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The Restoration (1660 – 1814)

The Restoration started with the reinstatement of the English monarchy and with it, the School of Night’s renewed support from the Crown. The century and a half that followed saw the School of Night evolve from a small group of spies and scholars into the “Royal Society of the Paranatural” that, by the start of the nineteenth century, was in operation throughout the world.

The Royal Society of the Paranatural (1660 – 1685)

In May 1660, Charles II was crowned King of England and began what was a notable shift in the School of Night’s good fortune. Charles II, fascinated with the scientific discoveries of the age, was happy to meet with the School of Night from Treowen House and learn of their study into the “indescribable and unexplainable”. Enamoured by the organisation’s work, the King granted the group a royal charter in 1663 and, in doing so, the School of Night evolved into the “Royal Society of the Paranatural” (also known as “The Society”). 

The Society continued to be led by a “Court” of three individuals consisting of a president, treasurer and paranatural secretary – all elected by the fellows of the society. While membership was strictly controlled, the group managed to grow exponentially and over the intervening years it established new regional bases in Edinburgh and in London, with the Tower of London becoming its formal headquarters in 1675.

Ruthless Consolidation (1686 – 1774)

For nearly a century, the Royal Society of the Paranatural flourished. As it grew, the society turned its eyes abroad towards Britain’s colonies. Explorers discovered further paranatural phenomena abroad and brought home their findings to share with others. The Society’s collection of paranatural objects subsequently grew through the colonial exploitation of people and resources.

During this time, many international groups with a similar understanding of the paranatural were also discovered. Wanting to retain their place as a world leader on the paranatural, the Royal Society of the Paranatural, through ruthless negotiation arranged for these groups to be subsumed or destroyed during various international peace talks held between Europe’s major powers. By 1774, outside of the Noblesse Oblige, there were few groups who could contest the Society’s iron-grip on paranatural phenomena and power.  

The American Revolution (1775 – 1781)

The Revolutionary War for American independence was considered a grave threat to the Society, by this time, had established operational bases in New York and Boston. During this period, to prevent knowledge of the paranatural from falling into the hands of the United Colonies, the Court ordered its bases to be destroyed along with any knowledge or artefacts its members could not take with them. While the Boston contingent agreed to the Court’s demands,  the New York team refused, stating that the only way to protect British interests in North America was to maintain a presence in the colonies. 

Conflict erupted between the groups and in 1776, the New York base was destroyed when Society members from England arrived as part of British forces to retake New York. The exact details of the conflict is unknown but the outcome was that for nearly two centuries, the Society would no longer have a presence on American soil.

The Calm (1782 – 1814)

Following its retreat from the United States, the Royal Society of the Paranatural experienced a period of relative peace. Membership swelled as the society established formal bases in Canada, India and later Australia. At the same time, the number of paranatural phenomena being discovered began to diminish and by the early 1800s, membership had stagnated due to a lack of new developments or findings. Still the Society remained content and complacent to maintain its position as the dominant power in control of the paranatural, even as shadows began to grow from within and without.

The Restoration in Play

The Restoration sees Equinox’s forebears grow to giddying heights of power. Over a century and a half, the Society goes from dozens of members to hundreds. It plunders the world for paranatural phenomena and artefacts – whether by bloody conquest or backroom deals. It establishes bases in far off places and maintains an iron grasp over whatever it finds that may be of interest. By the end of that time period, it seems there is little left to be explored and that the Society has a monopoly on the power and knowledge the paranatural offers. It is a period of decadence and hedonism. Such hubris often comes before a fall. 

Because of the events during the American Revolution and the century that is come (known as The Insurrection), what information that is available from this era remains either in the hands of Equinox or its enemies, though some more obscure elements may be hidden in private collections or remain in the hands of those indifferent to Equinox’s existence. Research from this era is therefore unlikely to be successful unless supported by resources or libraries outside of Equinox’s control. 

Like the other eras before it is, it is not intended that the horrors of British colonialism are ignored during this period. We ask that attendees understand and respect this during the course of play.