The Island of Anglesey and the Empire - History
Background/Research: Information about the history of the Empire on Anglesey is limited. For people delving into the past, there are two problems: one, written records are practically non-existent from that time as rebellion and a non-literate group of rebels meant what was not destroyed outright in an orgy of hate and destruction was allowed to decay and moulder into dust. Second, both sides of the Empire’s conquest, occupation, and eventual withdrawal/defeat have radically different views of what happened and why….
Pre-Empire: Natives to Anglesey describe this period as a Golden Age. People lived in harmony with nature and no one went hungry or wanted for anything. The legends from this time also describe the use of powerful magic, peaceful relationships with non-human creatures, and the Gods and Goddesses walked among the people dispensing both justice and bounty. Almost everyone realizes the legends sound just too good to be true. After all, no one has been able to produce/demonstrate to others a ‘god in the flesh’. To many clerics, such a concept is virtually sacrilegious and most likely impossible; likewise, with the rest of the legends.
Scholars have identified a few concepts from this time that are likely to be fact. First, “Anglesey” referred to the entire island. It is no accident that the present line of kings of ‘modern’ Anglesey named their kingdom “Anglesey”. It has the unfortunate, but probably intended, effect of making their neighbours on the island nervous…. Second, the pre-Empire people were divided in tribes that occupied different sections of Anglesey. These people were united by religion and culture. Third, war and magic did happen. The standing stones are powerful magical relics from this time that are still mostly mysteries. Forts, weapons, and battle sites exist from this time period – so someone was fighting someone or something….. Either way, this magic and military power was not enough to resist the Empire. Fourth, people were sorted by class as the legends talk of kings, nobles, freemen, and slaves. Relics and ruins from the time suggest some people were living much better than other people. Fifth, the island had a bounty of natural resources. The upper classes traded these with the Empire for luxury items from the Empire. This obvious wealth attracted the Empire….
Conquest: A little more is known of this time period. Apparently, it took two efforts to conquer the southern 2/3 of the island. Sources are split that either the northern part was too difficult to conquer or not worth the effort. As for the south, magic coordinated with a superbly organized and professional military crushed all resistance. This conquest happened approximately 500 years ago. All signs of pre-Empire culture were ruthlessly stamped out. The native priests were systemically hunted down and slaughtered with the native religion outlawed.
Occupation: More can be pieced about this period as it is more recent and can be compared to areas that are still occupied by the Empire (to check legends and oral tradition). The Empire imposed total control over its occupied territory. Native inhabitants were treated as slaves. Under Empire law, they became the property of the State or any Empire citizen who wished to buy them. Natives were forced to learn a basic form of Empire Common; but strictly forbidden from learning to read or write in any language or to even speak Old Empire (upper class Empire). Their own language was outlawed. Any child that came to the notice of the Empire that could practice magic was removed from their family and not returned. Likewise, the boys – girls strictly forbidden – who showed a good aptitude for being trained into soldiers, were removed from their families. These children were never seen in Anglesey again. It is likely – given Empire practice – that they were used to garrison and control other parts of the Empire. It is known that such troops from other parts of the Empire were used in Anglesey…. Also, no Anglesey native was allowed to have anything that was specifically a weapon (bows or slings to defend their master’s flocks, but no swords…..). Every decision in life was controlled by the Empire and/or their masters – marriage, permission to travel beyond the estate/mine/shop, ….. Masters would often use the threat of splitting families up to keep the slaves in line. Any slave who showed the least signs of rebellion was publicly tortured to death along with his/her family. Fear and anger ran through the slaves. As abuses against slaves mounted, the anger increased until it burst. While small rebellions were a problem, the first major rebellion did not happen until 50 years into Empire rule. Lead by one of the previous Royal families, the rebellion had a very violent and brief success until its army was massacred by Empire Legion reinforcements. It was said the crows and other carrion eaters could not even waddle away from the battlefield. Any survivors were crucified along the main Empire’s roads and their remains were left there for 1 year. At the end of that year, the remains were reanimated by Empire necromancers. The souls of the departed were bound to the remains and twisted into evil creatures that were then used to terrorize the native inhabitants or to kill/torture them in vast public displays. As for the Queen who lead the rebellion, it is said that she was hunted down by the Emperor’s Own and subject to a particularly horrendous fate that lasts down to this day (the stories and sources only agree that it used the darkest magic and ensured her eternal suffering in an undisclosed place in Anglesey). Whatever the truth, it crushed the spirit of rebellion for another 100-150 years. It also lead to even harsher treatment of the slaves. The Empire used various forms of magic, especially mind control magic, to ensure the slaves remained obedient.
End of Occupation: The occupation ended as the Empire weakened. Civil wars eroded the Empire’s military strength as different claimants vied for the throne. Civil strife spread to both religion and the economy. With religion, mystery cults flourished and dark rituals were increasingly practiced in public. Wars not only weakened the economy, but the expense to wage war and claim the throne with the extravagant costs and lifestyle of the emperors, caused the economy to crash. The government’s answer was to impose both heavy control and fear. Most Imperial commoners lost all their rights and became tied to the land. Any dissent was savagely persecuted. The Emperor’s Own was expanded and distorted. Instead of being Imperial investigators who were to weed out treason, corruption, and evil; they became a feared tool of the emperors. This organization of elite fighters and assassins had the powers of judge, jury, and executioner. Operating individually or in small groups, they would answer to no one but the Emperor and could appear as any member of society. Their oath of total obedience was to last until their deaths and, a few sources say, beyond. To intimidate the military, female assassins were trained – outside of female slave gladiators, the only women who were allowed to be armed under Imperial law. To followers of the Imperial War God – Mithras – being killed by a woman would bar a warrior from Elysium, no matter how great his previous deeds were.
With all these strains on the Empire, the legions in Anglesey were stripped to the bone. Sensing their best opportunity, the people of Anglesey rebelled against the Empire. The Imperial masters were caught by surprise and the few survivors evacuated Anglesey. Centuries of fear and hate erupted into a frenzy of destruction. All signs of Imperial presence were destroyed and Imperial citizens were hunted down and ruthlessly slaughtered in every way imaginable. Civilization crashed and Anglesey was taken back to nearly stone age technology in many parts of the island.
Post-Occupation: While the Empire has never given up title to the island, it has not made a serious attempt to reclaim the island. There is some limited trade. Imperials believe they can easily reconquer this ‘primitive backwater” at any time; it’s more pressing matters at home that are delaying the reconquest….. Over the last 250-300 years, Anglesey has been in turmoil with only a few areas rebuilding. Life in most areas is short and brutish with a constant struggle to survive against disease, famine, lawlessness, ancient evils, and violent neighbours – both human and non-human. The rise of the newly styled kingdom of Anglesey in the northeast corner of the southern part of the island is the only bright spot…..
Pre-Empire: Natives to Anglesey describe this period as a Golden Age. People lived in harmony with nature and no one went hungry or wanted for anything. The legends from this time also describe the use of powerful magic, peaceful relationships with non-human creatures, and the Gods and Goddesses walked among the people dispensing both justice and bounty. Almost everyone realizes the legends sound just too good to be true. After all, no one has been able to produce/demonstrate to others a ‘god in the flesh’. To many clerics, such a concept is virtually sacrilegious and most likely impossible; likewise, with the rest of the legends.
Scholars have identified a few concepts from this time that are likely to be fact. First, “Anglesey” referred to the entire island. It is no accident that the present line of kings of ‘modern’ Anglesey named their kingdom “Anglesey”. It has the unfortunate, but probably intended, effect of making their neighbours on the island nervous…. Second, the pre-Empire people were divided in tribes that occupied different sections of Anglesey. These people were united by religion and culture. Third, war and magic did happen. The standing stones are powerful magical relics from this time that are still mostly mysteries. Forts, weapons, and battle sites exist from this time period – so someone was fighting someone or something….. Either way, this magic and military power was not enough to resist the Empire. Fourth, people were sorted by class as the legends talk of kings, nobles, freemen, and slaves. Relics and ruins from the time suggest some people were living much better than other people. Fifth, the island had a bounty of natural resources. The upper classes traded these with the Empire for luxury items from the Empire. This obvious wealth attracted the Empire….
Conquest: A little more is known of this time period. Apparently, it took two efforts to conquer the southern 2/3 of the island. Sources are split that either the northern part was too difficult to conquer or not worth the effort. As for the south, magic coordinated with a superbly organized and professional military crushed all resistance. This conquest happened approximately 500 years ago. All signs of pre-Empire culture were ruthlessly stamped out. The native priests were systemically hunted down and slaughtered with the native religion outlawed.
Occupation: More can be pieced about this period as it is more recent and can be compared to areas that are still occupied by the Empire (to check legends and oral tradition). The Empire imposed total control over its occupied territory. Native inhabitants were treated as slaves. Under Empire law, they became the property of the State or any Empire citizen who wished to buy them. Natives were forced to learn a basic form of Empire Common; but strictly forbidden from learning to read or write in any language or to even speak Old Empire (upper class Empire). Their own language was outlawed. Any child that came to the notice of the Empire that could practice magic was removed from their family and not returned. Likewise, the boys – girls strictly forbidden – who showed a good aptitude for being trained into soldiers, were removed from their families. These children were never seen in Anglesey again. It is likely – given Empire practice – that they were used to garrison and control other parts of the Empire. It is known that such troops from other parts of the Empire were used in Anglesey…. Also, no Anglesey native was allowed to have anything that was specifically a weapon (bows or slings to defend their master’s flocks, but no swords…..). Every decision in life was controlled by the Empire and/or their masters – marriage, permission to travel beyond the estate/mine/shop, ….. Masters would often use the threat of splitting families up to keep the slaves in line. Any slave who showed the least signs of rebellion was publicly tortured to death along with his/her family. Fear and anger ran through the slaves. As abuses against slaves mounted, the anger increased until it burst. While small rebellions were a problem, the first major rebellion did not happen until 50 years into Empire rule. Lead by one of the previous Royal families, the rebellion had a very violent and brief success until its army was massacred by Empire Legion reinforcements. It was said the crows and other carrion eaters could not even waddle away from the battlefield. Any survivors were crucified along the main Empire’s roads and their remains were left there for 1 year. At the end of that year, the remains were reanimated by Empire necromancers. The souls of the departed were bound to the remains and twisted into evil creatures that were then used to terrorize the native inhabitants or to kill/torture them in vast public displays. As for the Queen who lead the rebellion, it is said that she was hunted down by the Emperor’s Own and subject to a particularly horrendous fate that lasts down to this day (the stories and sources only agree that it used the darkest magic and ensured her eternal suffering in an undisclosed place in Anglesey). Whatever the truth, it crushed the spirit of rebellion for another 100-150 years. It also lead to even harsher treatment of the slaves. The Empire used various forms of magic, especially mind control magic, to ensure the slaves remained obedient.
End of Occupation: The occupation ended as the Empire weakened. Civil wars eroded the Empire’s military strength as different claimants vied for the throne. Civil strife spread to both religion and the economy. With religion, mystery cults flourished and dark rituals were increasingly practiced in public. Wars not only weakened the economy, but the expense to wage war and claim the throne with the extravagant costs and lifestyle of the emperors, caused the economy to crash. The government’s answer was to impose both heavy control and fear. Most Imperial commoners lost all their rights and became tied to the land. Any dissent was savagely persecuted. The Emperor’s Own was expanded and distorted. Instead of being Imperial investigators who were to weed out treason, corruption, and evil; they became a feared tool of the emperors. This organization of elite fighters and assassins had the powers of judge, jury, and executioner. Operating individually or in small groups, they would answer to no one but the Emperor and could appear as any member of society. Their oath of total obedience was to last until their deaths and, a few sources say, beyond. To intimidate the military, female assassins were trained – outside of female slave gladiators, the only women who were allowed to be armed under Imperial law. To followers of the Imperial War God – Mithras – being killed by a woman would bar a warrior from Elysium, no matter how great his previous deeds were.
With all these strains on the Empire, the legions in Anglesey were stripped to the bone. Sensing their best opportunity, the people of Anglesey rebelled against the Empire. The Imperial masters were caught by surprise and the few survivors evacuated Anglesey. Centuries of fear and hate erupted into a frenzy of destruction. All signs of Imperial presence were destroyed and Imperial citizens were hunted down and ruthlessly slaughtered in every way imaginable. Civilization crashed and Anglesey was taken back to nearly stone age technology in many parts of the island.
Post-Occupation: While the Empire has never given up title to the island, it has not made a serious attempt to reclaim the island. There is some limited trade. Imperials believe they can easily reconquer this ‘primitive backwater” at any time; it’s more pressing matters at home that are delaying the reconquest….. Over the last 250-300 years, Anglesey has been in turmoil with only a few areas rebuilding. Life in most areas is short and brutish with a constant struggle to survive against disease, famine, lawlessness, ancient evils, and violent neighbours – both human and non-human. The rise of the newly styled kingdom of Anglesey in the northeast corner of the southern part of the island is the only bright spot…..