Britannia Guards

Written by Edmund/Hector Foxberg
with great help from: Brown Moses, Samson, Albion, Shevcan D'rum, Xel'Naga.

The Crown of Thorns

WAS many many years ago when Britannia was at its peak of Industrial Fortune! Many men and women travelled from city to city creating wares for them to sell for gold. One of the most prospoures cities of this time was the City of Vesper. There resided a group of guards known as the Guardians of Vesper. Many moons ago Lord British once asked these people to sign a unification pact that would secure their place within the Britannian Realm. Vesper declined this invitation.

NE Dark Evening a member of hte Lord British Court, a noble known as Xel'Naga who was commander and cheif of the Lord British Loyalists was attacked by three drunken Vesper Guards. Xel was knocked unconcious and robbed of all his precious posessions. Xel was new to this post. He had only just been asked to take it on after leaving his old membership as a member of the Armed Forces of Britannia. Xel managed to return to Britain where he plotted his revenge against the Guards of Vesper. He came up with a plot to lie to those he wanted to take revenge on but not only that to lie to his own king. He made Lord British beleive that the Guardians of Vesper were trying to take over Britannia as a group of rebels. He continued to lie stating about how he was attacked after being found spying on a secret meeting that revealed all of this false information. He then lied to the Vesper people about how Lord British was going to make Vesper part of his kingdom by force if they did not surrender.

ESPER was a proud place and the people would die in the name of their city until all its buildings were burned to the ground. This started the Great Seige of Vesper. The Lord British Loyalists were given superior power in this area and were given the task to see to it that the Vesper rebels would stay where they were. Though Xel took this too far and raided Vesper constantly burning bridges and destroying homes. Vesper was in terror. Soon as the Guardians of Vesper decreased in numbers a man named Legolas stood forward in the Guardians ranks and took a small group of the guardians who would stay and train in Vesper to become the best fighters in the entire land. The rest of the Guardians retreated to Trinsic. Legolas soon saw it fit that this was no logner an ordinary guard but had now become a Militia. So it was now called the Free Vesper Militia. The Lord British Loyalists were forced back onto a defensive run for a short time. However this time was short enough to awaken the slumbering empire known as the Knights and Mages of Kha. The Forces of Kha had just returned back to the mainland after a gruling war with the Naeloth Drows. They set up and outpost in Cove where they would hold their operations. Kha at the time was lead by the infamous Nameless One. Nameless One soon heard of this war and decided to take quite advantage of it by demanding gold off the Vesper people in return they would stop Lord British from getting past Cove and into Vesper. The Vesper people however declined this and were now agressive to the Kha people as well.

S the war continued over many more years Kha soon forged an Alliance with the Lord British Loyalists and they soon attacked as a group on Vesper once more. Vesper was falling to the hands of the combined forces of Kha and Lord British. Slowly but surely Vesper was now in retreat and for a short period it fell to the hands of Lord British. Celebrations continued for a whole week untill the Free Vesper Militia returned with allies of their own. They had aligned themselves with a group of Guards from a Village outside Vesper called Morning Star under the command of Kha Danny. The Loyalists were in retreat again and soon enough to be driven back onto the defensive. A member of the Free Vesper Militia known as Tanq Sybris was soon posses by a daemonic force that lusted for Blood and Chaos. Tanq killed many of his own Militia members and then tore through the forces of Lord British. Tanq was not seen since.

HE war grew to a halt for a long time. Kha soon faded with the loss of its leader and the Vesper Milita soon grew strong once more. Xel'Naga was not happy. He longed for revenge and he would not stop before it was at his hands. He called on his old friends the Armed Forces of Britannia who was under the command of one "Elliot Woodland" who was a previous member of the Knights and Mages of Kha. The Lord British Loyalists were soon down to very few numbers and merged with the Armed Forces of Britannia to create a massive army which Vesper could not stand up against. The Army soon attacked Vesper once more. With Kha out of the picture and the Morning Star Village failing to its own foolishness Vesper was again on the defense.

OWEVER yet another force was at hand and it would soon destroy both sides of the conflict. Tanq Sybris had returned. Tanq brought an army of Fellow Blood God worshipers. They called themselves the Decadanti. They would fight and convert people of the Good into their cult. Members of hte Lord British Forces and the Vesper Milita were drawn into the Decadanties stranglehold. After about twelve years of conflict the Decadanti soon faded leaving not very much left around Vesper to save and build on. However the people of Vesper emerged from their hidings and began to rebuild what was destroyed. The Lord British Forces began to grow once more. Now that they had reached new heights, the leader that had been for many years retired from service. Elliot was now gone. Legolas of the Milita soon retired leaving his friend Marto Neo to command and Xel'Naga soon lost his sanity and was locked away. The War grew cold and lifeless.

year later as things calmed down Vesper was soon swamped with men in dashing new uniforms and wearing the crest of Lord British. The Militia there looked at the men and laughed wondering who they were. A man appeared out of the army on a horse. It was Elliot. And around him stood brave members of the Britannia Guards. The Lord British Loyalists and Armed Forces of Britannia were all deminished and so any survivers were brought into the Britannia Guards to form a new beginning. A whole week of fighting took place with the Britannia Guards and Vesper Militia, but the Vesper Militia won the conflict leaving the Britannia Guards to return back to Britain.

T was soon revealed that the thirteenth year war was nothing but a lie. Plans on paper and documents were discoverd in Xel'Nagas old home that informed the Court enough to hunt him down and destroy him. However Xel'Naga was never seen again. Relations with Vesper were very tence after years of conflict but Lord British tried his best to set everything right. His head was truly a Crown of Thorns.

The Moongates

September 2002

October 2002

November 2002

December 2002

Cronological history

In-game date	Real life date	Description
		The Second Age ("The Crown of Thorns")
328	January 2000
329	April 2000	[LBL stone founded.] A guild of nobles and knights supporting Lord British was founded by Xel'Naga, the Lord British Loyalists.
330	March 2000	Murderers floods the streets of Trinsic.
331	April 2000	The Lord British Loyalists helps in the retaking of the city together with Dupre.
332	May 2000	Vesper revolts when Britannia is still weak after the attacks on Trinsic.
333	June 2000
334	July 2000	[L*B stone founded.] Elliot founded a new guild of Lord British loyalists, the Armed Forces of Britannia with a lower, more army-like theme. The Armed Forces of Britannia allied with the Lord British Loyalists, and they are referred to as Lord British Loyalists.
		Lord British proposes for the Guardians of Vesper to sign a unification pact that would secure their place within the Britannian Realm. Vesper declines this invitation.
		Xel'Naga launches what is known as the "Great Siege of Vesper" and assumes command and power of Vesper. Constant raids and burning of buildnings and bridges in Vesper. Vesper in terror.
		Legolas, from the Guardians of Vesper, stands forward as the new leader of what will be known as the Free Vesper Milita.
		Lord British Loyalists fought back onto a defensive. An empire by the name of Knights and Mages of Kha awakens, led by the infamous Nameless One, puts up an outpost in Cove.
		However, by each passing day, the revolution grew stronger. In the end, the Free Vesper Milita (FVM) attacked and disposed of the town guards, and new guards, loyal to Vesper, took their place. However, the LBL managed to stop the trade ships, which was the lifeline of Vesper. As this situation was bad for everyone, a peace treaty was agreed on. At "Ye Spiritwood Tavern", Xel'Naga [LBL] and Sylis Larpt [FVM] signed a treaty with a "partial independence" to Vesper.
		Renaissance
		Suddenly, the leaves fell of the trees, and the entire world started to wither, decay and crumble. None could doubt that Minax the Enchantress would soon take on Britannia. As most other people, the FVM went to Trammel, as did the LBL, fleeing from the inevitable.
		Knights and Mages of Kha [KMK] attacked Vesper. The exact reason why was never fully illuminated, but most people believe that they attacked with the sole motivation of greed.
		The Lord British Loyalists and the Free Vesper Militia quickly built defensive fortifications in and around Vesper, stopping the attack, and turning it into a siege.
		The KMK never managed to stop the defenders from having superiority on sea, and this was probably one of the mayor reasons why the siege was lifted in the end. However, many knights and soldiers from LBL and FVM risked their lives in small raids against the KMK, which also had a large impact on the course of the war. After this there was a time of peace and prosperity in Britannia. The FVM patrolled the area in and around Vesper, the KMK ensured that the orcs could not be a threat to Britannia, and the LBL maintained law and order in the rest of Britannia.
		LBL were called to Moonglow to investigate a murder. There was plenty of evidence, and even some eyewitnesses, so there shouldn't be any problems on the legal side.
		Evidence clearly points towards "Tanq Sibris", at that time holding a high position within the FVM. At the request of the judges in Yew, the LBL attempted to arrest Tanq, but the FVM resisted. After a long and at times heated debate, the FVM agreed that Tanq should be put on trial, but that he should be detained in Vesper.
		Tanq Sibris flees, and killed his guards. (Historians still debate whether FVM had planned this).
		Decadanti [D] causes problems in various parts of Britannia, and LBL goes to investigate and create order in the land.
		The KMK didn’t consider the peace treaty that was made with the FVM for permanent, and soon began new strikes against Vesper. It wasn’t much, only a few attacks on trade caravans, and the FVM didn’t demand help from the LBL.
		Decedanti [D] allies with the Free Vesper Milita [FVM]. The Lord British Loyalists declear war on Vesper once again because of treason against the treaty and the Virtues.
		LBL calls for a meeting in Serpent's Hold and plans the great invasion of Vesper together with KMK, Captains of the Britannian Mercenaries [B*M], and the Children from the Light [CfL].
		Invasion in Vesper is repelled by the Free Vesper Milita. LBL was the only force to crack the defenses.
		Decadanti pulls out of Vesper, and the people of Vesper celebrate their new free town.
		[LBL and L*B merges to LB, now known as the Britannia Guards.]
		The Third Dawn
340	January 2001
341	February 2001
342	March 2001	Third Dawn Begins
343	April 2001
344	May 2001
345	June 2001
346	July 2001
347	August 2001
348	September 2001
349	October 2001
350	November 2001
351	December 2001
		The Blackthorn Wars
352	January 2002
353	February 2002
354	March 2002
355	April 2002
356	May 2002
357	June 2002
358	July 2002
359	August 2002	Brown Moses and Ruadnit Troi takes over the guild leadership after Albion.
360	September 2002	The Moongates around Minoc and Vesper become unstable and unusable. Captain of the Guard Igneous Neo was killed during a failed prisoner exchange with the Dark Cloaks. This is believed to be the first incident in which Aribes (aka “Evil” Brown Moses) was responsible for. Captain of the Rangers Ruadnit Troi issues an arrest warrant for the arrest of Cal Soulshadow of the Dark Cloaks over the death of Igneous Neo. The ranger Night refuses to arrest Cal Soulshadow unless a similar warrant is issued for the arrest of Brown Moses, who he believes, is responsible for the death of Igneous Neo. Night is arrested for refusing orders and assaulting an officer. He escapes, in the process injuring the guard Metallicker. The ranger Night take refuge with the Dark Cloaks after becoming suspicious of Cardinal Brown Moses actions during the failed prisoner exchange.
361	October 2002	The body of Igneous Neo is returned to the Britannia Guards by the Dark Cloaks. Night is captured by the Britannia Guards, and unknown to the other Britannia Guards Cardinal Brown Moses beats and injuries Night. The Dark Cloaks meet with the Knights Templar to discuss their problems with the Britannia Guards. The meeting turns sour after Cal Soulshadow brings up the changes that have been observed in Cardinal Brown Moses and Prince Orlando accuses her of being a liar and murderer. Cal Soulshadow meets Captain of the Rangers Raudnit Troi and reveals her suspicions to her. Having observed the same changes in behaviour, Ruadnit Troi promises to keep a close eye on Cardinal Brown Moses. After the Funeral of Igneous Neo Reggie of the Dark Cloaks, wearing a Britannia Guards uniform, attempts to assassinate the still imprisoned Night, but fails when Captain of the Rangers Raudnit Troi and Ranger Gal'ilm interrupts and arrests him. The motivation for the attempt on Nights life appeared to be jealousy over his relationship with Cal Soulshadow. Cal Soulshadow rescues Reggie, but in the process is captured by the Britannia Guards. The Baron of Minoc, Robert Dart, reveals to Cal Soulshadow he also has suspicions over Cardinal Brown Moses’ behaviour, and agrees to take Cal to a safe location before her trial. The Paladin Kamchack agrees to defend Cal Soulshadow in the trial. Cardinal Brown Moses arranges for Ruadnit Troi to be away from Minoc during the trial to prevent her from aiding Cal Soulshadow. During this time she is saved by the Ranger Gentle from an attack believed to have been set up by Cardinal Brown Moses. With Cardinal Brown Moses prosecuting and the Paladin Kamchack defending Cal Soulshadow the trial results in her being found guilty of the murder of Igneous Neo. She is sentenced to work in the mines of Minoc for the rest of her natural life, and is later found apparently crushed to death in the mines. In fact she is secretly spirited away by Raudnit Troi, Night and Gentle, and later granted a full pardon by the Baron of Minoc. Investigations by the Britannia Guards and Vesper reveals the location of a magic tomb related to the creation of stable moongates between two locations. Despite their best efforts, the Britannia Guards fail to reach the tomb before Vesper, who take the book to Vesper to research. Unknown forces kidnap captain of the Rangers Ruadnit Troi after receiving threats from Denathor. Cardinal Brown Moses is arrested for treason after ordering the Britannia Guards to attack the Baron of Minoc, Robert Dart, after Cardinal Brown Moses discovers a plot by Raudnit Troi, Gentle, Night, Rob Dart, Cal Soulshadow, and several others to arrest him and charge him with various offences. Raudnit Troi is rescued from the Brotherhood of the Dark Age (BDA) by the Britannia Guards. Cardinal Brown Moses is put on trial, during which his various crimes are revealed to the people of Minoc and Vesper. After being found guilty of the various crimes several moongate open in the courtroom, through which demons being led by the mages of the Knights and Mages of Kha (KMK) and the Army of Caldor (A^K) attack the various people in the court room, allowing Brown Moses to escape through one of the moongates. It is later revealed that an agent sent by Brown Moses provided Kaldor and Kha with the capability of launching such an attack in case he was ever captured.
362	November 2002	Cardinal Brown Moses appears a few days after the trial and is arrested. Investigation reveals that for over a month an imposter had taken the place of the real Brown Moses while the real Brown Moses was held in some sort of magical maze and continually tortured. Kha, Kaldor, the Dark Cloaks, the Britannia Guards, Vesper, and several other guilds fight over one of the books used in the attack on the Minoc court during “Evil” Brown Moses’ trial. Noxin of the Britannia Guards finally captures the book used to summon daemons. Relationships between the Britannia Guards, Vesper, the Darkcloaks, and the Army of Kaldor worsen as each guild attempts to arrest members of the other guilds for various minor crimes. Vesper performs a ritual to restore the moongates in Vesper, leaving Minoc isolated from the rest of Britannia. Vesper forms an alliance with Kha, Kaldor, and the Vesper Trade Company to attack Minoc. They quickly crush the outnumbered Britannia Guards and Barony of Minoc forces pushing them into the forest east of Minoc and claim Minoc as part of Vesper. The Britannia Guards send scouts out to send word to there allies outside of Minoc and ask for their aid in repelling the invaders. Several guilds travel across Britannia to aid them, including the Duchy of Trinsic (DOT) and FFL. They group in the forest east of Minoc and under the command of Cardinal Brown Moses attack the Vesper forces occupying Minoc. It is a long and bloody battle and the loyalist allies are forced to retreat, but not before inflicting massive damage to the Vesper Alliance.
363	December 2002	Soon after the Battle of Minoc the moongates around Vesper and Minoc begin to work. It is still not known what caused them to start working so suddenly. No longer cut off from the rest of Britannia, Minoc becomes a liability for Vesper and they return to their hometown leaving the Britannia Guards and Barony of Minoc to deal with the damage they leave behind. Ruadnit Troi steps down as Captain of the Rangers, and leaves Devante to take over.
		The Age of Shadows
364	January 2003
365	Feburary 2003	[LB leaves ERPA.] The Britannia Guards moves to Skara Brae to help Baron ale Underwood to protect Skara Brae after a series of threats by Aribes/Evil Brown Moses.
366	March 2003
367	April 2003
368	May 2003	Bora decides to take over the Ranger division after Ruadnit leaves to join the clerics in the Army of Kaldor. Samson gets promoted to Captain of the Guards and takes over after Captain Bora.
369	June 2003
370	July 2003
371	August 2003
372	September 2003	[LB helps form CoRE.] LB moves to Trinsic to assist the local guardsforce on request by Duke Irvyn Middlethorn. Much of the year is taken up with preparing for and holding a great celebration to honour and remember all those who fought in the Minax wars when Trinsic was taken over by the army of undead. However before the celebrations begin, orcs begin attacking Moonglow and ironically it appears that they are working for Minax. Some Trinsicians go to help Moonglow fight off the invaders. The Minax Memorial Festival is a great success. Many veterans and present day soldiers from all over Britannia, loyalist and non-loyalist alike, attend the opening day parade, showing an unprecedented unity. They are greeted jointly by Irvyn and Lord Helrick representing Lord British. The Kaldorians open negotiations for a trade embassy in Trinsic.
373	November 2003
374	December 2003	Vesper declares war on Trinsic after the murder of Kain Twothumb's brother, Olof Twothumb.
375	January 2004	Fights between the Trinsic loyalist forces and the Vesper rebel forces.
376	February 2004	Baron Twothumb of Vesper holds a speech that results in Vesper being devided in to provinces, each controlled by a governor and their army. Twothumb announces that a Vesperian election will be held. Vesper forces gets repelled from Trinsic, and declears war on the Britannia Guards and the Army of Kaldor.
377	March 2004	The Britannia Guards and the Army of Kaldor forms an alliance and launches and offensive campaign against the Free Town of Vesper based from Cove. They fight their way through many of the provinces, but meet great resistance from the Knights and Mages of Kha and the Free Town of Vesper and it's milita.
378	April 2004	The Army of Kaldor backstabs the loyalists and siege Trinsic. Cardinal Moses leads the retaking of the city and holds various resistance meetings at Castle Britannia in Britain.
379	May 2004
380	June 2004	Father Hector Foxberg holds the wedding ceremony of Duke Irvyn Middlethorn of Trinsic and Lady Eleanor Truearrow.
381	July 2004
382	August 2004
383	September 2004	Vesper holds elections. The results are declared wrong, and Twothumb stays in office.
384	October 2004	Sosarian Olympic Games gets hosted for the very first time. Spectators from all around the realm gather in a great festival and series of olympic games. Many guilds are involved in the organisation, and the Games seems like a big success.
		The Samurai Empire
385	November 2004	Lord Edmund returns and carries with him the Sword of Fire. The Sword of Fire gets destroyed after many years with the help of the Britannia Guards. Kain Twothumbs house collapses and he is believed to be dead, though a corpse is never found. New Vesper elections are held, and Miss Yiveth is declared the new Baroness of Vesper.
386	December 2004	The Barony of Stanmere is founded, Lord Edmund is granted the position of Baron by Cardinal Moses. LB leaves to set up a temporary base in Minoc to monitor the situation in Vesper closely. A civil war breaks out in Vesper, with little or no loyalist influence. Kain Twothumb fights his way back to power. LB soon after return to Trinsic to assist with recent drow and Kaldorian trouble.
387	January 2005	The Knights Templar move to Trinsic to join in the Trinsic guardsforce.
388	February 2005	Father Hector Foxberg launches quest to find High Cleric Raistlin's old staff, and succeeds with the help of the Knights Templar, the Shadow Court and the Knights of Virtue. Baron Edmund Fairholm takes over the leadership of the Guard.

Guildmaster listing

Xel'Naga/Elliot
Shevcan
Devante
Daveron Ironfist
Nacho
Albion
Ruadnit Troi/Brown Moses
Brown Moses
Edmund Fairholm

History of the Britannia Guards