Renewal (2026)

Description

For thirty years the peoples of the Known World have gathered beneath their banners for the ritual of Renewal. Monarchs have risen and fallen. Ancient evils have been defeated. New legends have been forged around countless campfires, battlefields and ritual circles. Every generation of heroes has left its mark upon the world, and every Renewal has become another chapter in the living history of Curious Pastimes.

This year, history calls once again.

Across the lands of the Fir Cruthen, the war against the Atlanteans of the Sapphire City and their Army Everlasting has reached a turning point. Great cities have fallen. Strongholds stand besieged and thousands have abandoned their homes in search of safety. Yet despite these losses, the peoples of the Four Nations have refused to yield. Warbands have been raised, old rivalries have been set aside, and every victory has been paid for in blood.

But the war has changed.

Tara, now the Emerald City, stands as the first true foothold of the Atlanteans upon the continental lands. Through ritual circles, forces continue to arrive, not merely soldiers, but politicians, philosophers and artisans. They speak amongst themselves of something called the Great Game, and whilst few yet understand its rules, it is becoming increasingly clear that the conquest of the Fir Cruthen is only one part of a far greater design.

Their Army Everlasting has shown no sign of slowing its advance. Once thought to be an army of disciplined Atlantean soldiers alone, its ranks are now swollen by ever-growing hosts of demons, marching alongside the invaders in numbers never before witnessed. Across Cymria, an army of unimaginable size has marched through the kingdom, its columns stretching so far that it took two full days for the rear of the force to pass after the vanguard had gone by. It now marches towards the border between Cymria and Albion, though its ultimate purpose remains unknown.

Faced with a threat on a scale never before witnessed, the Fir Cruthen have invoked the Pax Britannica, calling upon the Lions of Albion to stand beside them and in turn both have called upon the other warhosts for aid. For the thirtieth time, Renewal will become the meeting place of kings, generals, heroes and armies, as the defenders of the Known World gather upon the border to make their stand against the gathering darkness.

Yet the lands of Albion are far from peaceful.

Across the kingdom, old stories have begun to return. Forgotten roads are once again being walked, abandoned shrines are receiving visitors, and names that have not been spoken for centuries are being whispered around campfires. Amongst them is that of King Offa, a mysterious ruler whose place in Albion's oldest legends has long remained uncertain. Why these tales have resurfaced now, and what role they may play in the days ahead, nobody yet knows. But there are many who believe that Renewal stands upon the threshold of history older than any living kingdom.

Those ancient tales are no longer confined to fireside whispers. Across Albion, the Dragon Stone and the Giant Stone have become the focus of growing concern as strange events unfold around them. Travellers speak of unsettling dreams, restless spirits and manifestations that seem to walk between myth and reality. Druids, warriors and wanderers alike are being drawn towards these places, convinced that powers dormant for centuries are stirring once more. Whatever is awakening, its influence may soon be felt far beyond Albion itself.

Yet war and ancient mysteries are not the only dangers facing the peoples of the Known World.
The Fade remain an ever-present threat to reality itself. Wherever they appear, certainty gives way to confusion, the natural order begins to fracture, and those caught within their influence often vanish without explanation. Unlike the armies of the Sapphire City, the Fade cannot be bargained with, reasoned with or understood. They are a threat not to one nation, but to every people who calls the Known World home.

There are those who fear that the Ritual of Renewal itself may shine like a beacon to such creatures, drawing their gaze towards the greatest gathering of souls in the Known World. If they are right, the consequences could be unimaginable.

Renewal will bring together all of the factions of the Known World at a moment unlike any before. Old alliances will be tested. New enemies will emerge. Diplomats, priests, merchants, scholars and spies will find themselves every bit as important as the warriors upon the battlefield. Whether you come seeking answers, allies, glory or survival, the choices made at Renewal will echo throughout the Known World long after the banners have been lowered.

This is not merely another gathering.

It is the thirtieth Renewal.

A celebration of thirty years of shared stories, unforgettable characters and a world built together by thousands of players. Whether you have walked these lands since the very beginning or are attending your first event, this Renewal promises opportunities to shape the future of the world in ways that will be remembered for years to come.

The banners are being raised.
The campfires are being lit.
The war is far from over.
The next chapter begins at Renewal.