History of Dracōville
Early History
Like many magical locations, Dracōville began in the deep mists of time. More specifically, some time during the Second Century A.D. when the Third Cohort of the Ninth Legion became very lost in the mists of Northern Scotland and strayed more than a little off the beaten track. Led by their fearless leader, Valerius Vitrix, known to his men as Valerius the Imbiber due to his love of a certain vintage of red Italian wine, the cohort was led away from the field of battle that consumed the mighty Ninth Legion and into the relative security of a magical forest.
In this Valerius was aided by a mysterious figure known as Galen the Raven. A former priest of Mithraism, he had been kicked out for making predictions that proved all too accurate for his highly excitable superiors. While Valerius might have been three sheets to the wind when he made a wrong left turn on the day of battle, Galen most certainly was not. However, any spells Galen may have cast were affected by the damp Scottish weather and the Cohort soon found itself in a magical forest, surrounded by some very curious magical rabbits and bears, not to mention the odd dragon.
Valerius quickly established a fortified camp, which became the basis for today's town of Dracōville. Galen had a small temple with an observatory on top built and this is where the main castle of Dracōville was eventually built. Galen became great friends with all of the creatures of the surrounding region and in particular the dragons.
Valerius, Galen and the other Romans settled in to the forest life and due to the large number of carnivorous magical animals, wisely adopted vegetarianism as a way of life. The Romans introduced the forest animals to the pleasures of a town, while they adapted to the genial anarchy of the magical forest.
Dukedom
As years passed, it became obvious that the Roman fortifications did not need to be kept up as the danger of an invasion of a forest inhabited by magical creatures and protected by dragons was something in the area of non-existent. However, the town built upon the original Roman fort became very popular with the locals as a place to have a nice coffee during the day and a stiff drink at night.
Sometime during the Middle Ages, when Feudalism was all the rage, it was decided at one particularly drunken town meeting that Dracōville (as the town was now known) should become a duchy. After a rather riotous (literally) game of spin the bottle, it was decided that a bear should become Duke of Dracōville. The position is not hereditary, but is based upon the popular vote of the townsfolk.
Modern Times
Goaded by the raccoons, who thought that it would be a great idea, Dracōville decided to become a university. It seemed like a good idea. Lots of books. Lots of coffee houses. And lots of pubs.
Dracōville University is also very proud of its new Department of Archaeology, led by the venerable Professor Graywhiskers (a rabbit). The Dracōville Heritage Council looks forward to what the excavations upon the original Roman fort may yield. The raccoons are really looking forward to the riches they intend to reap by opening up a museum of the history of Dracōville.
Conclusion
Legend has it that Galen never died, but became a dragon instead. If you are ever in Dracōville and come across an elderly dragon whistling the marching songs of Caesar's Legions, it would be wise to pay him due respect.
More of Dracōville’s history is told in poetic form at the Dracōville University Poetry Page.