The World of Upon
A World of its Own
No one knows where Upon is or, for that matter, quite what it is. It's not a planet; there's no sun (but strangely five moons). It has trees and grass and plants, sort of. It has people and animals, but most of them have been brought. Summoned to Upon for a reason.
A bit about UPON, just in case you're brought here!
Extract from The Book of Upon (an abridged history)
The Lost Age
​
Also known as The First Age. The time before what is now called the Second Age. A period of Upon's history, little is known about. Whelming and its bridge, the three portals, known as The Bridges (originally known as Gephura and later changed to the more familiar translation- bridge), Thalassa, the Isle of Ereipia, Hieron, Kuos and Standing (originally known as Polis or city) came into being during the first age. Who built them is unknown. Why they were abandoned is unknown, and where the people of that time went is also unknown.
The Second Age (SA)
​
1 SA (second age) Alfred Ward becomes the first person to be brought to Upon in its second age. It is interesting to note that the original meaning of Ward is one who is a watchman or guardian. Alfred Ward becomes the Bridge Keeper. He takes up residence in the cottage at Whelming that survives from the first age. He remains a resident of Whelming to this day and is Upon’s oldest living resident and celebrates his six hundredth birthday this year.
2 SA Others arrive shortly after Alfred Ward. All are greeted by Alfred. It is soon realised that everyone comes from a time in UK history. They do not arrive in chronological order but are brought to Upon for a reason. One which they would learn at some point during their lives in Upon. A small settlement is built south of Whelming, in it later called Under Whelming and remains, to this day, primarily a farming community.
4 SA The Sol Sisters are brought to Upon. They eventually settle in an area of woodland that will later become known as The Sol Sisters’ Woods.
7SA Over Whelming is built as the population in Under Whelming grows to unmanageable proportions.
9 SA King Robert is crowned by the will of the people in Standing. He becomes Upon's first ruler. The ancient city, from the first age, is inhabited once again as Upon’s population grows further.
136 SA Hew Draper is brought to Upon and is made the first court magician of Standing by Queen Margaret.
​140 SA Against the advice of Margery Whittle, his apprentice, Draper creates a sea serpent to rid Standing of the pirates that roam its seas, attacking its merchant ships. After killing all of the pirates, the serpent turns rogue and attacks and destroys Standing. Draper is unable to destroy or gain control of it. The witch Margery Whittle, Draper’s apprentice, enchants the serpent and calms it. She is appointed court witch by Queen Margaret. Draper is humiliated and leaves swearing revenge.
​
145 SA Queen Margaret orders the building of New Standing on the ruins of the old city. Hew Draper builds the citadel in the far north of Upon.
214 SA King Duncan, Upon’s fourth ruler, dies. His second child, Anne, becomes Upon’s next Queen after his death. King Duncan’s firstborn, having been cursed by Hew Draper. The boy’s disappearance is never explained.
240 SA Heap on Sea is built. A less than successful architectural endeavour described by its then residents as ‘a dump and a bit of a heap’. Unfortunately, the name stuck.
​
356 SA Gold and precious stones are discovered in the High Peaks. Edge Town is built to support the miners who flock there.
359 SA Deep Mine is built to the south of Edge Town.
360 SA King William II, Upon’s eighth ruler, orders the construction of The King’s Highway. It is built to link The Deep Mine to New Standing.
374 SA Gold runs out in the area surrounding Edge Town. The settlement shrinks, and those left take up goat farming.
​
452 SA A meteor hits the northern tip of Upon. The crater is named The Pit.
459 SA A dragon is first spotted in the skies of northern Upon. The dragon’s raids on Edge Town begin. King James II, Upon’s ninth ruler, sends troops to destroy the beast. The dragon is eventually banished to The Pit by Margery Whittle.
460 SA Deep Mine abandoned after one hundred and one years of mining. Use of the King’s Highway is greatly diminished, but some trade between Edge Town and New Standing continues.
​465 SA High Town is built. Upon’s population continues to grow.
472 SA The space rocket arrives. Little is known about it to this day.
472 SA The first of the talking animals are brought to Upon.
473 SA The Mad Cows are first spotted.
519 SA Agnes Sampson is brought to Upon and becomes apprentice to Margery Whittle. The first settlers leave for Shroom.
​
579 SA Draper kills King Evan, Upon’s eleventh ruler, and his Queen consort. Margery Whittle pursues Draper to his citadel, where they battle. Margery Whittle is killed. Hew Draper’s death is uncertain, but his body is never found, and so, after several years, he is considered dead.
​
580 SA King Thomas ascends the throne at the age of twenty. He is Upon's twelfth and current ruler.​
581 SA Reports of a ghost haunting the Citadel come to the attention of the king. Troops are sent to investigate none return.
582 SA Eleanor Marshal is brought to Upon.
583 SA King Thomas Marries Eleanor Marshal.
599 SA King Thomas is turned into a cucumber. The Sol Sisters are suspected. Their woods are searched. None of the heroes despatched return.
​
600 SA Oliver Harding is brought to Upon. It is interesting to note that the original meaning of Harding is one who is brave or hardy.​​
Where Would You Go first?
Click to enlarge.
Click the map of Upon to enlarge.
Click to enlarge.
Click to enlarge.
Click to enlarge.
