MELEE's origin harkens back to 1982 (A.C.I I in Apokryphan parlance) when a few early teen "gamers" wanted to "live" the experience. The core people involved were Jeff Freeman, Phillip Lee, Dave Reeder, Pat DuFriend, and me. These folks are what I'll call the "progenitors." I use this term in lieu of "founders" to pay credit to others I'll mention later who similarly played a pivotal role in the founding of what we all call MELEE.

I had broken my leg during the preceding New Year's eve and several of us (especially me) had immersed ourselves in the roleplaying games both as an escape (not being the "popular" kids at school) and as a channel for what has proven to be a fairly strong, and enduring, creative/organizational energy. For my part, as I mended I became increasingly anxious to get outside and do stuff. Anything But during the mending the roleplaying games and planted the seeds of fantasy. Consequently, the doing of "stuff" resulted in several of us fabricating swords, spears, and maces out of my circa 1971 busted-up steel swing-set coupled with masking tape and old socks (and underwear, too, to my eternal chagrin).

Remarkably, we survived our initial inventions and adapted far safer rules and weaponry. An evolutionary process that continues to this day and will no doubt persist in the next generation of MELEE folk who carry us into the future when many of us are long gone.

So, the chronicle that follows will abandon the travails of the mundane world and take you into the Realm of Apokrypha where MELEE exists. Literally, the place where what most only dream of, we experience!

Pax,
M. Hall
Gamer-geek et Nerd,
Co-founder.
aka. Magnvs the Mvnro

Post Script: I am sometimes erroneously termed "the" founder of MELEE, and this is in error. MELEE's founding was a result of more than simply my own efforts and likewise the chronical that follows is an amalgm of a host of the credible contributors.
For posterity, MELEE's founders are as follows:
Jeff Freeman (Antega the Black) , Phillip Lee (Hym the Hunter), Mike Hall (Magnvs the Mvnro), Dave Reeder (Sir David Roe "Red Davey" FitzMaurice), Pat DuFriend (Sir Doolin MacKeag), Erik Dewey (Ayrk "Lucky" LeMastre), the late Greg Brand (Altarius), Tim Parker (Timeras the Rogue), and Richard Steves (Parrish von Koln).
Term "Antega the Black" (c) 1983 Jeff Freeman and used with his permission, term "Hym the Hunter" (c) 1983 Phillip Lee, term "Parrish von Koln" (c) 1987 Richard Steves and used with his permission, term "David Roe 'Red Davy' FitzMaurice" (c) 1988 David Reeder and used with his permission, term "Doolin MacKeag" (c) 1988 Pat DuFriend and used with his permission, term "Ayrk 'Lucky' LeMastre" (c) 1988 Erik Dewey and used with his permission, term "Altarius" (c) 1988 Estate of Greg Brand and used with his prior permission, term "Timeras the Rogue" (c) 1988 Tim Parker and used with his permission, and terms "Magnus the Munro" and "Magnvs the Mvnro (c) 1991 and (c) 2001, respectively, Wm. Michael Hall and used with his permission. All rights reserved by individual owners.

The History: As complied from Annals of Apokrypha, first-hand accounts, and journals of our founders.

The official accounting for time since the settling of Apokrypha (creation of MELEE) is in Anno Clandestinus Incursio (or A.C.I.) which roughly translates to "the year of the clandestine incursion." This is a commonly misunderstood acronym which those ignorant of it's true meaning have sometimes termed "Altarian Cyclic Interval" and other such poor intepretations. Nevertheless, those who were present from the beginning have affirmed the correct interpretation in order that all citizens may know the true meaning.

The "clandestine incursion" is termed such as a result of the culmination of several covert "visits" to the realm of Apokrypha by these lucky (some have rumored "cursed") few who, in some manner, were capable of not only making their way to Apokrypha but also away from it. The incursion, year one, occured when many of these visitors decided to stay and establish a foothold, and in their seventh year of toil the first stronghold was established: Broknarra.

 

FIRST AGE: Era of Finding, Defending and Founding

A.C.I. I (1982) Antega, Hym, and Magnvs (travelling under the name of Faustus) gather at length in Apokrypha and clear land for The Ville while awaiting others, Watchtower of The Ville erected.

A.C.I. I (1983) Red Davey joins the others at the behest of Antega. Motte and bailey added to perimeter of The Ville. Ville attacked by locals and Watchtower captured. Retaken by Hym and Magnvs during nighttime raid.

A.C.I. II (1984) Doolin MacKeag (travelling under the name of Otmi Keeneyed) joins the others at the behest of Red Davey. Trees and shrubs planted en masse in areas surrounding The Ville to obscure its location.

A.C.I. III (1985) Timeras joins others at the behest of Red Davey. Inhabitants of areas neighboring The Ville begin to hear rumors of hidden town that is cursed, and name it's inhabitants "the hidden."

A.C.I. IV (1986) Altarius happens upon The Ville; believing himself killed in battle and wandering in paradise. Gascon, Ayrk LeMastre discovered wandering in foothills near The Ville and is invited to stay. Hym departs to the East where a war college is rumored to exist.

A.C.I. VI (1987) Parrish von Koln seeks and finds The Ville. Hym not heard from for a year since departure. Plans formulated for the expansion of The Ville into a larger territory. Magnvs sets sail abroad to seek able armsmen. Red Davey explores neighboring territories for able recruits. Altarius and Ayrk found the faction Force of Havoc.

A.C.I. VII (1988) Red Davey and Doolin complete expansion of territory surrounding The Ville and each establish the factions Iron Company and Doolin's Teeth. Magnvs returns from abroad having been shipwrecked on return. He brings a small band of fighters called Maelstrom. Noteworthy among the fighers are Robert Markham, Kronin DeSunder, Wolfgang von Heimlich, and LaKyia Sylvarn. Alton LaPeto heeds a solicitation and arrives aboard a small vessel adorned to resemble a squid. Motomushi also heeds solicitation and joins the burgeoning noteworthies at The Ville. Brok the Bold later arrives and joins the Iron Company along with Motomushi and LaPeto. Near the solstice in late June the first "Gathering" [34 attending] is held as contest of arms among the four factions to ensure their prowess in defence of the territory. In celebration of the confederation, Broknarra is formed as Apokrypha's first stronghold. The central staging area is moved from The Ville to a hilltop keep a few miles to the West discovered by Doolin. Factions include Iron Company, Maeltrom, Doolin's Teeth, and Force of Havoc.

SECOND AGE: Era of Growth.

A.C.I. VIII (1989) Broknarra's prosperity accelerates at its new staging area West of The Ville. Alton, Red Davey, Magnvs, and Zargon scout out Namron. Factions Chaos and Warriors of the Golden Grand Mountain Excusion undertaken led by Alton to scout out lands far to the East. First scenario, Menagerie, crafted by Red Davey.

A.C.I. IX (1990) First contingent led by Magnvs and Talan Kurgan to Namron Border Conflict. Staging ground moved to Zink Fields from Doolin's Keep. Factions Wolfpack, House of Wor, and Dragons Damasus appear. Gathering attendance [151] record established.

A.C.I. X (1991) Second contigent to Namron Border Conflict. Second scenario, All The Kings Men, looks several decades into Broknarra/Apokrypha's future.

A.C.I. XI (1992) Third contigent to Namron Border Conflict. Tristin du Navarre named first Knight of Broknarra. First Apokryphan Grand Gathering held at Versteckt Keep; and improved fortification set around the original Ville.

A.C.I. XII (1993) Fourth contigent to Namron Border Conflict. First Knight's (5-mile) March for "Trial of Intent." Broknarrans support DVIS 'faire.' Fallsburn colony founded by Lord Jon Wallace with support from Broknarran staff members.

A.C.I. XIII (1994) Fifth contigent to Namron Border Conflict. Broknarrans again support DVIS's "Yuletide Revel." Nevamor colony founded by Alexander Darksbane in the region of Namron with the aide of Milus, Tristin, and Magnvs.

A.C.I. XIV (1995) Sixth contigent to Namron Border Conflict. First "Known World War" held participants from Fallsburn, Nevamor, and Broknarra. Motomushi secures Lordship and right to permanently re-name Doolin's Keep. He honors Sir Doolin by sustained the name. Milus takes over as Castellan of Broknarra.

A.C.I. XV (1996) Seventh contigent to Namron Border Conflict. Second Known World War held where Mediocretes (going by the name Grexor) secured his Lordship. Edmund Herrick takes over as Castellan of Broknarra. Magnvs departs for lands to the East and is only briefly heard from for several years.

A.C.I. XVI (1997) Eighth, and final, contigent to Namron Border Conflict led by Lord Robert Markham; the only person to participate in all eight. Lady Alurien Dorlas wed. Lord Parrish von Koln serves as Castellan of Broknarra.