General Information
Aquila is the name of the planet and of the capital city (the only city of any size).

Apart from Aquila, there are small towns in each Region (which are held by the sixteen Houses - six Major Houses, and ten Minor Houses, who include the Clovers, the Lasses, the Oswestry family, the Windhavens, the Langorans and the Rostrays).

The size of these towns is relatively small ... some are no more than villages really, servicing the local House's estate. And there are other smaller towns ... such as Scargill. Nevertheless, only a small section of the planet is settled ... This is because of the history of the place ...

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History
Aquila was first discovered as a planet incredibly rich in a rare type of mineral that was an essential component in the manufacture of early space drives. This meant that it was developed as a mining planet. It rapidly became a very rich (although uncultured) environment. The then government (composed of the main mining families) began spending their wealth on ostentatious displays of culture; they also began spending money on equipment to terraform the planet (as at that time Aquila, although inhabitable by humans, cointained a lot of native plants that were unable to be used by humans, and thus Aquila was wholly dependent on imports). The goal was that Aquila should become self-supporting.

This had barely been achieved when catastrophe struck. Developments in space drives rendered obsolete the material that Aquila is so rich in ... almost overnight, its value collapsed on galactic markets. And Aquila, now self-supporting and rich in the cultural artefacts that had been created and imported during the boom years, sank into being a backwater.

The expensive equipment imported for terrraforming was used until it wore out. Then, with no money ... the old crude methods of slash and burn were resorted to, and Aquila fell back into a more primitive age. Basic space travel links the planet with three others in nearby systems ...but imports are expensive and rare. There is a certain pride in surviving alone ...

In the five centuries since these events, the society of Aquila has codified and hardened, and it is now very different from the raw mining planet it began as. In these years, the Empire of Divis Mal has grown up, and now Aquila is a tiny, half-forgotten colony on the edge of the Empire.

Because of its long-ago importance, the planet can still claim a seat on the Empire's Ruling Council ...

So Aquila remains ... unless its rich mineral should acquire a fresh use ... and thus the planet acquires value ... or if it should find itself in the way of a large scale galactic war ...

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Some further notes
Important - the importation of weapons is punishable by death ... Aquila has gun laws that are totally draconian. Neverthless, some criminals do get hold of them ... and each great House has its illegal supply.

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Houses
Please note that the House symbols etc are NOT random - nor indeed is their number. It has all been taken from the contrade of Siena in Italy, the home of a famous traditional horse race in the town sqaure where ten of the seventeen districts compete each year ...

More information can be found by looking at the web-site: http://www.comune.siena.it/

Aquila - The City Emblem - Aquila (The Eagle) Heraldic Symbol: Yellow coat-of-arms with a two-headed eagle surmounted by a crown in the ancient fashion, bordered by a scepter, sword and imperial orb; on the eagle's chest a golden sun Colors: Yellow bordered in black and blue. Motto: Of the eagle the beak, the talon and the wing. Symbolizes: Pugnacity.
Major Houses There are six Major Houses
	Maun Emblem: Lupa (The Wolf) Responsibility: The ruling Ducal family Heraldic symbol: Argent crest, on a grassy field the she-wolf with the twins, crowned in the ancient fashion, with a black and white pennant; silver and red border with alternate red and silver crosses. Colors: Black and white with orange stripes. Motto: Et Urbis et Senarum Signum et Decus. Symbolizes: Loyalty. House members: Atropos
Anderon Emblem: Civetta (The Owl) Responsibilities: Banking and Finance (also owns factories) Heraldic symbol: A split crest of red and black, a crowned owl depicted as perched naturally on a branch, flanked by blue crests Colors: Wine red and black in equal parts with white stripes, frets and arabesques. Motto: I see in the night. Symbolizes: Shrewdness. House members: Delan, Renalda, Nira, Alan, Jay Knight, *Lord Anderon, *Lady Anderon,*Drostin (* = person deceased)
	Carlysle Emblem: Leocorno (The Unicorn) Responsibilities: The Army Heraldic symbol: Silver coat-of-arms, a unicorn rampant on a grassy base with a blue border Colors: White and orange with blue borders. Motto: The weapon that I have on my forehead both wounds and heals. Symbolizes: Purity. House Members: Haldane, Raphael, Loric
Hoberty Emblem: Valdimontone (The Ram) Responsibilities: Agriculture Heraldic symbol: A ram rampant on a golden field surmounted by a ducal crown and having, above and to the left on the side towards which the ram is facing, a small blue square, a lower-case Roman "H" Colors: Red and yellow with white borders. Motto: Under my blows walls crumble. Symbolizes: Perseverance. House Members: Hordes of them!
	Bahlmis Emblem: Pantera (The Panther) Responsibilities: Trade Heraldic symbol: A panther rampant on a crest argent; at the top and to the left a red and white square bearing the letter B. Colors: Red and sky-blue with white stripes. Motto: The Panther roared and the people awoke. Symbolizes: Audacity House Members: Rosalor, Talaren, Basil, Michael, *Vladimir, *Kedo, *Odalf, *Gehm (* = person deceased)
The Sixth Great House is currently unnamed and unknown Emblem: Draco (The Dragon) Responsibilities: Heraldic Symbol: Colors: Motto: Symbolizes:
Return to top Minor Houses There are ten Minor Houses. These include:
	Clover Heraldic symbol: Giraffa (the Giraffe) Colors: Motto: Symbolizes: House Members: Lilli, Mikael
Lasse Emblem: Istrice (the Porcupine) Heraldic symbol: Colors: Motto: Symbolizes: House Members: Ky, Kenten, Salia
	Oswestry Emblem: Oca (The Goose) Heraldic symbol: Gold coat-of-arms, a goose, on grass, with a royal crown; around its neck, on a blue ribbon, the cross of Savoy. Colors: White and green with red stripes. Motto: Clangit ad arma (A call to Arms). Symbolizes: Shrewdness. House Members: Bella
Windhaven Emblem: Selva (the Wood) Heraldic symbol: Colors: Motto: Symbolizes: House Members: Millaria
	Lagoran Emblem: Chicciola (the Snail) Heraldic symbol: Colors: Motto: Symbolizes: House Members: Lord Langoran
Rostray Emblem: Tartuca (the Tortoise) Heraldic symbol: Colors: Motto: Symbolizes: House Members: Adrian, Nellie

There appear to be four Minor Houses left at the moment! There are also seven Houses that have passsed out of existence ... but someone may turn out to have a claim on one of these titles (nb - some of these may have been suppressed because of rebellion)

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Time and Aquila
We have had HUGE problems with time in Aquila. The days seem to go on for ever and ever - and they are all action-packed! Eventually, we did a summary of all the things that happened ... and then we agreed to restrospectively s-t-r-e-t-c-h time ... so that what originally appeared as a day in the posts, becomes a full month in recollection. So far, this has seemed to work rather well. Here are the first five months represented in this fashion.

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Period 1
Atropos, the Duke of Aquila, dismisses his wife Nira. She returns home, and, on the orders of her father, Lord Anderon, is taken by her brother Delan to her cousin Alan's house, where she is to be killed. Atropos sends for his pregnant mistress, Lilli. Drax (the slave trader) agrees to buy Nira from Allan.

Alan sells Nira to Drax. She is taken away. Gwyar is captured and assaults Nira ...

Jade (a free spirit with a taste for slave-trading who has had an affair with Atropos) joins Drax with her captive Morine (possibly another lover of Atropos's, and a member of the secret service).

Jareth rescues Gwyar, Nira and Morine - giving Drax to Gwyar to kill, and enslaving Jade as punishment.

Meanwhile ... back in Aquila the town ... Lady Lilli moves into the Nest. She is served by the mysterious slave woman Maple, but finds her hard to get on with ...

Delan visits Alan and is told Nira has been killed. Returning to Anderon House, Delan takes delivery of Ailise, a new slave. Lord and Lady Anderon ride out to their country mansion. Delan goes to see Atropos and tells him Nira is dead.

A tornado (and terrible storm) strikes Aquila. Delan is appointed First Minister to cope with the emergency. He returns to Anderon House, makes sure the place has been organiised as a field hopital, and collects his sister Renalda as well as Ailise and brings them to the Nest (ie the Eagle's Nest, the royal palace). He learns that his parents have been killed, and he is now Lord Anderon.

While at Anderon House, he meets a woman who has been injured in the tornado, whose husband has been killed and whose son is missing. He promises to try to help her.

In the aftermath of the storm, the Hoberties are riding their lands when they discover Jareth, Nira, Jade and Morine. Recognising Nira, they take her and Morine back to their home, whertre they decide to keep her until she recovers ...

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Period 2
Starts with the preparations for the funeral.

Delan appoints a new aide de camp, Raphael de los Santos, although he has misgivings about the relationship between him and his sister Renalda. He frees his slave Gallfrey (or rather permits Gallfrey to purchase his own freedom - at a bargain price) and appoints him as his secretary (a post really of Deputy First Minister).

Atropos goes out to help with rescue efforts and saves a child's life, but breaks his own leg. Lady Millaria Windhaven is appointed as Lady Lilli's personal lady-in- waiting.

The formal state funeral of those killed in the tornado takes place. It is reported by the two newspapers of Aquila, the respectable Aquilan Times and the disreputable Aquila Awake! Both pay tribute to Lord Anderon's moving funeral oration.

At the height of the funeral, Delan realises that Alan lied to him - Nira is still alive. He has Alan captured and tortures him to reveal the truth ... that she was sold into slavery. By way of retribution, he deems that Alan, mutilated, shall be sold into slavery under the same name he gave Nira ... Pearl.

Atropos and Lilli dine with the Hoberties. Atropos proposes that Delan should marry one of the Hoberty clan - Lynette Hoberty - for political reasons. To his annoyance, the Hoberties are reluctant for the match.

After the funeral, Millaria Windhaven is captured by the evil Lord Lagoran, who gives her to his guards to rape and humiliate. Lord Adrian Rostay goes to rescue her and is captured too. Two of the younger Hoberites discover a favourite frriend of theirs (Cilla) has been cruelly used by Lord Lagoran and go to seek revenge ...

Delan and Renalda, with Maple's help, pay a midnight visit to Atropos (and Lilli) to explain Nira is still alive .... he agrees to help find her and gives Delan powers over the secret service. Unbeknownst to them all ... apart from Renalda ... they are observed by a secret masked man ... Azrael. This is in fact Raphael, who has taken another mysterious identity for secret reasons of his own.

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Period 3
Lady Millaria is rescued and taken back to the Nest.

Delan sends out trackers to learn what happened to Nira. They find the dying Drax, torture him and discover Nira has probably been taken to Hoberty property.

Delan frees all the Anderon slaves, much to Ailise's shock. She is told that she can now choose her future, but could become, one day, the Housekeeper of Anderon House.

Raphael and Renalda enjoy a picnic ...

Lilli and Atropos are peacefully on the rooftop garden of the Nest when there is a disturbance ... a violent raid by off-world forces. Anderon House again becomes a field hospital (under Ailise's supervision)

Delan, Raphael, Renalda and Gallfrey return to the Nest. While the men ride off to try to deal with the raid, Renalda is left alone in the Nest (with an old school friend(?), Lady Bella Oswestry for company). Renalda, suspecting something is wrong, gathers people in the First Minister's suite ...

Delan and Gallfrey discover Shallen, the Duke's Court Marshal has been killed in the raid, amnd rescue his children. When the children (and the news) reaches Anderon House, Maple, who is visiting, is deeply shocked

Using the raid as cover, by a long-held plan, the House of Bahkmis attempt a coup. Atropos and Lilli are captured. In an attempt to protect Lilli, Atropos hands her over to one of the Bahlmis clan who plans to marry her as his prize ...

Delan, Raphael and Gallfrey, realising something is wrong, return to the Nest. They become separated, and Raphael enters the Nest secretly, in disguise, to help Renalda.

Millaria and Adrian organise resistance in the kitchens ...

Delan's life is in danger on the streets of Aquila and he seeks the aid of Josh Salter, editor of the muck-racking scandal sheet Aquila Awake! (which Delan has been secretly funding for the last three years). Josh takes him to his sister's house as a refuge ... Bea Kennington, and Delan meets again the beautiful widow he first saw at Anderon House. In the heightened tension of the coup, they fall in love.

Lilli avoids rape and escapes her captor, taking refuge in the dangerous streets. She is rescued by Delan and Gallfrey, who are organising resistance by the citizens (and gathering the Houses of Anderon, Carlysle and Hoberty to fight against Bahlmis). They take her to the only safe refuge they have, Bea's home, where the two women become friends.

Back at the Nest, two different grouups attempt to rescue Atropos ... one led by Renalda and Bella, the other by Millaria and Adrian. They succeed, and Renalda is hailed as a heroine. Also present is a mysterious masked man who saves Renalda's life. She recognises him as Raphael ...

Delan mobilises the citizens of Aquila at an enormous torch-lit meeting in the great square. He leads his citizen force is a march on the Nest ... supported by the miliaristic House Carlysle and the watchful Hoberties (who take their own route). On the way they capture Lord Bahlmis ... who Delan shocks with the corpse of a baby who was murdered in the raid ...

At the same time, Ailise is captured by the evil Terzano, her original mysterious owner who gave her to Delan, hoping to bribe him in business. He is furious that Delan has freed his valuable gift.

When the citizens arrive at the Nest, they discover that those resisting inside have triumphed. Everone is delighted. Delan brings Bea to the Nest and install her in a suite there, but now worries that political reasons will mean he cannot marry her ...

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Period 4
Delan and his associates discover that Ailise was being held by Terzano. They set out to rescue her ... something that they accomplish. But Terzano escapes, and Delan is seriously injured. He is taken back to the Nest where he lies unconscious ...

Renalda and Bea interviewed the trackers and learnt that Nira was perobably on Hoberty lands ...

Atropos and Lilli repledge their love for each other after she threatens to leave him.

Delan recovers, but has lost his memory. Things begin to return by fits and starts ...

Gallfrey, who has been falling in love with Ailise, proposes to her.

Raphael tenders his resignation and tells of his secret feud with the Anderon family ... the result of his and his family's treatment at the hands of the evil old Lord Anderon and Delan's evil (and now dead) older brother Drostin. But his feelings for Renalda and his respect for what Delan is trying to do came to be at war with his thirst for revenge for his family honour. He is taking a mission off planet ... Renalda is left bereft.

A mysterious man called Knight, a spacer, arrives in Aquila. He tries to see the Duke; instead he encounters Millaria and Bella. He and Millaria fall in love, but both are haunted by ghosts of the past ... her rape and the fact that he is an illegimate Anderon, son of the evil old Lord. Bella Oswestry, who noticed he wore the Anderon ring, tells Delan. Delan visits Knight, the truth emerges and they argue. Knight disappears. When Delan tells Renalda, she follows Knight. There is an accident and all believe Knight killed. Delan and Renalda quarrel and he brings in her old headmistress (a nun who Renalda hated) to speak with her.

Meanwhile, Atropos and Lilli are uneasy about Delan ... Atropos, after seeing Delan, begins to wonder if Bea Kennington has bewitched him (Atropos has a horror of witchcraft).

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