Community:Britannian Mining Company

341 BC (Britannian Calendar) (Ultima VII April 16, 1992) The Britannian Mining Company (BMC) is founded. An agency operating in Britannia which oversaw the excavation of industrial ores from various sites throughout the kingdom. The BMC petitions Lord British for permission to reopen the entrance to Dungeon Covetous. The BMC begins supplying blackrock ore to Batlin and construction of the Black Gate begins.

During the time of the Avatar's adventures in the early Age of Armageddon, the BMC had two active mines within the kingdom. One, operating out of Minoc under the supervision of Gregor, was processing ores found within the corridors of the Dungeon Covetous - which included the covert extraction of the magic-nullifying blackrock, a mineral being used by BMC-affiliated Fellowship members to build various devices for the Guardian. In this key mining site, fast and inexpensive labor was crucial to maintaining the illicit blackrock production, and to this end, gargish workers were routinely drugged with silver serpent venom, that they might work for longer hours. The haste of the enterprises also resulted in a great deal of waste runoff into the local river, which contributed significantly to the pollution of Cove's Lock Lake in the years before the passage of prohibitive legislation regarding such dumping.

The second mine, operating near the newly resettled town of Vesper, under Cador, that both humans and gargoyles had resettled. The largest employer in the town was the Britannian Mining Company (BMC), who sustained the town by extracting ore from the nearby Vesper Mines. Despite the town's resurgence there was a significant and growing class disparity, at both social and economic levels, between the two races. The humans and gargoyles were segregated into east and west sections of the town, respectively, on either side of the oasis and each with their own inn. The humans were the richer of the two classes, and held the positions responsible for governing the town or overseeing the operations of the BMC. Most gargoyles however were laborers in the mine. These racial tensions incited mistrust and hatred between the two sides with some gargoyles becoming violent against humans (Anmanivas and Foranamo for example) and some humans forming the Britannian Purity League to "cleanse" the town of gargoyles. Many residents from both sides believed that violence would not only be the ultimate outcome of this disparity, but that it was also their only solution to the problem.

The actual mining operation in Vesper appeared more modest in the scope of its endeavors, and seemingly had fewer unsavory labor practices, despite the rampant racial tensions of the nearby settlement. Curiously, Batlin would describe this site in his Book of Fellowship, as being the head branch of the BMC - an odd statement given its comparative size and remoteness to the Minoxian branch. It may be that such a claim was made by the Fellowship leader as a means of misdirection, given that the bulk of blackrock extraction appeared to be taking place in Covetous Dungeon close to Minoc.

Eventually, the years of the Reformation turned the public gaze onto all BMC operations, as the adventures of the Avatar regarding the black gate had done much to expose the exploitative practices of the company. In the year following the dismantling of the Fellowship, much was reportedly done to adjust the labor laws as regarded mining, with mayor Burnside taking a lead role in the reforms.

0 PC (Post-Cataclysm) (September 1, 1997) The Great Cataclysm.

In the years that followed, the ravages of the Imbalance and the Great Cataclysm dramatically changed the landscape of the world, causing the land which once held Vesper to sink into the ocean and destroying the original City of Sacrifice in the upheavals of the earth. Decades later, during the Avatar's return in Ultima IX no record or trace of the Britannian Mining Company could be found, although abandoned blackrock mines (which had apparently operated publicly for some time) were still present within Covetous' depths.

19 PC (June 6, 1998), a new leader arose from the dormant ranks of the BMC, Ezekiel Cooper (aka. Drago III, aka. Sebastian), who led the citizens of Cove and Minoc, in 15 PC, to rebuild their homes on the deserted Dagger Isle, north of Moonglow and founded the Britannian Mining Company, with Xavier Legolas (aka. Kal Vas Flam), as a guild rather than an agency. Ezekiel Cooper then reformed the internal practices of the BMC, freeing and fairly compensating the gargoyle population, and establishing a monarchy with a democratic process so that future BMC members could attain power to rule benevolently over the Britannian Mining Company alongside Ezekiel Cooper, with the guild's new focus being more on the stability of world economy rather than profiteering from slave or underpaid labor. The BMC guild stone was placed in a modest 7X7 wooden home, just West from the entrance of the Dungeon Deceit, against the mountain wall. Notable members are Xavier Legolas, Cutter Moonbeard, Sir Loin, Raistlin, Poison Ivy, Aislingach, Morrigan, Ibex, Amethyst Keel, and citizens of Cove, Minoc, and Vesper.

20 PC (June 25, 1998), The battle mage, Roach, appeared in the community on Dagger Isle, and informed Ezekiel Cooper and Xavier Legolas of the significance of the Britannian Mining Company in the past, and bestowed blessings upon the guild, for a prosperous return to it's former glory.

23 PC (August 6, 1998), The first shipment of ingots from Dagger Isle to the docks in Britain aboard the ship, Golden Nugget, used in the BMC Exodus of 15 PC. 120,000 iron ingots were sold from the deck of the Golden Nugget to the blacksmiths at the Hammer and Anvil Blacksmith Shop for 5gp each, totaling 600,000gp, thus re-establishing the Britannian Mining Company as a legitimate supplier to the blacksmiths of Britannia.

35 PC (February 5, 1999), Ezekiel Cooper is summoned to the Miner's Convention at the Counselor's Hall in Britain (Atlantic Shard), and asked to deliver the BMC price rates on ingots made from the new and rare varieties of minerals found in Britannia after the February 2, 1999 publish. The leader of the United Blacksmiths of Britannia (UBB) requested the Britannian Mining Company (BMC) to serve as the regulating authority of the ingot market by holding a General Assembly every quarter, open to the public.

218 PC (January 10, 2006), Death of BMC Member, Hung Low Joe. Born: 11/08/1982 - Died: 01/10/2006 - Member since 2001

406 PC (Pre-Release April 7, 2013) - Ezekiel Cooper, along with Vice President, James Murphy (aka. Aislingach), sailed from the city of Vesper in Felucca, amidst the carnage and upheavals of a dying world, for the new world of New Britannia.

424 PC (Release 1 - December 12, 2013) - Ezekiel Cooper and James Murphy landed on the shores of the Hidden Vale, and travelled to the city of Owl's Head, where they were greeted with open arms, by the Sovereign Lord British.

425 PC - Ezekiel Cooper and James Murphy granted the titles of Duke.

447 PC (October 19, 2014), The BMC Capitol of Blackrock Cove founded. (Establishment pending placement in New Britannia)

449 PC (Release 12 - November 20, 2014), Duke Ezekiel Cooper registers the Britannian Mining Company guild in New Britannia when guilds are allowed to be created.

451 PC (Release 13 - December 18, 2014), The Britannian Mining Company guild registered again in New Britannia after guild reset.

452 PC (December 25, 2014), The reassembly of the Britannian Mining Company commences in New Britannia. Notable members are James Murphy, Xavier Starfall, Abercrombie Macleod, Jaron Schwartzhaar, Drake Aedus, Wind Silvermoon, Woodrow Beefcakes, Lazarus Long, Jack Frost, and many others. Guild membership quickly soars to over 300 members.

454 PC (February 7 & 9, 2015) BMC Towns Obsidian Ridge and Mara Mesta founded. (Establishment pending placement in New Britannia)

454 PC (February 10, 2015), Lord British visits the BMC in Ardoris as a guest of honor.

455 PC (February 15, 2015), Lord British visits the BMC Crafting Faire in Owl's Head, where Drake Aedus instructs him how to craft a sword. The sword was the very first item ever crafted in the old kingdom or the new that bore Lord British's marker's mark. The Flaming Sword of Lord British was presented to Duke Ezekiel Cooper as a gift to the BMC.

457 PC (March 17, 2015), Duke Ezekiel Cooper and Lazarus Long have discussion that leads to the creation of the New Britannia News Network (NBNN).

461 PC (May 14, 2015), Xavier Starfall, Vice President of the Britannian Mining Company, receives Royal Warrant via webcast from Lord British.

464 PC (Release 19 - June 25, 2015), Duke Ezekiel Cooper travels to the Quel region, and selects the site for the BMC Capitol, Blackrock Cove.

465 PC (July 12, 2015) BMC membership exceeds 500 members.

467 PC (Release 20 - July 30, 2015), The BMC Capitol, Blackrock Cove established in the Quel region of Novia, along with the BMC Member towns of Blue Rose Isle; owned by Wind Silvermoon, and Hy-Brasil, owned by Abercrombie Macleod.

469 PC (Release 21 - August 27, 2015), BMC Towns Obsidian Ridge & Mara Mesta established in the Quel region of Novia. BMC Member towns Snug Harbor & Journeys End; owned by Lazarus Long, established in the Longfall region of Novia.

470 PC (September 14, 2015), BMC Member Jakub White, reveals his creation sotamap.com to Duke Ezekiel Cooper. BMC membership exceeds 600 members.

472 PC (October 17, 2015), The first annual BMC Convention is held in Austin, Texas. Duke Ezekiel Cooper is awarded the Order of the New Britannian Empire medal (ONBE) and presented the BMC Royal Warrant. Lazarus Long is awarded the ONBE for his work on NBNN, and Wind Silvermoon is awarded the Order of Chaos medal by Darkstarr.

478 PC (January 1, 2016), Over 100 members split from the BMC and create a guild from the old kingdom, Every Virtue is Lasting (EVL).

485 PC, (April 12, 2016), Excavation of Cooper's Pass started through the Snowy Mountains West of Brightbone Pass, North of the town Aldhaven.

510 PC (March 18, 2017), Death of BMC Member, Ibex Born: 05/30/1955 - Died: 03/18/2017 - Member since 2000