Nuath: A Brief History
Warning: Spoilers Ahead!
I’m sometimes asked what my Starstruck series is all about, and as the series has grown, this has become a complicated question! Luckily, I’ve managed to get my hands on a few of the textbooks used in the Basic schools in Nuath (roughly equivalent to American grades K-6) and realized the preface to An Introduction to Nuathan History gives an excellent overview of both past and recent events—at least from the Nuathan perspective. I would have to refer you to Princess Emileia’s own log entries to give a more—ahem—Earthly viewpoint to the recent events here described. Perhaps at some future point she will be willing to let me share a few of those entries with you, though some contain understandably personal information. Meanwhile, for those who don’t mind spoilers (or have already read the first four books and would like a quick refresher), I present the following, which may also be found as the Preface to book 5 of the series, The Girl From Mars.
An Introduction To Nuathan History, 83rd Edition
(Basic curriculum text—use in place of previous editions)
Overview
Nuath’s true origins have been lost in the mists of time. However, it is generally believed that nearly three thousand years ago, a technologically advanced alien race created the underground cavern on Mars with its Earth-like environment. The aliens then transplanted the inhabitants of a small Earth village to this cavern, in order to conduct genetic and social experiments on their captives. As the human population increased from a few hundred to many thousands, the habitat was gradually expanded to its present size. Then, approximately one thousand years after establishing this underground Martian laboratory, the aliens departed for reasons unknown, leaving no record of their nature or their future plans.
Without their alien overlords, the abandoned community, by then known as Nuath, continued to evolve on its own. By necessity, a system of government emerged, the earliest leaders chosen from among the most gifted colonists. This led to the formation of the first fine, or bloodline, whichdivided a few generations later into the Royal and Science fines. Most of Nuath’s governing body is still drawn from those two groups. Meanwhile, increasing specialization of various skill-sets led to the rise of numerous other fines. There are currently no fewer than ten major fines, most further divided into several sub-fines.
As the colonists learned to use and adapt technology left behind by their alien abductors, they were able to advance scientifically to the point of building and launching spacecraft of their own. 523 years ago, under Sovereign Arturo, Nuathans first visited their nearest neighbor, Earth, and discovered it was their planet of origin. More expeditions followed, with small groups of Nuathans occasionally emigrating to Earth despite the harsher conditions found there. Those earliest Echtrans, or expatriate Martians, are believed to have sparked Earth’s Renaissance period. To facilitate communication, Nuath eventually adopted the calendar and measurement system of Earth’s Ireland, home of the first real Echtran outpost. Because the planet remained socially and technologically backward by Nuathan standards, it was early decided to keep emigrants’ origins and abilities secret from their Earth (or Duchas) neighbors.
Safely concealed on Mars, Nuath remained peaceful and prosperous, if not perfect, until fifteen years ago, when the ambitious upstart Faxon began sowing discord, stirring up resentment in the less-prestigious fines against the Royals and Scientists. Over a two-year period, Faxon gathered enough support to stage a coup, deposing and then assassinating Sovereign Leontine and his wife. A general purge of the Royal bloodline followed, though some survived Faxon’s depredations by fleeing to Earth. Among those were Leontine’s son, Mikal, with his wife and infant daughter.
The majority of Nuathans, even those who had helped Faxon rise to power, were horrified by his excesses. As his support waned, Faxon resorted to intimidation and repression to maintain control. Fearing Mikal and his family could become a rallying point for the fledgling Resistance movement, Faxon sent a few still-loyal adherents to Earth with orders to eliminate them. When word came back that the last of the Sovereign line had been killed, most Nuathans were thrown into despair. Rebellion having been largely bred out of the early colonists, the Resistance faltered and would have failed but for the efforts of a few Royals, most notably the O’Gara family, who obscured their origins to remain on Mars and rally their people’s spirits, restoring to them a measure of hope.
This hope was greatly bolstered when Nuathans learned that the last of Sovereign Leontine’s line had not, in fact, perished. The news that his granddaughter, Princess Emileia, had been discovered alive on Earth galvanized the Resistance, allowing them to finally cast off the yoke of Faxon’s oppression and remove him from power. Since then, Nuathan society has begun to rebuild itself, striving for an eventual return to its former prosperity and security. It is hoped that the recent return of the Princess, lately Acclaimed Sovereign Emileia, will hasten that recovery.