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April,
1840 |
CONSTANCE
BRUNDT'S DREAM. the Church's Dream Prophetess, Constance
Brundt, has a dream of a Utopian Colony at the bottom of the world
where Mankind would start anew in an environment of "moral and intellectual
bliss." Samuel Brundt, her husband and the founder
and philosopher of the Church, is so inspired by his wife's dream that
he writes a new book. Entitled, NADIRIA, Life Elsewhere,
it becomes a bestseller, sweeping the literary world. The concept of a
Utopian Society synthesizes the fragmented and rather tangential writings
and ideologies of the Church, which he and his
wife have lead for the past six years. It becomes a catalyst that energizes
the Church and pushes it to a new level, attracting many new followers
including artistic and intellectual elite from both America and Europe. |
September,
1842 |
SAMUEL
BRUNDT TOURS THE WORLD on a lecture tour. He expounds on the
necessity for a Utopian Colony, he proselytizes for his Church - and he
sells his new book. On the tour he meets rich and powerful men, sympathetic
to his philosophy, who discuss the idea of making the Utopian Society
a reality. The catalyst for the Colony comes when Samuel
Brundt meets Gaston Montpelier, the famed
inventor, when he is in Paris. Suddenly, the most insurmountable logistical
problem of the Colony is solved. |
July,
1844 |
THE
S.E.S.R. IS FORMED. The Society of Ethical and Spiritual Renewal,
formed to finance and launch the expeditions, begins fund raising and
planning. Angus Kilbourne's shipping company,
Southern Star, becomes the primary financial contributor by committing
to build and launch a large fleet of ships for the Colony. |
November,
1845 |
FIRST
SURVEY EXPEDITION LAUNCHED, commanded by Ronald
Sutcliffe. The results are good: land is sighted several times and
a beginning of a map is made. It is decided to keep the discovery of the
Antarctican continent a secret to protect the integrity of the future Colony. However, several people are charged
with the responsibility to thoroughly document and preserve the legacy
of the Colony for historical record. One of these is Leon Offenbauer,
who becomes the Colony's official historian. Leon is a small, mousey man
who is incredibly meticulous and precise. He took notes at every meeting,
keeps a diary, and helps maintain the Colony's inventory of supplies. |
February,
1846 |
SECOND
SURVEY EXPEDITION LANDS. The Western Hemisphere area of the
continent's shore is surveyed and mapped for potential ice shelves. Based
on the success of the second expedition, the Captain's shipping company
starts to mass-produce large quantities of simple but rugged ships. |
March,
1848 |
COUNCIL
OF ELDERS FORMED. The groundwork is laid for a functional government.
The Declaration of Social Contract is drafted, which constitutes
the laws and moral code for the Colony. It becomes
mandatory reading at the Church. With the church's backing, Montpelier
refines the Heaven's Fire formula into several modifications: for heat,
for light, and for excavation. The Council votes to support "Heaven's
Fire" experiments on location in Antarctica, which were previously
conducted in secret on private land owned by the Church. Madeleine gives
birth to Gaston's first child while he is away on the expedition. |
February,
1850 |
THIRD
SURVEY EXPEDITION LANDS. "Heaven's Fire" experiments are performed. Several large vertical shafts are sunk, making
it a wildly successful field test of the Fire. It is now full speed ahead
for the Colony. Angus Kilbourne's shipping company
now devotes all its resources towards rapidly producing ships for the
Colony. |
April,
1852 |
STAGING
CAMP ESTABLISHED IN VENEZUELA. Constonia, a forward Staging Camp is cut deep into the rainforest of Venezuela. A
steady caravan of ships supply the Camp with people and supplies of all
kinds, and then the ships remain in Argentina to slowly accumulate into
a large fleet. The Camp will be permanent, constantly needed for relaying
personnel and supplies to the Colony. The Venezuela
Camp cuts deep into the rainforest and huge stockpiles of lumber are
created. The Camp also has huge warehouses for large reserves of Heaven's
Fire chemicals, foodstuffs, machinery, etc. that continue to arrive from
New York. Meanwhile, a lumber mill, cannery, sheep station, and machine
shop are constructed to produce the supplies needed for the Colony. Animals
such as sheep, chickens, geese, and cows are bred for eventual transport
to the colony. |
January,
1855 |
ENGINEERING
EXPEDITION LANDS. A corps of engineers and construction workers
arrive in Antarctica and begin construction. A fleet of twelve ships land
and the engineers start digging tunnels. A makeshift surface town is constructed
and is nicknamed "Sutville," after their leader Ronald
Sutcliffe. The ships return to Argentina for resupply. Over the Central
vertical tunnel a wooden structure is built to enclose the shaft. This "Shaft Hut", as it is called, provides shelter,
living space, and storage space for the engineers and workers as vertical
wooden structures are built inside the Shaft to act as the main Colony
support framework. Every tunnel in the Colony, both vertical and horizontal,
is lined with wooden structures. These tunnel structures are also insulated
with a sheep's wool and goose down blend. |
January,
1857 |
CHURCH
MEMBERS EMIGRATE TO CONSTONIA. An advance group of colonists
from the Church moves down to Constonia to begin
planning and preparations for the emigration. The Council of Elders is
temporarily running the government of Constonia. One of the Churchmembers,
a Miss Priscilla Harrington, sister of Eunice Sutcliffe,
becomes very involved with the Hwari. She eventually marries a tribesman
according to their traditions. She remains with Antala, her new husband,
and is given the Tribal name of Tamuran. |
December,
1864 |
COLONISTS
FLEE SHERMAN'S ADVANCE. Fleeing the fires of Savannah ahead
of Sherman's advancing army, the remaining colonists desperately set sail
for Antarctica. At the start of the war, plans to leave were accelerated.
They manage to escape the sacking of the city by only three days. |
March,
1865 |
COLONISTS
ARRIVE IN VENEZUELA. They organize and finish their preparations
for the next nine months. Because of their hasty departure from the US,
extra time is needed to prepare for their departure to the cold continent,
which has to be in the Spring. In Nadiria, the Central
Core is completed along with most levels. Outer areas continue to
be excavated and built. The colony is in a constant state of growth as
new workers arrive to accelerate the progress. |
February,
1866 |
COLONISTS
LAND ON ANTARCTICA. While some ships return for resupply, most
of the ships are converted for fishing and whaling, harbored in the wharf
built by the engineers. Much needed whale oil was used to supplement Heaven's
Fire as a source of fuel. The original population of the Colony is 147
souls, including the engineering and construction teams. |
November,
1867 |
RONALD
SUTCLIFFE DIES IN TRAGIC ACCIDENT. His body is enshrined in
clear ice and becomes an object of veneration. |
October,
1872 |
FIRST
CURRENCY PRINTED FOR NEW ECONOMY. As new colonists arrive,
a formal currency system is established to create order and stability
in the Colony. The Antarctica Stock Exchange is created to promote free enterprise and encourage a vigorous work ethic
amongst the new generation of children growing up in Nadiria. |
December,
1875 |
EVIDENCE
OF LOST CIVILIZATION FOUND. The ruins of an ancient city are
discovered in one of the new, deeper tunnels. Some fresh-water ice melting
is diverted to the lower levels to possibly confirm the existence of an
ancient culture. |
September,
1877 |
COLONY
SCHOOL ESTABLISHED. Madeleine Montpelier becomes the first
headmistress. |
March,
1881 |
CONSTANCE
BRUNDT DIES IN HER SLEEP. She was attempting to perform a dream
technique from the deciphered wisdom discovered in the Library. She also
becomes enshrined in clear ice and venerated. |
July,
1883 |
THE
GREAT FIRE ravages the colony. Seventy-nine people die in the blaze as major structural damage occurrs, crippling
Nadiria. Once more, the colony focuses on survival, and it takes two years
to repair all the damage. |
March,
1885 |
CODEX
CELASTRUS IS PUBLISHED. It is adopted as the "Bible"
in the Colony. Filled with strange, almost alien information and bizarre
sciences, most assume that it was deciphered writings from the ruins of
the Lost Civilization. Strange new societies and
corporations form as offshoots of the Codex. The purposes for many of
these organizations are obscure. Several copies of the Codex Celastrus
are shipped home to the churches in New York, London and Paris. While
ostensibly for internal church use, a few editions were copied and distributed
among academics and occultists. Several scandal and hoax accusations flare
up in the press, but eventually die down. |
February,
1887 |
THE
DIVISION. After the disappearance of Samuel
Brundt, several groups vie for power within the colony. Nadiria becomes
fractured and divided. Angus Kilbourne claims
leadership of Nadiria, with the support of several church leaders, claiming
that Nadiria is a religious colony and that it should be under the rule
of the church. The colony is split in two; the Church establishes a stricter,
more fundamentalist government with Elder Kilbourne as the spiritual head.
A more moderate, commercially-oriented faction is led by Emperor Jack,
as he calls himself, founder of The First Natural Bank of Nadiria. Nadiria
ends up physically divided by the two governments. Over a period of several
years, people migrate into two hemicircles within the colony, the Church
taking the West, while Emperor Jack occupies the Eastern half of the colony.
Typical of Nadirians, it is a peaceful transition with several Great Families
trading entire households. With so much expansion, there is plenty of
room for everyone. |
May,
1888 |
FIRST
NATURAL BANK OF NADIRIA CREATES CURRENCY. The Bank, backed
by the new government, prints its own money. The new currency enjoys a
brief period of popularity, but then settles down to about 40% usage in
the colony. Both forms of currency are interchangeable for commerce within
Nadiria, but most people have preferences in which they use for purchases,
based on which government they support. |
March,
1896 |
OVERDUE
SUPPLY SHIPS NEVER ARRIVE. This is mainly due to the fact that
the captain's shipping company has fallen on hard times, and cannot afford
to send an expedition. The Southern Star Lines was forced to bring most
of its ships back to New York and sell them to pay debts, so many supplies
were stockpiled and ready in Constonia, but
couldn't be sent to Nadiria. The Colony rapidly initiates a rationing
program on all expendible supplies. Additionally, Heaven's Fire is produced exclusively in New York to protect its secret.
With The Southern Star foundering, there is no way to send the desperately
needed chemicals to the Colony. |
November,
1898 |
THE
COLONY BECOMES COLD. As Heaven's Fire ingredients are dangerously
low, all Fire is reserved for fresh water generation and purification.
The colonists abandon the upper portions of Nadiria to conserve heat,
and all heat is diverted to the Residential Level only. |
August,
1899 |
COLONISTS
VANISH. Last known record of the Colony. It is presumed that
the Colony was lost, cause unknown. Various records of the Colony, including
the church registry and a few personal diaries, have recurring entries
that suddenly stop on August 17, 1899. |
February,
1901 |
RESCUE
MISSION FINDS COLONY EMPTY. The expedition returns to report
the Colony lost. The crew reported that there were no traces of any colonist:
no bodies, no recent graves, no evidence of why or how the Colonists seemed
to disappear. The Colony seemed to have been abandoned in good condition.
It is presumed that they marched to the sea to board ships, but all the
ships except one were accounted for. |
May,
1902 |
NADIRIA
FOUNDATION CLOSES. Amid a storm of controversy and speculation,
the Colony Foundation closes. The Church splits apart and the scattered
groups of believers dwindle and eventually vanish altogether. Futile attempts
are made to launch a mission to investigate the fate of the colonists,
but sufficient funds are never raised. |
January,
1921 |
RECOVERY
EXPEDITION LAUNCHED. The International Geographic Society launched
an exploratory mission to find the Lost Colony. It returns to Europe with
a rediscovered Codex, some currency, and a variety of records and diaries.
A presentation to the famed Explorer's Club was made, but they refused
to acknowledge the discoveries because they were kept secret for so long.
The entire history of the Colony is officially refuted, and a large controversy
erupts. |
December,
1922 |
CODEX
REPRINTED. Based on the actual printing plates recovered from
Nadiria, a small run of 500 copies of reproductions of the Codex Celastrus
were printed and eventually sells out. The Parisian printer sells most
of the copies in the City of Light, but many copies spread throughout
Europe. Despite the efforts of the formal exploration community to ruin
the reputation of Nadiria, the Lost Colony of Antarctica gains a cult
following. |
July,
1924 |
DREAM-DOLLARS
BECOME THE RAGE IN PARIS. The Parisian group has a printer
produce obvious reproductions of the money. A female mystic, Mme
De La Rue, who was a Codex scholar and an expert dream-seeder, leads
the Parisians. She writes numerous books and travels the world lecturing
and teaching. She believes that the currency was influenced by the Codex
and that the Elders were trying to conduct psychic/spiritual engineering
on the Colony with the currency in circulation. She was the first one
to coin the knickname, "Dream-Dollars". |
March,
1925 |
INS
FOUNDED. Mme De La Rue, the Parisian
mystic, creates the International Nadiria Society to promote the preservation
and teaching of the wisdom of the Lost Colony. She reissues the Codex
and sends copies of it to each chapter of her Society. |
October,
1926 |
DREAM-DOLLARS
GAIN NOTARIETY. Dream-Dollars become popular in New York, San
Francisco and New Orleans. The currency was mutating and changing as it
got copied again and again. Some even tried dream seeding with all kinds
of currency including US and foreign money. |
April,
1932 |
NADIRIA
HISTORICAL SOCIETY FOUNDED. Fund-raising begins to start collecting
much of the 1921 Expedition artifacts. This is an American society that
focuses on the historical preservation of the Colony as a whole, as opposed
to the International Nadiria Society, which was concerned only with the
mystical traditions. |
June,
1953 |
BEATS
USE DREAM-DOLLARS. There is a brief resurgence of Dream-Dollars
in Beat nightclubs in Greenwich Village. The money they use is either
poor quality reproductions, or crude homemade drawings that usually bear
little resemblance to the originals. Dream readings become a staple at
the nightclubs along with poetry, music, and performances. |
July,
1967 |
DREAM-DOLLARS
AND LSD. Dream-Dollars become very popular with the hippie
drug culture, for use in dream seeding and in altered states of consciousness.
Rumors circulate that the CIA is performing secret LSD tests with Dream-Dollars.
They are reported to have had some degree of success in controlling the
content of LSD hallucinations. No practical applications are found, however. |
November,
1999 |
AFA
COMMISSIONS NEW DREAM-DOLLARS. The Nadiria Historical Society
commissions artist, Stephen Barnwell and ANTARCTICA Film Arts to restore
and reissue Antarctica Dollars. The Society provided Barnwell with preserved
original currency notes that came from the 1921 expedition. All the notes
were in extremely poor condition and some were only partial notes, requiring
some reconstruction. The currency is officially a 1999 issue to commemorate
the 100th anniversary of the mysterious disappearance of the Antarctica
Colony. This is the first time the dollars have been reconstructed as
accurately as possible from the original Antarctica currency. The Historical
Society has also commissioned AFA to restore and reprint the entire Codex
Celastrus. This is quite a large and scholarly task, and the work is expected to take many years.
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