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The History of Albion
Written By: Ianfe

Excerpts from historian Ianfe Brillem?s ?History of Albion Valley? Volumes I and IV, and Fernin?s ?Albion, people and magic through the years: a look at the valley?s history?

?A few remarks on the geography of the region are necessary for a complete understanding of Albian history: Magic is as strong a geographical influence in this valley as is, say, the variation of weather or the effects of agriculture. Ley lines, or lines of power as they are known to the layman, run peculiarly close to the surface of our reality through this region. This phenomenon has been closely studied by scholars from WIT for a long time, and hasn?t been as yet completely explained. For further reference, the reader is welcome to investigate the WIT periodicals number 45871 and 52413, where the topic is amply discussed.

The yearly flooding of its namesake river makes the Valley a richly soiled land, and the strong westerly winds that dominate the winter makes for a very mild climate, thus enriching the flora and fauna of the region. Naturally, this makes for inhospitable dwellers, which have always been a obstacle for civilization in these parts.? (BRILLEM, Vol. I, Pp. 18)

?.... By the end of the Celt age, the Formori controlled at least half the island. With their sudden demographic explosion and inhuman strength, they had little trouble driving out the Celts from half their land. Unexplainably, the Formori did not destroy the Celts, rather an unspoken truce was reached and both races were able to live in relative peace ? that is, avoiding each other.

The Celts populated the northeastern side of the valley, taking no real settlement but keeping to whatever flatlands they could find. The Formori took to the hills and upper regions, living in their tribal groups. Thus the valley existed for a good time, till the invasion of the Remans? (BRILLEM, Vol. IV, Pp. 457)

?Under the command of Emperor Claudius, the Remans invaded Britan and some parts of the Isles. Becoming aware of Albion valley, they sent a contingent of troops there to hold it; arable land in a location where crops could be easily loaded onto ships bound for the Reman Empire was obviously of great value.

When the division arrived, they were expecting to be faced with, at best, solid resistance from the indigenous Celtic tribes. They quickly decided to set up a defensible base and began to explore the area more thoroughly. Finding a clearing near the mountains that surrounded the valley, the division began construction of their fort. In the process, they discovered a passageway going back into the bowels of the mountains. Although the commander was a bit uncomfortable with the idea of having a hole in his defenses, the fort was built around the cave; it was decided that the cavern could be used as a storage location and, if the fort was overcome, it could be used as an escape route (if there was an exit) or a final defensive line (if there was no egress).

The Remans were not far from wrong about the resistance. Although there were only a small number of Celts, the area was teeming with a greater threat- the Formori. Large, heavily muscled, and powerfully built, the Formori were easily a match for two Reman legionaries. Fortunately, they were also none too bright, so the limited number of troops were able to force the lumbering behemoths out without too much difficulty.

With the breathing space that the removal of the Formori gave them, the Remans began to expand their base a bit more, bettering the defenses. After all, it was their responsibility to keep the valley secure. They continued to fulfill their orders, defending the borders of Albion from incursions by both the Celts and Formori.

However, eventually, the gradual attrition that comes from such skirmishes began to wear on the Albion Garrison. They were generally able to get reinforcements... until the Reman Empire began to decline. When this occurred, there were no more fresh troops for an unproductive, isolated fort on a rapidly shrinking frontier. The garrison was weakened, and the Formori somehow sensed this. They began to attack in greater numbers, finally destroying the garrison altogether. The last remnants of the Reman troops fled into the catacombs and were never seen again.? (FERNIN, Pp. 894).

?...It was not until half a millenium had passed that outside influences disturbed the valley. These years are notorious among historians because little or no information is available for research: the Formori had no way of keeping information stored, save for their tribal religion; and the Celts of the valley remembered only through word of mouth.

What is known about these times comes from the journals of the Conrad family. The first records indicate the arrival of Imherius Conrad and his family to the valley. Being the second son of a noble family, he struck out of his British homeland in search of a land to claim his own, bringing but his wife and a small contingent of guards.

Imherius speaks of a valley deeply affected by the aftereffects of a powerful spell cast not long before. The Formori who inhabited the region were suffering from diseases and an all-abiding depression. In their weakened state, they were little trouble for the new conquerors.

After successfully dealing with the Formori, the Conrad family headed for the flatlands, where he established what would be his city. He declared himself Duke of Albion and with the help of his guards and some Celts, began the organization of his Dukedom. With the offer of arable virgin land with the annual flooding of the river Albion, a farming community was quickly established. Under superb administration by the Conrads, Albion valley flourished. Albion city was erected, and the seat of government is situated there to this day.? (BRILLEM, Vol. IV; Pp. 602)

?Unfortunately, this prosperity was not to last. In recent years, the monster population began to rise. The old duke died, leaving his son, Thorn, to govern. But it did not end there. The Duke's guards were no longer able to control the population of monsters, especially the powerful golems that had begun to appear. As the number of guards dwindled, Duke Conrad realized that he would soon be forced to completely rely on outside help to preserve his realm. Rather than wait until he would be completely dependent upon mercenaries for his defense, the Duke quickly sent out the call for adventurers, heroes who could eliminate the problems that plagued his realm...? (FERNIN, Pp. 1042).