battle was a glorious fight, rather than submit to the Romans in defeat. Boudicea perished with her army in the final As Britains and druids clashed at night, confrontation with Rome. Fire wafted from many a torch, As the valley of death was burned and scorched, We will not forget the price you paid, Oh, Boudicea we will remember, you will not fade The Druids’ Salvation † The druids used well the gift of time given to them by the sacrifice of the tragic queen. Knowing the Romans would return to destroy Anglesey and any fragment of British power there, the druids were able to use the distraction to retreat into hiding. There they could prepare for the day when they might return to guide the British once more. They remained hidden for nearly 350 years. The Roman Withdrawal There finally came the day when the might of Rome settled fitfully into the throes of its own twilight. The end of the fourth century c.e. saw the removal of the Roman troops from the western and northern frontiers of Roman Britain. This force represented one third of the entire Roman military, such was the pressure to keep Britain protected from her enemies and uprising. Now Rome needed this strength to protect herself from rampaging barbarian tribes. It was during the fifth century when there arose one Macsen Wledig, called in Latin Magnus Maximus. He was a powerful man who gained the support of thousands of Romano-British (Romanized British). Macsen Wledig conquered the Western Roman Empire and finally was stopped in the east by Emperor Theodosius. Still, it was a proud time for the British, for it was said that the power of Rome rested upon the shoulders of British soldiers. With him died the combined military might of Britain and dreams of a new empire. After this time, there was a period of dark days when a weakened Britain reeled under the attacks of the Picts and the Irish. Yet years later, during the reign of Vortigern, Rome called to Britain for aid. The British, under the war leader Riothamus responded and came to Rome’s aid once more. Although Riothamus and his army fought the Visigoths valiantly, he was betrayed by Rome in the end. Soldiers of Riothamus conquered and settled in the area of mainland Europe known as Brittany, http://www.actionstudios.com/dol/setting/history.html (1 of 3) [4/4/2001 9:35:44 AM] while Riothamus himself disappeared in the lands of the Burgundians. The First High King In the power vacuum left by Rome in the first few decades of the fifth century, there arose a powerful King who claimed authority over all the British. His name was Vortigern. Vortigern was faced with Irish raiders in the west and Picts invading the north. To defend his kingdom, he chose to emulate the Romans in employing federates. He hired foreign Saxons as had the Romans before him, to guard the north and in payment gave them the Isle of Thanet in the Thames estuary, and an area in north eastern Britain called Deira. King Vortigern used the Thanet settlers to intimidate Ambrosius who was an influential Roman descendant and was his chief rival among the British. To his credit, Vortigern respected the old ways of the British. However, he alienated the Romanized British who followed the Roman Catholic Church. Ambrosius, who was of a strong Roman line, inspired trust in the Romano-British far more than a High King who gave portions of his own land to the hated Saxons. Vortigern stationed Saxon mercenaries on Thanet to remain a threat to Ambrosius. To this end, Vortigern’s gambit worked. In fact, Vortigern was even able to stop the invading Picts with the aid of the Saxons. High Kings of Britain Vortigern (Powys) Vortimer (Powys) Abrosius Aurelianus (Brittany) Uther Pendragon (Dumnonia) Arthur Pendragon (Domnonia) Cuneglasus (Gwynedd) (none currently) Druids Resurfaced The druids came out of hiding in this troubled time. Druid teachings forbade interference in internal Celtic politics. However, the Archdruid also known as the Merlin and who led all the druid circles, foresaw the grave threat the Saxons could represent to all British. High King Vortigern, in his pride, would not listen to the Merlin and soon there was war with Ambrosius. Although Ambrosius was eventually defeated by the High King, Vortigern’s British forces were depleted and his wealth drained. Ambrosius’ sons, Ambrosius Aurelianus and his younger brother Uther, were taken into hiding in Brittany. Finally, Vortigern was unable to pay the price the Saxon mercenaries demanded. Much to the chagrin of the then king of Ceint, Vortigern attempted to mollify the Saxons by giving them this kingdom. The Saxons, thrilled at their success in negotiating a major gain without a fight, invited their brothers and sisters from across the Channel. The Advent of the Saxons, an event foreseen and feared by the druids had arrived. The druids approached King Vortigern’s son, Vortimer. Here, they found a more sympathetic ear. At the Archdruids urging, Vortimer proclaimed himself High King and was able to quickly and bloodlessly remove Vortigern from his throne. High King Vortimer was soon joined and supported by his younger brother Catigern, and together they put into action a plan to remove the Saxons from Britain. Meanwhile, the leaders of the Saxon forces, Hengist and his brother Horsa, received boatloads of warriors from their homelands.