Alternate History and Story Influence

[Creative Consortium]

Alternate history or alternative history[1] is a subgenre of speculative fiction (or some would say science fiction) and historical fiction that is set in a world in which history has diverged from history as it is generally known. Alternate history literature asks the question, "What if history had developed differently?" Most works in this genre are based in real historical events, yet feature social, geopolitical, or industrial circumstances that developed differently than our own. While to some extent all fiction can be described as "alternate history," the sub-genre proper comprises fiction in which a change or point of divergence occurs in the past that causes human society to develop in a way that is distinct from our own.

(- From Wikipedia's explaination on Alternate History @ en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternate_history -)

It has been stated before that this story line, while embracing a great many moments of fact, is for the most part, an alternative history scenario. Just as you've read in the above quote, the story of Skye: The Winged Isle, is centered around a series of factors that lend itself to being a very distinct and different style of Celtic story.

Here are a few common factors you will notice in the story

- The appearance of wide spread inventions and advancements in one place. (i.e. clock towers, springs hinges, architecture differences such as a city that is multi leveled, paths leading into the hills behind the city, secret passages connected in a tunnel network, medieval cannons, the manufacturing of powder for said cannons, university styled places of learning, a place for medicinal practices, just to name a few )

- The placement of different cultures in the history of the Isle and in the presence of Turas Lan: Templar Knights (French), Viking descendants, memories of Norse conquest, the classic structure of clan chieftains, lairds, etc.

- A governmental structure that is classical and a hybrid: The Lord and Lady will have an abseloute rule when necessary, their words will enact the first and last say, but there is also a system of gathered chieftains/nobles that present affairs for consideration, their land rulings for final approval, and have in general been the de facto rulers of Skye even with the presence of a central ruling house, with all of the nobles and at times all people meeting at Blue Castle to see major civic events or decisions enacted. This is not uncommon during any time period, where places of a country are so distant that one branch of a family will amass power and the other conflict for it, all under the nose of the distant monarch. There is a guild system in place: novice, apprentice, journey, master, of a craft that can be utilized in play, and the guilds converge in one master hall known as Guild's Hall for decisions on their trade or on economic matters of a whole, if necessary. So if you think: absolute structure + loosely associated parliament given right to assemble, voice concern, and put forth ideas in a collective environment, you'll have it.

-Plans to overthrow the Scottish monarchy and make fortune under English patronage: The underlying theme of the story is the upheavel in society, under the table dealings. The association of chieftains and lairds will have some that are for the Scottish resisting the English, and others who will only want to serve the English for their own purposes.

-The equal stature of men vs women: Women are allowed to hold a business, voice an opinion, take up an occupation, hold on to their doweries, and make greivances. This is a classical Celtic notion revived for this SL, and the study of some measure of Celtic law went into the flavoring of Skye's legal code. While of course there will be women in the classical sense, it might make for some outwardly strange things to be common place that would baffle folk elsewhere.

Historical Points to Consider

- Real Historical Persons vs Fictional Persons: The largest difference in historical stories comes from turning points. One such turning point is that while Robert the Bruce, William Wallace, and the Battle of Bannockburn have occurred, things have happened in the lives of a few characters that are remembered.

1.) Scotland underwent a split in the late 1320's where in the North was ruled by one party, the South another, and Skye stood separated.

2.) Be prepared for real events to have layered with the fictional happenings that are prevalent in the stories drifting around AOL. Fictional kingdoms, provinces, countries, etc.

[Queen Beathag Aberdeen]

Alternative History as to the Present Day: 1333 and the differences in European Monarchies of Importance.

Continuing with our alternative history cycle, it is important to note that the influence of additions or subtractions to other countries within Europe is prominent. In order to understand the world in 1333, it has become necessary to excersise originality.

Consider the following:

- the climate of Europe during the High Middle Ages was still one of flux and fear. The Black Plauge will destroy large numbers, famine was common place. The high level of socio-political comfort and advancment intended in the story is not the Europe of our history books.

- Scotland was undergoing its second war of independence, 1333, between King David II of Scotland and King Edward III of England, which will not be taking place within the story. The idea of Scottish liberation has been visited, resulting in the subsequent liberation of the Celtic countries themselves. The young man who would have been King Edward III is now a protege of the English Duchy

- Ireland is still divided into smaller kingdom-states, with the fall of the Welsh principalities ensuing.

-Edward, The Black Prince of Wales was a traditional figure of English prominence, born in 1330 to his father Edward III. Prior to this, 1330 would have seen the rise of Edward III to power with the imprisoning of his mother Isabella and her lover Roger Mortimer. The Black Prince is not embodied in Edward's progency but is a story that will be told through the Black Prince himself, Aodhan, and embodied in another figure showcasing the spectrums and representations of 'Black'.

These simple points of history as a writer in Skye: The Winged Isle can see have minor baring or none at all on the stories chosen to be carried on. With this are included the histories, dynasties, and persons of certain countries that are elected for stories as well.

One of the most important fictures to note will be the difference in European history without the 100 Years War fought by England and France, who's timeline can be reference here:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Hundred_Years%27_War


While it is no longer being utilized, important factors of these events can be noticed in our history, such as France being a player in Scottish alliance through the Auld Alliance, and the crumbling of that same Alliance as time progresses. England and France still hold some necessity to one another based on the traditional European monarchy and succession structures (despite it's end in England) which will play out at certain times. Some factors that remain in use are:

1328: Isabella of France, now the effective ruler of England, claims the French throne for her son Edward III of England as Charles' closest living male relative. However the French nobility favour Philip VI, the closest in unbroken male line.


1331: Edward III renounces his claim to France and accept Philip VI as his liege in Aquitaine.


Note the absence in the execution of Mortimer in England, a pivotal key. Roger Mortimer has gone on to live and thrive within the story despite several occurences of living by lesser means. With all said and done, he finds himself as the Spanish Chamberlain, with his former mistress as Queen, and his wife as the chatelaine. The progency of Isabella and Edward II are also alive in England, leading far different lives than history paints for them. Joan will not become the Queen of Scotland, nor Edward III King of England. France takes on its own individual flavor as written by in house authors, including stories concerning the capture of the Aquitaine and a unified France.

Italy is also a subject of interest, with particular states embodied in the representations we see of Naples, Verona, Venice, and Florence. Naples is the most developed featuring a live monarchy with feature stories created to highlight the intrigues that go on. The other three city-states are soon to follow. Rome has always been featured given the necessity of the Papacy to certain elements of the story.


It is necessary to understand the social ramifications that these events playing out or not playing out in history are visited within the story, and it is encouraged that any who take up a historical point to altar do so in full understanding of what you change. It is recommended to read well on local and national histories, given that is the foundation basis for the entire gaming environment we enjoy.


Elements often shifted include:

- roles of monarchs
- reigning monarchs
- historical personalities of reigning families
- inclusion or exclusion of certain individuals from the spotlight
- socio-political climates such as court circumstances, proposistions, effects of trade or marriage, etc
- ramifications of/subtractions of certain battles or wars
- inclusion of new ideas

Of course, the use of our inventions and Renaissance will be playing heavily in 1333 and the subsequent decades after.