TURN-OF-THE-CENTURY TOUGHS: Prisoners, Prostitutes, and Passion

Timeline

This page is a chronology of the political events in Turn-of-the-Century Toughs, a cycle of historical fantasy novels by Dusk Peterson about disreputable men on the margins of society, and the men and women who love them. The novels are set in a world based on the late Victorian and Edwardian Eras.

To 201: In both Yclau and Vovim, ancient systems of government, law-keeping, and class structure continue, epitomized by the use of torture in the royal dungeons of both lands. In Yclau, however, a small number of torturers begin to discuss innovative ways to break prisoners.

202: Yclau's royal dungeon is destroyed by a cave-in. It is refounded as the Eternal Dungeon, and the dungeon's first ethical code book is issued by the surviving torturers. Debates with other nations over the effectiveness of the Eternal Dungeon's techniques will eventually result in the creation of an international prison reform body, the United Order of Prisons.

301-375: At the start of this century, an industrial revolution sweeps Yclau. Yclau and Vovim sporadically continue a centuries-long war over territory, much of their dispute focussing upon the region of Mip.

338: Layle Smith becomes a torturer in the Eternal Dungeon. He will later take control of the dungeon, rename the torturers Seekers, and be known as the most famous High Seeker of the Eternal Dungeon.

344: Layle Smith's fifth revision of the Code of Seeking is issued, spurring a prison reform movement within Yclau and increasing the power of the United Order of Prisons.

355: Mercy Prison is created in Mip by the Yclau government, which has control of the land at this time. It is the first of Mip's life prisons and is a product of the prison reform movement. Later that year, Yclau frees Mip as part of a truce agreement with Vovim. The Mippite government is given into the hands of its magistrates. Beginning of the Eternal Dungeon series, which is set primarily in Yclau.

356: In response to pressure from the United Order of Prisons, Vovim's King declares that some crimes that were previously punished by death will now be punished by life imprisonment. The conditions under which Vovim's life prisoners are kept will eventually become the topic of heated international debate.

359: Bainbridge starts the Commoners' Guild in Yclau. The guild becomes the focus of class unrest in that land.

360: A dispute between the Vovimian King and the High Master of his Hidden Dungeon over prison reform issues causes political divisions in Vovim. The United Order of Prisons condemns the use of torture in the Eternal Dungeon.

365: The preaching of a young Vovimian prophet sparks civil war in Vovim. The sixth revision of the Code of Seeking is issued, creating major changes to life in the Eternal Dungeon.

375: Partly in response to changes in the Eternal Dungeon, the Commoners' Guild in Yclau begins pressing for a new era of prison reform that takes into account class oppression. Vovim's King falls to the rebels, and prisoners in the Hidden Dungeon are liberated.

376-400: After an initial period of anarchy that lasts for a number of years, the Vovimian government is gradually converted into an elective monarchy with a parliament. A period of peace begins between Yclau and Vovim.

385: The public receives its first hint of troubles in Mip's life prisons through an unsuccessful uprising at Compassion Prison. Beginning of the Life Prison series, which is set in Mip.

392: Yclau's Guild of Healers issues a report suggesting that more mid-class folk than in the past are engaging in vice and crime. Mid-class folk begin to join the commoners in urging Yclau's Queen to institute social reforms, particularly to the prison system.

400: The Commoners' Guild and its mid-class allies rise against the Queen of Yclau. The Eternal Dungeon is raided as part of the rebels' attack on the royal palace. The Yclau government is converted into a democracy. Yclau's life prisons are shut down. In Mip, troubles in the life prisons reach their peak.

Early 400s: Vovim gradually accepts the industrial revolution that has already transformed life in Yclau and Mip. The slum problem that plagues those two countries spreads to Vovim. Social reformers turn their attention from the treatment of prisoners to the role of poverty in creating immorality and crime.

448: Michael's House for Boys is founded in Vovim. It will soon attract the attention of social reformers in that land. Beginning of the Michael's House series, which is set in Vovim.

451: Yclau, while retaining its democracy, restores its monarchy.

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This text was originally published at duskpeterson.com as part of the novel cycle Turn-of-the-Century Toughs. Copyright © 2006 Dusk Peterson. Some rights reserved. The text is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial No Derivatives License (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0). You may freely print, post, e-mail, or otherwise distribute the entire text for noncommercial purposes, provided that you include this paragraph. The author's policies on derivative works and fan works are available online (duskpeterson.com/copyright.htm).