(This story written by me describes the events between Ultima VII, Part 2 Serpent Isle and Ultima VIII Pagan.)
By Lord Shamino
(transcribed by Sarnokh!)
It has been five long years now, since the Avatar entered the Void through the Wall of Lights and Balance was restored. After this last mission of the Avatar and us - the Companions - it was up to me to decide whether I should remain in my former kingdom and help to restore it, or return to Britannia immediatly. After some discussion with Iolo and Gwenno, we three remaining Companions had decided to stay on Serpent Isle (which was formerly known as the Land of Danger and Despair as well als New Sosaria) for the time of five years, and to sail back to Lord British thereafter.
The few survivors of the holocaust of the the three banes were all gathered in Castle Shamino to discuss the future of Serpent Isle. It was clear to everyone, that the cities of Fawn and Monitor were lost. Fawn was already sinking beneath the waves due to the magical catacylsms and earthquakes, while Monitor was not only raided the the Goblins, but had sufferd great destruction by the explosions of gunpowder kegs and the magical attacs of the Wantoness Bane (which once inhabited and controlled our lost friend Sir Dupre). The surviving mages - especially the selfmade MageLord Torissio - refused to leave their City, but even they finally saw the need for a new beginning in a new place. It was then that the Monks under Xenkas leadership brought some of the dead people of Serpent Isle back to life, using their great magical powers to ressurect some of them. Sadfully I have to add, that the most were dead all too long or too heavy wounded to be brought back to life, but at least we were not so few to start the reconstruction.
As none of the leading Knights of the three Commands (Wulf, Bear and Leopard) lived, the Pikemen decided to end the existence of the Commands and united them in a great and moving ceremony, which was held in Castle Shamino severel weeks after the first meeting. The few surviving - and resurrected - Fawnese gathered again under Lady Yelinda, while the ramaining mages formed a new Mages Guild, with a more liberal and honest Charter. The three groups decided to form a Great Council with four member for each former city and asked me to supervise the Council, as I was recognised as the true King of the Land. So the Council was formed with the following members:
Flicken as leader of newly formed Guards
Wilfred as the new Trainer of the Knights
Harnna who was elected to take care of the food supply
Argus for the people of Bulls Inn and its village
Fedabiblio the Magister of the new Mages Guild
Gustacio the only adept who survived
Torissio the Creator of the Automatons
Ducio as a representative of the Mundanes of Moonshade
Lady Yelinda as elected Leader of the Fawnese and new judge
Capt. Garth being in charge of the creation of a new fleet
Alyssand who was chosen to take care of our funds
Scots the cartographer
At first we needed a better shelter for the many refugees from the three cities than Castle Shamino, and so the Castle of the White Dragon was chosen to be that shelter. Now that the Ghost of its former King and the Chaos Banes where both gone that which once was a place of death now became a place of the new hope for the living.
Among or first decisions was whether we should rebuild one of the old cities or try to find a new location for housing. This was of cause discussed fiercly between the different fractions, but soon it became obvious, that the best way was to found a new city here in the Northern Forest, far away from the places of destruction and death. And so Serpent City was founded in the Northern Forest near the deserted village once called "New Hamlinburg". One of the advantages was that the mine was near, which provided us with iron and copper, as well as there were stones and wood, needed for the new buildings.
To speed things up we used the help of the Automatons, who were still functional in great numbers and devided them together with the survivors in three groups. The first was dedicated to get the rescources: ore, wood and stone; the seconds task was the reconstruction of the infrastucture: roads, water supply and the city walls which were decided to be created west and east of Serpent City; the last group was selected to raise the buildings of the City. As Automatons know no hunger and weakness nor do they get tired the reconstruction made quick progress. After half a year the roads were not only restored, we had even dried some parts of the Gorlab Swamp and created a new Highway which conneted Serpent City to the south. After one year most parts of the eastern city wall were ready as well as the Farm House, the first small homes and the new Town hall. Flicken and his Guardsmen were amoung the first to move into Serpent City, only one year after the holocaust. As the new City would need food to survive, we choose Harnna as the manager of the farm, that was established near the eastern gate.
In the second year we had planned to raise a new Pub, a Smithy and a bureau for Captian Garth. Someone suggested that the Pub should be created in the fashion of the former dwellers of Serpent Isle, to which many of the more supersitious people disagreed, but the desicion was finally made, and I might add that the wonderous beauty of the building has convinced most of them, after it was finished in the autumn. The "Avatars Sword" as the people demanded it to be named was run by Devra, former owner of the "Sleeping Bull". Right beneath the Pub we created a new and great Smithy, which is run by Standarr, once Blacksmith of Monitor.
During the third year buildings for a provisoner and a weaver were established near the western gate. We finished the creation of both city walls and the main roads of Serpent City. Alyssand became the cities weaver, while Bucia and Delin started to sell provisions. The new Order of the Knights finally got their Training Hall at the end of the year.
Now that the most substantial buildings were ready, more and more refugees left the Castle of the White Dragon and Castle Shamino, and we all felt a bit lonely there. But on the other and the new city flourished. In the fourth year we created the administrative and education buildings. In the western part we established a High Court together with a jail. It was Lady Yelinda who was elected to be the first Judge of Serpent City. In the center we raised a Museum, which was selected to house the artifacts gathered on our last Quest with the Avatar and some other items of historical interest. North of it the Mages Guild moved into their new home, where magic was thaught and researched. At last we started the construction of a Meditation hall, where Leon taught the Eight Virtues of the Avatar to the people. After he heard the truth about Batlin and the Fellowship he had a kind of personal crisis, but proved to be a good and kind men, who had always believed in the Virtues, but thought of the Fellowship as an easier way to help people. He became a well respected man and preacher of the Virtues in Serpent City.
In the beginnig of the fifth year all people had left the Castle of the White Dragon, which housed us for such a long time in the days of need, and sadly it stands empty today. Perhaps someday there will be a new use found for it, when the populace has again grown in numbers. The companions and some of our best friends (Boydon, Byrin the Bard, Scots the Cartographer, Ruggs and Delphynia) still live within Castle Shamino, and we all have many visitors, but our time here will end soon now that the autumn is at hand.
Just let me add that there are some remaining Rangers, who moved into the hut of the hunters, a bit west of the city, and some miners, who live in the huts near the Mine. Besides this, the lands of Serpent Isle lay waste and empty, as even the Goblins have disappeared and most of the Gwani died by the hand of the Trapper. Over time the people have begun to put great trust in my leadership and asked me repeatedly to stay in Serpent Isle and remain as their King, but I feel that I must go, because the Serpent Pillars will soon again rise out of the Sea, allowing us to return to Britannia. I have decided once to help Lord British, and that decision stands. And so the following people will travel back to Britannia with the "Golden Ankh", that brought us here nearly six years ago:
Iolo Fitzowen, Gwenno the Scholar, Boydon our faithful new companion, Scots the Cartographer of Lord British, Ruggs and Delphynia and Sir Wilfred, who - inspired by the tales of the brave Kight and our good friend Dupre - at last became a humble and honorable Knight himself, and myself, Shamino, King of Serpent Isle.
With us we shall carry Sir Dupres Shield, the Blackrock Sword of the Avatar, the Magebane and all of the Avatars belongings, should he ever return to us, or if not to keep his Memory.
Lord Shamino
King of Serpent Isle
November the1st
In the 5th Year of the New Era
As a supplement I add some reports and writing, that where created during the
last five years of the reconstruction.
Capt. Garth Report concerning Fawn March 15th , Year 1 New Era
Mylord Shamino,
together with Chief Flicken and some of the City Guards I have recently visited Fawn to report to you and the Council Members the situation there. It seems obvious now that the city will be lost within a few years. We found that several passways were quite dangerous to cross and will break soon enough. Parts of some buildings have already begun to sink below. The Former home of Delin and Alyssand - the Provisoners of Fawn as well as their store are partially below right now; especially for Lady Yelinda it will be hard to hear that the water has although broken into the Palace and we fear that the large and heavy structres will soon crumble. I urge the council to send a working group to the temple and rescue or Oracle before it is to late. I recommend that one of our new ships should untertake this from the water, as the passageways are not safe anymore. The Fawnese Shiphwright has started to dissapear likewise. It makes me sad to see this once proud and beautyful city to drown forever. We should make haste to save as much as we can.
Gustacios Research of saving Fawn August 3rd , Year 1 New Era
... as so I conclude that the knowledge of the "City upon the waters"
Fawn remains lost to us, like the knowledge of the creation of the magcial statue
called the "Oracle" as well. We - the mages of the Guild - presume
that both were common knowledge in ancient Sosaria but the Fawnese lost most
of their former craftmenship after they left Britannia, and this knowledge was
unknown to the Ophidians, so I fear there is no way to safe Fawn from the fate
of drowning.
Chief Flickens Report from Monitor October 28th , Year 1 New Era
Honorable Members of the Council,
It is truly a shame to see what became of the city of warriors. First, let me
assure you that all our fears concerning the Goblins have found a good solution.
It seems that they split into two different clans and had some greater dispute,
because there are traces of quite new warfare. As a result they have killed
each other so that most likely none or just very few survived and we have found
no living Goblins here or anywhere nearby. Sadly, they have used the year they
lived in Monitor to destroy as much as possible. They found the hidden poweder
kegs and blasted many buildings with it, buring them to cinders. Our former
Town Hall, the two City Gates, ther Crematory, the Jail and several housings
were destroyed. As the many bodies start to rot, there is a terrible smell all
over the city. It is a place of death and destruction and no home for the living
anymore. I presume that the buildings of Monitor will soon look like the many
ancient ruins from the Ophidians.
Letter from MageLord Torissio January 10th , Year 2 New Era
To the Leaders of Serpent City,
I must sent you my protest against the founding of a Mages Guild in your community.
Due to the traditions and the law of New Sosaria there is only one legitimate
group of mages, and that is here in Moonshade. As I am the true and rightful
MageLord it is up to me to lead all the mages here from the times of darkness
that the great destruction has caused. But know your Guild has already taken
two of the most potent and respected maged away and I can not sit and watch
as this going on. I offer you to negotiate with you to find an agreement that
fits to both sides.
(As a result of this negotiations Torissio joined the MagesGuild and became
a member of the Great Council. Shamino)