Introduction
Welcome to United Britannia and Hibernia! This magical world is the result of an isolationist policy in which witches developed separately from humans and have settled in their own domains. Humans have no idea of the existence of witches, and witches think themselves far superior to humans.
The setting is United Britannia and Hibernia (often called UBH), an island nation made up of four countries and a direct geographic correlation to our world's United Kingdom.
The location of Ilyrium, the capital city of United Britannia and Hibernia and Britannia. Britannia is the witches' name for England. It has a population of about 2 million.
Magic is the power that witches are able to call upon and produce. There are few laws of magic in this world; the mechanics, origins, and limits are not well-understood. The skill level of witches varies widely, and the the reason why is unknown.
Branch of magic that typically involves death, destruction, and chaos, but wielded by those with good intentions can be used to do great good.
Branch of magic that involves the manipulation of the elements. Most witches have the ability to perform Elemental Magic to some extent.
Branch of magic that aids in healing everything from scratches to some diseases.
Branch of magic that revolves around creating illusions to distort perceptions of those it's used on.
Branch of magic that includes the ability to manipulate plants, animals and, sometimes, the weather.
Branch of magic that requires the preparation and use of special ingredients. Potions require Potion Magic in order to work properly.
Branch of magic that involves extrasensory perception, like divination.
Branch of magic that involves the ability to manipulate time; witches mainly use it to travel in the past or future.
Branch of magic that mostly deals with creating Portals and helping aid in HERMES and other magical vehicles.
Everyone has a Born Magic: this is the branch of magic that a witch is born with and this means this will be the magic they're most competent at and typically the most comfortable performing. A person's Born Magic is officially registered with the Council. However, witches are also expected to be proficient in more than one type of magic, and this is their Practicing Magic(s). This is not official or registered with the Council, but it is just a way to differentiate between a witch's Born Magic from the other magic they practice. Typically, someone's Practicing Magic(s) are also the subjects they studied at the Institute and Athenaeum .
There are two main branches of government in UBH: the Council and Magisterium.
The Council is the judge, jury, and executioner of UBH. They attend to the everyday business of running a large country. An elected position, about 60% of Council Members have "inherited" the position from family.
The Magisterium is the supreme authority of the land; they can, and do, overrule the Council, although it is rare. Membership is secret, as are many aspects of the Magisterium.
Education for students in UBH is compulsory. Up until the age of 10, students are homeschooled and are expected to come into the school system with basic abilities, like reading and writing, but are not expected to have any magical aptitude (although most do).
School for students aged 10-14, where they will learn Foundational Magic.
School for students aged 14-16, where they work on their Born Magic and start planning for their careers.
School for students aged 16-18, where they complete a long-term Apprenticeship with a mentor.
There are three main religions in UBH, although there is a firm separation between church and state.
By far the religion with the most practioners, Pantheonism is the overarching name for a group of religions in which witches worship a particular pantheon. (Roman Pantheonism is the most popular, but Egyptian, Greek, Indian, and Norse are also popular.)
A religion that is thousands of years old, the Old Religion is the worship of the Old Gods. Old Followers worship any number of natural gods, but the most popular are the All-Father, the All-Mother, Death, and Fortuna Magicae.
The smallest religion, Nova Religio is essentially Christianity (Catholicism, to be more specific). Because Christianity didn't have the same effect on the witches as it did humans, Nova Religio only plays a small part in UBH.
Vesper is an extremely talented witch who was born with Dark Magic. He is the only Level Three witch in United Britannia and Hibernia. He is a Librarian and researches magical history and Dark Magic. Vesper is intelligent, witty, and a bit arrogant. He is a member of the Cross Family.
The Cross Family is one of the most powerful families in UBH. In addition to Vesper, the immediate Cross family consists of Vesper's parents, Aleksander and Marina, and his three siblings: Isaac, Anya, and his twin, Celia.
Cian is also a skilled witch, although not as powerful as Vesper. Born with Psychic Magic, Cian is a Level Five witch. He owns Cian's Tarot Readings, located in Ilyrium. Like Vesper, Cian is intelligent, as well as ambitious, and more than a bit stubborn.
The Ryan Family is one of the most politically influential families in UBH. In addition to Cian, the immediate Ryan family consists of Cian's parents, Morgan and Claire, as well as his older sisters, Bridget and Selene.
Geography
Main article: United Britannia and HiberniaThe setting is United Britannia and Hibernia (often called UBH), an island nation made up of four countries and a direct geographic correlation to our world's United Kingdom.
Britannia
Main article: BritanniaThe location of Ilyrium, the capital city of United Britannia and Hibernia and Britannia. Britannia is the witches' name for England. It has a population of about 2 million.
Hibernia
Hibernia is the witches' name for Ireland. The capital of Hibernia is Coria. The Ryan Family is from Coria. It has a population of about 1 million.Ilyrium
Main article: Ilyrium
More specifically, the story takes place in the city of Ilyrium. With a population of 500,000, it is the largest and capital city of UBH. Like all witch-inhabited cities, it is invisible to humans. Ilyrium was supposedly founded by twin brothers and sons of a king seeking a refuge after being persecuted for their magic.
Caledonia
Caledonia is the witches' name for Scotland. The capital of Caledonia is Alatius. It has a population of about 750,000.Cambria
Cambria is the witches' name for Wales. The capital of Cambria is Venta. It has a population of about 250,000.History
Under construction.Magic
Main article: MagicMagic is the power that witches are able to call upon and produce. There are few laws of magic in this world; the mechanics, origins, and limits are not well-understood. The skill level of witches varies widely, and the the reason why is unknown.
Types
There are nine types of magic besides Foundational Magic. The types are:Dark Magic
Main article: Dark MagicBranch of magic that typically involves death, destruction, and chaos, but wielded by those with good intentions can be used to do great good.
Elemental Magic
Main article: Elemental MagicBranch of magic that involves the manipulation of the elements. Most witches have the ability to perform Elemental Magic to some extent.
Healing Magic
Main article: Healing MagicBranch of magic that aids in healing everything from scratches to some diseases.
Illusion Magic
Main article: Illusion MagicBranch of magic that revolves around creating illusions to distort perceptions of those it's used on.
Nature Magic
Main article: Nature MagicBranch of magic that includes the ability to manipulate plants, animals and, sometimes, the weather.
Potion Magic
Main article: Potion MagicBranch of magic that requires the preparation and use of special ingredients. Potions require Potion Magic in order to work properly.
Psychic Magic
Main article: Psychic MagicBranch of magic that involves extrasensory perception, like divination.
Time Magic
Main article: Time MagicBranch of magic that involves the ability to manipulate time; witches mainly use it to travel in the past or future.
Transportation Magic
Main article: Transportation MagicBranch of magic that mostly deals with creating Portals and helping aid in HERMES and other magical vehicles.
Regulation
Some types of magic are heavily regulated in UBH. These include Dark Magic, Time Magic, and Transportation Magic. Those born with Dark Magic are either executed or brutally institutionalized immediately, while those born with Time or Transportation Magic are monitored to see the effect their power will have.Born/Practicing
Main article: Born and Practicing MagicEveryone has a Born Magic: this is the branch of magic that a witch is born with and this means this will be the magic they're most competent at and typically the most comfortable performing. A person's Born Magic is officially registered with the Council. However, witches are also expected to be proficient in more than one type of magic, and this is their Practicing Magic(s). This is not official or registered with the Council, but it is just a way to differentiate between a witch's Born Magic from the other magic they practice. Typically, someone's Practicing Magic(s) are also the subjects they studied at the Institute and Athenaeum .
Culture
Government
Main article: GovernmentThere are two main branches of government in UBH: the Council and Magisterium.
Council
Main article: CouncilThe Council is the judge, jury, and executioner of UBH. They attend to the everyday business of running a large country. An elected position, about 60% of Council Members have "inherited" the position from family.
Magisterium
Main article: MagisteriumThe Magisterium is the supreme authority of the land; they can, and do, overrule the Council, although it is rare. Membership is secret, as are many aspects of the Magisterium.
Education
Main article: EducationEducation for students in UBH is compulsory. Up until the age of 10, students are homeschooled and are expected to come into the school system with basic abilities, like reading and writing, but are not expected to have any magical aptitude (although most do).
Academy
Main article: AcademySchool for students aged 10-14, where they will learn Foundational Magic.
Institute
Main article: InstituteSchool for students aged 14-16, where they work on their Born Magic and start planning for their careers.
Athenaeum
Main article: AthenaeumSchool for students aged 16-18, where they complete a long-term Apprenticeship with a mentor.
Religion
Main article: ReligionThere are three main religions in UBH, although there is a firm separation between church and state.
Pantheonism
Main article: PantheonismBy far the religion with the most practioners, Pantheonism is the overarching name for a group of religions in which witches worship a particular pantheon. (Roman Pantheonism is the most popular, but Egyptian, Greek, Indian, and Norse are also popular.)
Old Religion
Main article: Old ReligionA religion that is thousands of years old, the Old Religion is the worship of the Old Gods. Old Followers worship any number of natural gods, but the most popular are the All-Father, the All-Mother, Death, and Fortuna Magicae.
Nova Religio
Main article: Nova ReligioThe smallest religion, Nova Religio is essentially Christianity (Catholicism, to be more specific). Because Christianity didn't have the same effect on the witches as it did humans, Nova Religio only plays a small part in UBH.
People
Vesper Cross
Main article: Vesper CrossVesper is an extremely talented witch who was born with Dark Magic. He is the only Level Three witch in United Britannia and Hibernia. He is a Librarian and researches magical history and Dark Magic. Vesper is intelligent, witty, and a bit arrogant. He is a member of the Cross Family.
Cross Family
Main article: Cross FamilyThe Cross Family is one of the most powerful families in UBH. In addition to Vesper, the immediate Cross family consists of Vesper's parents, Aleksander and Marina, and his three siblings: Isaac, Anya, and his twin, Celia.
Cian Ryan
Main article: Cian RyanCian is also a skilled witch, although not as powerful as Vesper. Born with Psychic Magic, Cian is a Level Five witch. He owns Cian's Tarot Readings, located in Ilyrium. Like Vesper, Cian is intelligent, as well as ambitious, and more than a bit stubborn.
Ryan Family
Main article: Ryan FamilyThe Ryan Family is one of the most politically influential families in UBH. In addition to Cian, the immediate Ryan family consists of Cian's parents, Morgan and Claire, as well as his older sisters, Bridget and Selene.
Conflicts
Dark Magic Emergence
Dark Magic has begun to appear in UBH, and with it, death and chaos. Victims are already cropping up, but everyone prefers to turn a blind eye.Murder of Crows
The illicit terrorist organization, Murder of Crows, has become much more active lately, and witches are paying the price with their lives.Government Corruption
The Council and the Magisterium are steeped in secrecy and corruption. Their authoritarian rule has a chokehold rule on UBH.Dark Deck
Vesper Cross and Cian Ryan have found the Dark Deck, an extremely gruesome set of tarot cards with yet unknown power. But Dark animals are occurring with more frequency around UBH...United Britannia and Hibernia Fast Facts
Capitals/(Countries)
Ilyrium (Britannia)
Coria (Hibernia)
Alatius (Caledonia)
Venta (Cambria)
Largest city
Ilyrium
Population
Approximately 3.5 million
Languages
Britannian (largely similar to our world's English)
Currency
Religions
Old Religion
Pantheonism
Nova Religio
Government
Magisterium (supreme)
Council
Education
Homeschool
Academy (ages 10-14)
Institute (ages 14-16)
Athenaeum (ages 16-18)
Military
Present, but not needed
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Comments
Author's Notes
This article was updated in June 2019 for Summer Camp 2019, and again in March 2022 for readability.