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Albion
Dear Adventurers!
The kingdom has been experiencing increasing difficulties and political conflict in the noble classes, as well as recent peasant revolts in reaction to what is seen as corruption in the ruling classes. The ruling King (Henry the Mad King) is insane to the point of being unable to govern, and his wife the Queen Margaret has taken to running the country with a council composed of her favorites, selected more for loyalty than ability (and, some vile rumours claim, because some of those most favored are her lovers).
This in itself would be problematic, but the situation is further complicated by the fact that the Mad King’s grandfather (founder of the Lancaster line, bearers of the Red Rose) had taken the throne by force from his cousin (another weak and incompetent king and the current Mad King’s cousin, Richard of York (of the White Rose), is a vastly-popular war hero that many feel has a far more legitimate claim (coming from a senior line of the dynasty) to take the throne. While the Mad King had no sons, Richard of York’s position as a potential heir kept the situation from exploding, but the recent birth of a new heir (the young Edward of Lancaster) has propelled the succession crisis to the forefront. The situation is on the verge of exploding into a war that will ultimately take decades to end, and that will wipe out many of the most powerful and ancient noble lines.
At the same time, as the kingdom weakens, peasants rise up in rebellion, and the nobility squabble in regional skirmishes that act as rehearsals for the war to come, the forces of Chaos begin to take advantage of the increasing insecurity. Monsters are becoming more notable in the frontier regions, in the mountains and deep forests. In the countryside, the living dead (which had always been a potential peril) are becoming a more frequent plague. North of The Wall, the Scots Men are increasing their raids and attacks as they realize that the Wardens of the North (a title traditionally held by the dashing and bellicose house of Percy) are too dedicated to fighting their hated rivals the Nevilles (the richest noble house in the kingdom) to dedicate their resources to fully man the 1300-year old defensive line. And on the Continent, the inhuman chaos-worshiping Frogmen (who have already taken back all the traditional continental Anglish holdings reconquered by the Mad King’s father after the Hundred-Years War) may even be considering crossing the Anglish Channel to spread their dark power to Albion itself. This is a time where the common folk tremble and righteous men mourn the state of things, but it is also a time when bold frontier adventurers, scheming masterminds, or skillful knights may become legends!
So pick up your sword and try not to take an arrow to the knee, Adventurer!
This in itself would be problematic, but the situation is further complicated by the fact that the Mad King’s grandfather (founder of the Lancaster line, bearers of the Red Rose) had taken the throne by force from his cousin (another weak and incompetent king and the current Mad King’s cousin, Richard of York (of the White Rose), is a vastly-popular war hero that many feel has a far more legitimate claim (coming from a senior line of the dynasty) to take the throne. While the Mad King had no sons, Richard of York’s position as a potential heir kept the situation from exploding, but the recent birth of a new heir (the young Edward of Lancaster) has propelled the succession crisis to the forefront. The situation is on the verge of exploding into a war that will ultimately take decades to end, and that will wipe out many of the most powerful and ancient noble lines.
At the same time, as the kingdom weakens, peasants rise up in rebellion, and the nobility squabble in regional skirmishes that act as rehearsals for the war to come, the forces of Chaos begin to take advantage of the increasing insecurity. Monsters are becoming more notable in the frontier regions, in the mountains and deep forests. In the countryside, the living dead (which had always been a potential peril) are becoming a more frequent plague. North of The Wall, the Scots Men are increasing their raids and attacks as they realize that the Wardens of the North (a title traditionally held by the dashing and bellicose house of Percy) are too dedicated to fighting their hated rivals the Nevilles (the richest noble house in the kingdom) to dedicate their resources to fully man the 1300-year old defensive line. And on the Continent, the inhuman chaos-worshiping Frogmen (who have already taken back all the traditional continental Anglish holdings reconquered by the Mad King’s father after the Hundred-Years War) may even be considering crossing the Anglish Channel to spread their dark power to Albion itself. This is a time where the common folk tremble and righteous men mourn the state of things, but it is also a time when bold frontier adventurers, scheming masterminds, or skillful knights may become legends!
So pick up your sword and try not to take an arrow to the knee, Adventurer!