The Hidden Kingdom
folder
Original - Misc › -Slash - Male/Male
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
5
Views:
2,171
Reviews:
5
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
Original - Misc › -Slash - Male/Male
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
5
Views:
2,171
Reviews:
5
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance of characters to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. The Author holds exclusive rights to this work. Unauthorized duplication is prohibited.
The Hidden Kingdom
Prologue- Cathalpia, the Hidden Kingdom
Until recently, history had recorded things differently. History books tell of Hannibal\'s triumphant but harrowing journey across the Alps to attack Rome. They tell the story as one man reported it, or rather, as one man lied about it. History books tell of battles, of Hannibal\'s forces set upon by local tribesmen, and of Hannibal loosing many of their number to the elements as well.
While portions of that account are true, those skirmishes never took place and few of Hannibal\'s men died on the crossing, due mainly to the help and generosity of the local tribesmen. The account that left the valley was a measure of protection used to keep the kind and generous people of Cathalpia safe from conquerors. Nearly all the men and beasts the world thought lost stayed in the perfection of the hidden kingdom\'s valley and even the great general agreed to keep the secret. How Cathalpia\'s King Damon, the First struck this accord with Hannibal isn\'t recorded however, considering the norms of the society Damon founded, certain possibilities seem likely. The Carthaginians, being part of the Greek civilization, were no strangers to the concept of homosexuality themselves.
More than twelve hundred men and ten elephants, as well as other livestock remained in the valley after Hannibal\'s departure. The area had farm and grazing lands to provide for them and, for the most part, it was an idyllic place. However, brides were at a premium. The men of Carthage were just that, men. Few if any women accompanied Hannibal\'s troops and, since the Carthaginians who settled in the valley doubled the population, the balance of men to women suddenly became 3 to 1. After a few years, the new society embraced both polyandry and homosexuality, creating a very different society than any other on the planet. As one would expect, within three generations the balance of men to women corrected to near equal numbers, but both polygamy/andry and homosexuality remained accepted, vestigial though they were.
The tiny Kingdom of Cathalpia remained hidden from outsiders for over two thousand years. Now, under the forward-thinking leadership of King Barca, the twelfth, modern Cathalpia has once again made contact with the outside world. Cathalpia is now recognized by both its nearest neighbors, Spain and Italy, as an independent sovereignty, the countries in the E.U. are considering its petition for membership and both of King Barca\'s sons are receiving traditional western educations. Prince Hamilcar, first in line for the throne, attends Cambridge University in England and younger son, Prince Damon, has just matriculated at Kansas State University in the United States. It is Barca\'s hope that reaching out to the rest of the world on his own will allow his little society to remain independent and help protect its unique pantheistic and sexually liberal culture and traditions.
Until recently, history had recorded things differently. History books tell of Hannibal\'s triumphant but harrowing journey across the Alps to attack Rome. They tell the story as one man reported it, or rather, as one man lied about it. History books tell of battles, of Hannibal\'s forces set upon by local tribesmen, and of Hannibal loosing many of their number to the elements as well.
While portions of that account are true, those skirmishes never took place and few of Hannibal\'s men died on the crossing, due mainly to the help and generosity of the local tribesmen. The account that left the valley was a measure of protection used to keep the kind and generous people of Cathalpia safe from conquerors. Nearly all the men and beasts the world thought lost stayed in the perfection of the hidden kingdom\'s valley and even the great general agreed to keep the secret. How Cathalpia\'s King Damon, the First struck this accord with Hannibal isn\'t recorded however, considering the norms of the society Damon founded, certain possibilities seem likely. The Carthaginians, being part of the Greek civilization, were no strangers to the concept of homosexuality themselves.
More than twelve hundred men and ten elephants, as well as other livestock remained in the valley after Hannibal\'s departure. The area had farm and grazing lands to provide for them and, for the most part, it was an idyllic place. However, brides were at a premium. The men of Carthage were just that, men. Few if any women accompanied Hannibal\'s troops and, since the Carthaginians who settled in the valley doubled the population, the balance of men to women suddenly became 3 to 1. After a few years, the new society embraced both polyandry and homosexuality, creating a very different society than any other on the planet. As one would expect, within three generations the balance of men to women corrected to near equal numbers, but both polygamy/andry and homosexuality remained accepted, vestigial though they were.
The tiny Kingdom of Cathalpia remained hidden from outsiders for over two thousand years. Now, under the forward-thinking leadership of King Barca, the twelfth, modern Cathalpia has once again made contact with the outside world. Cathalpia is now recognized by both its nearest neighbors, Spain and Italy, as an independent sovereignty, the countries in the E.U. are considering its petition for membership and both of King Barca\'s sons are receiving traditional western educations. Prince Hamilcar, first in line for the throne, attends Cambridge University in England and younger son, Prince Damon, has just matriculated at Kansas State University in the United States. It is Barca\'s hope that reaching out to the rest of the world on his own will allow his little society to remain independent and help protect its unique pantheistic and sexually liberal culture and traditions.