Stonehenge.
Stonehenge was one of several Worldgates, gateways to a place of magic where the Druids traveled and gathered power and knowledge, the Land of the Midnight Sun, so named for the bright ring of light that decorated its night sky in place of a moon. In the final battle led by the Gallic hero, Fuilrix, the Gallic warriors defended the site while the Druids opened a gateway large enough for the gathered Gauls to escape through. Fuilrix remained behind and fought until all but him had escaped, and when he was the last, fought his way through to the portal before it closed. He arrived on the other side badly injured, covered from head to toes in the blood of his enemies.
When the doorway closed behind him, Stonehenge fractured and the Worldgate closed forever.
Fuilrix was made chief of the consolidated Gallic tribe, and later, king of the new land of Galatania on the continent they named Gallia. The descendants of Fuilrix continued to rule through the centuries, and Fuilrix himself attained an almost mythical stature. It was claimed that his fiery red hair was once dark, and turned red by the blood of his enemies as he fought his way through the Roman army, slaughtering them by the hundreds. He was called the Great Red King in legend, and his descendants almost all have the same fiery red hair. Because of Fuilrix and his royal descendants, red hair is considered a sign of nobility, privilege, and all redheads in the new land enjoy an elevated status.
The House of Fuilrix still exists, and his descendants still rule the Land of the Midnight Sun. Other humans have come to their world over the centuries, assimilated into the mostly peaceful culture, and influenced it in subtle ways. The social structure remains similar to the ancient Gallic and Druidic cultures, but not identical. Technological progress in Galatania is centuries behind the world they abandoned to the Romans, electricity is unstable and dangerous, but steam power is now in wide use since its introduction. On the few occasions where modern electronics have been brought to Galatania through one of the still existing gateways, it either does not work properly, or fails catastrophically.
Galatania is a feudal republic, ruled by a king or queen chosen from the House of Fuilrix, but governed on a larger scale by representatives chosen from the people. For the first 1,500 years, Galatania existed in peace with itself and the natives of the new Earth. After a royal coup by the Prince Tarvus, known as the Blood Prince, against his father, King Lenus, Galatania became ever more aggressive and grasping, warring against once friendly native cultures and tribes. With the assistance of the near mythical figure known as the Phoenix, an immortal woman of great power and wisdom, the deposed King Lenus reclaimed his throne and Tarvus was banished. For many years the reinstated king, and then his son, Artaius, ruled in peace, but Tarvus returned and killed Artaius. With no natural heir to accept the throne, and no one willing to challenge the last direct descendant of Fuilrix, Tarvus became the Blood King. His reign was short but violent, and left Galatania weakened. The trust between Galatania and its neighbors has never been fully restored.
The original Gaulish language, which was similar to Latin, has evolved through the centuries and is now almost entirely Latinate. Continued contact with the old Earth has required the rulers of Galatania to adapt, and English has become a second language. The House of Fuilrix speaks Galatanian and modern English, and the power structure that supports the House of Fuilrix has adopted English in order to protect state secrets from the masses.
Its many secrets include a number of portals, and potential portals, back to the old Earth. The House of Fuilrix has spent hundreds of years destroying those that could be destroyed, and possessing the others. The last of them, and the most problematic, connects Galatania’s capital city,
Stonehenge was one of several Worldgates, gateways to a place of magic where the Druids traveled and gathered power and knowledge, the Land of the Midnight Sun, so named for the bright ring of light that decorated its night sky in place of a moon. In the final battle led by the Gallic hero, Fuilrix, the Gallic warriors defended the site while the Druids opened a gateway large enough for the gathered Gauls to escape through. Fuilrix remained behind and fought until all but him had escaped, and when he was the last, fought his way through to the portal before it closed. He arrived on the other side badly injured, covered from head to toes in the blood of his enemies.
When the doorway closed behind him, Stonehenge fractured and the Worldgate closed forever.
Fuilrix was made chief of the consolidated Gallic tribe, and later, king of the new land of Galatania on the continent they named Gallia. The descendants of Fuilrix continued to rule through the centuries, and Fuilrix himself attained an almost mythical stature. It was claimed that his fiery red hair was once dark, and turned red by the blood of his enemies as he fought his way through the Roman army, slaughtering them by the hundreds. He was called the Great Red King in legend, and his descendants almost all have the same fiery red hair. Because of Fuilrix and his royal descendants, red hair is considered a sign of nobility, privilege, and all redheads in the new land enjoy an elevated status.
The House of Fuilrix still exists, and his descendants still rule the Land of the Midnight Sun. Other humans have come to their world over the centuries, assimilated into the mostly peaceful culture, and influenced it in subtle ways. The social structure remains similar to the ancient Gallic and Druidic cultures, but not identical. Technological progress in Galatania is centuries behind the world they abandoned to the Romans, electricity is unstable and dangerous, but steam power is now in wide use since its introduction. On the few occasions where modern electronics have been brought to Galatania through one of the still existing gateways, it either does not work properly, or fails catastrophically.
Galatania is a feudal republic, ruled by a king or queen chosen from the House of Fuilrix, but governed on a larger scale by representatives chosen from the people. For the first 1,500 years, Galatania existed in peace with itself and the natives of the new Earth. After a royal coup by the Prince Tarvus, known as the Blood Prince, against his father, King Lenus, Galatania became ever more aggressive and grasping, warring against once friendly native cultures and tribes. With the assistance of the near mythical figure known as the Phoenix, an immortal woman of great power and wisdom, the deposed King Lenus reclaimed his throne and Tarvus was banished. For many years the reinstated king, and then his son, Artaius, ruled in peace, but Tarvus returned and killed Artaius. With no natural heir to accept the throne, and no one willing to challenge the last direct descendant of Fuilrix, Tarvus became the Blood King. His reign was short but violent, and left Galatania weakened. The trust between Galatania and its neighbors has never been fully restored.
The original Gaulish language, which was similar to Latin, has evolved through the centuries and is now almost entirely Latinate. Continued contact with the old Earth has required the rulers of Galatania to adapt, and English has become a second language. The House of Fuilrix speaks Galatanian and modern English, and the power structure that supports the House of Fuilrix has adopted English in order to protect state secrets from the masses.
Its many secrets include a number of portals, and potential portals, back to the old Earth. The House of Fuilrix has spent hundreds of years destroying those that could be destroyed, and possessing the others. The last of them, and the most problematic, connects Galatania’s capital city,
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