Albion (Fable)

Albion is a fictional world featured in the video game Fable. It is similar to Medieval Britain; "Albion" is the oldest known name for the island. Albion is a land without a central ruler, being made up of various city-states with lawless stretches of plains and forest in between. The entire game takes place within this world.

History

The Fable team has now released a site that has information on the history of Albion, some of which slightly goes against what this information says.[1]

Little is known about Albion's history due to a long period of decline. Its early history is identified as "the Old Kingdom", which, in Albion's parallels to real-life Britain, could be equated with the Roman occupation of Britain. During this time, the land of Albion was once led by an ancient royal bloodline, which culminated with the rule of Archon. By this time, Albion was a peaceful and prosperous land, with Archon's kingdom ruling over every corner of Albion. However, Archon came into possession of an ancient and powerful sword that gradually began to corrupt him and, eventually, his entire kingdom. Numerous mammoth construction projects were begun to create strange structures all over Albion, and mysterious, enormous guards began guarding the four main energy sources of Albion and Archon's castle, the focus sites. New deadly creatures began roaming throughout the land, terrorizing the people of Albion as a 'darkness' spread far and wide throughout the world.

Sometime after this, Archon and his sword vanished in his moms vagina, bringing a sudden collapse to his kingdom. However, the 'darkness' remained, casting a wave of fear throughout Albion.

In Fable: The Lost Chapters, The Oracle of Snowspire in the Northern Wastes reveals information about the Old Kingdom that was otherwise lost: "Archon" was not the name of a single king, but rather a title passed down by many kings, all connected through a unique bloodline and possession of the Sword of Aeons. This is similar to the pre-Norman times in England; in which it was a sword that marked a person as royalty, not a crown.

By the time Fable takes place, the world has slowly deteriorated from the days of the 'Old Kingdom'. Most people live in the small city-states that dot the countryside. The lands outside these cities are plagued by banditry and vicious creatures. Traders that travel through the country side are regularly killed by these forces, with some hiring mercenaries to protect them. The infrastructure of walls and roads built during the Old Kingdom have gradually deteriorated.

Fable 2 is set 500 years after Fable, where Albion seems to be in the Renaissance age as evidenced by the early firearms present in the E3 trailer. In Lionhead's Video Diaries, Fable 2 has been described as the era of "Highwaymen."

After the events of Fable, the Heroes Guild has fallen into discord. Citizens of Albion begin to despise the heroes, they start to believe heroes have become above the law. They also believe with Jack dead, there is no more need for heroes. At this point, heroes are discriminated against on a regular basis. Later, a battle occurs in Bowerstone between heroes and the townsfolk after a group of heroes ventured in Bowerstone, unaware of recent conflict. The heroes are easily cut down by the recently introduced gunpowder. The remaining heroes retreat back to the Heroes Guild, but it is burned down by mobs of townsfolk and utterly destroyed. The last of the heroes then live in exile, disguised as normal people. Citizens of Albion then continue to hunt down and destroy remaining heroes through means of genocide. The Arena has also been turned into a method of execution to remaining heroes.

The Heroes' Guild

One of the most prominent institutions during this time is the Heroes' Guild. Operating out of the former royal castle of the Old Kingdom, (which may or may not be Archon's capital, but due to the fact that the Sword of Aeons is located here it seems likely) the Guild is a center of learning and training for Heroes, renowned mercenaries that are active in all parts of Albion. Through the Guild, Heroes are contracted as thieves, soldiers, guards, rescuers, and many other jobs the people of Albion are willing to pay Heroes to perform.

Beginning at a young age, students at the Guild are instructed in swordsmanship, archery, magic, and intellectual study. However, Heroes after graduation are not bound to follow the orders of the Guild. This is highlighted in the number of heroes who choose to engage in more criminal activities, such as Twinblade, a former Hero who became the leader of a prominent gang of bandits. Originally members of the guild could only take on quests of good nature, however some time ago Weaver (the current guildmaster) and a band of others including Maze led a revolt against the former guild, fighting for their view that heroes should be allowed to walk any path they wish. They apparently were victorious in this revolt, as Weaver is now the guildmaster and all heroes may do good or evil quests. The tendency of Heroes to walk both light and dark paths upon their graduation may be in part due to the amoral nature of the Guild itself, which routinely runs contracts for criminal activities and seems to fail to possess a code of morality common among organizations like it.

The Guild is not without its share of detractors. Numerous books and leaflets in Albion call for the abolishment of the Guild, highlighting its characteristics of vanity, celebrity, and perceived superiority. The most famous of these books is "The Guild of Zeroes", which follows the story of Bloody Nose, zero in training. Of course, the moral ambiguity of the Guild since its reformation under Maze and the current Guildmaster has since silenced the author, a fact confirmed by the school teacher in Bowerstone. In Fable II, the guild will be long closed and in ruins, due to normal citizens of Albion revolting against them and decline over the 500 years between the original Fable/Fable:The Lost Chapters and Fable II.

Society

Law

The land of Albion is notably devoid of a strong system of government and laws, leading to a laissez-faire attitude for most aspects of society. Homosexuality, same-sex marriage, and polygamy are universally legal and widely accepted. Extramarital affairs, however, are taboo and the source of much contention among married couples. There is also a law that does not allow you to enter a town with unsheathed weapons as you are deemed a threat and hazard. Obviously, murder is considered incredibly evil and so is breaking into a house, theft or attacking innocent civilians and guards, but the worst that can ever happen to you is a fine and being thrown from the town at the same time. There are also prostitutes in Albion but it isn't explicit as to whether this is legal or not. In Fable: Lost Chapters, there is a bordello, which the player can either keep as a bordello in which your character can have sex with them or change into a woman's refuge. The law system has a link to Anglo-Saxon England, in which people were punished by having to pay money to the victim, victim's family or the church. The Anglo-Saxons also had a system in which, if a person commits a crime in public, then villagers would be obliged to help - though in Albion's case; only the guards may get involved. When outside villages, towns, or settlements there are no laws, much like Anglo-Saxon England.

Economy

The economy is completely unregulated and based primarily on agriculture, trade, and services, with little industrial activity prevalent in the country. The currency of Albion is the gold coin, and nearly every tradable item in the land has a "national standard" of what each item is worth in gold. It should be noted however that items are rarely sold for their exact worth, especially in taverns and the Guild gift shop.

Entertainment

Entertainment is provided at taverns, with their collection of beer, bards, and gambling. Also, a clandestine organization of fight clubs is prevalent in most of the major settlements, meeting solely at nighttime. There are also various games played about Albion, most notably Oakvale's "Chicken Kicking" contest, the Albion Fishing Competition held in Greatwood and the Archery Contest held just outside Knothole Glade.

The Arena also provides gladiatorial style combat entertainment for those who will make the journey out to Witchwood.

Magic

Magic, known as Will, exists in Albion, but is fairly rare in normal society. Only members of the Guild of Heroes are ever seen utilizing it. It is said in The Lost Chapters by the Snowspire Oracle that during the time of Fable, Will energy is at an all-time low, and that Will is most abundant under the temples of Skorm and Avo.

Will can be harnessed to alter the physical world, such as slowing down time, to inflict damage on opponents, such as Will lightning, or simply perform other useful conjurations, such as summoning ghost blades or creating multiple magic arrows when firing one's bow.

Will also seems to have a Good and Evil balance to it. Some spells are easier or harder to learn with certain ethical alignments. These spells can only be mastered by users with the same alignment, which can be a pain for those willing to learn the last level of a spell but are of the completely opposite alignment.

Religion

Religion is based upon the worship of two deities: Avo and Skorm. Avo is a benevolent deity, worshipped in a temple in Witchwood through the giving of tithes. Skorm is a devil-like deity, demanding human sacrifices in exchange for temporal power.

It is revealed by the description of the Holy Warrior and Daemon Warrior Helms found in the Northern Wastes that 200 years prior to the events of Fable, a holy war erupted between the two churches.

In Fable: The Lost Chapters it is said by the Oracle that even though almost all of the inhabitants of Albion believe in Avo as god, and Skorm as a type of devil, and that gifts can be magically bestowed upon those who do their work, neither is real. The Oracle says that 400 years prior to the events of Fable, a trader uncovered two sites where Will energy was exceptionally strong: one leaning towards healing those that visited it, the other inflicting pain and thoughts of bloodlust. The trader decided that he would create two opposing temples and collect the tithes that people came to donate. Eventually people actually came to believe in Avo and Skorm and their influence has taken an unbreakable grip on the culture of Albion's people.

It should be noted, however, that although Skorm and Avo are considered "false idols", a mysterious voice will reprimand the Hero should he choose to slay the followers of either deities.

Locations

The Arena: A large gladiatorial coliseum where Albion's best fighters and Heroes gather to battle to the death against hordes of hungry monsters, captured bandits, and occasionally each other. Spectator seating is open to the public, and the bloody combat is a popular entertainment venue for many of Albion's citizens. It is said that the very souls of long dead champions haunt the place of their last and greatest glory.

Bargate Prison: An imposing island fortress located far to the north. Bargate is where Albion keeps its long-term prisoners. It is only accessible via a strictly monitored ferrying system, but it is however penetrable by use of the Old Kingdom path through the Lychfield Graveyard. It is independent from Bowerstone and the guards run the prison with absolute power, but the isolation and repulsive reputation means only the most sadistic of men are guards. The prisoners are locked beneath ground and are tortured for fun daily. The guards are also in an agreement with Jack of Blades, who uses this prison for his own purposes.

Barrow Fields: Outside the hamlet of Oakvale, green pastures and colorful flowers populate this peaceful meadow. Traders have been known to set up campsites in this area.

Barnum: A quite large city possibly in the Northern Wastes that has so far only been in one screenshot,but boasts a magician called Magical Murdo.

Bowerstone: The largest city in Albion, Bowerstone is situated on the eastern landmass, north of the Heroes' Guild. It is most likely the safest town in Albion, being surrounded by a large city wall, protected by a large force of guards, and banning weapons and magic of any kind. The town is ruled over by Mayor Elvira Grey, who killed her sister in order to become first in line to the position of mayor. Lady Grey's will is nearly absolute; she has the power to impose the death penalty against individuals simply for insulting her, and publicly hires bandits to attack her less cooperative citizens. The town is divided up into a northern section, which is the more prosperous of the two, and a southern slum where citizens cannot enter the northern section without permission of a resident of the north. In Fable 2 the area appears to be much more developed; it has many more buildings and entertainment seems to have improved. It also has a Giant bridge connecting it to large parts of the City. The trailer shows the the main character being thrown out of what appears to be Lady Grey's manor and into a unknown area of slums, Which suggests either Bowerstone has become a city where Certain Class people are not singled out. There is also another City or a new part of Bowerstone called "Barnum" which is shown to be a cold and snowy city possibly located near or in the Northern Wastes.

Chapel of Skorm: The place of worship in the forest of Darkwood on the eastern landmass for the followers of the malevolent deity Skorm. The area around the Chapel is perpetually shrouded under a blood-red sky, regardless of the weather or even the time of day. Followers of Skorm lure victims to the chapel to be offered as human sacrifices to Skorm in exchange for such gifts as eternal youth and Skorm's bow. In Fable: The Lost Chapters it is described as a center of "dark" Will energy, being described as giving visitors violent urges and filling their minds with horrific images.

Darkwood: A dark, twisted swamp forest where sunlight is unable to penetrate, Darkwood is feared by many of Albions inhabitants, and populated by some of Albion's nastier creatures, including Hobbes and the horrific Balverines. Darkwood is also a main trading route between cities. Along the gloomy trail are dank marshes, an ancient cullis gate to Hook Coast, the Chapel of Skorm and a welcoming trader's camp.

Gibbet Woods: This small wooded area lies north of Bowerstone and south of Bargate Prison. It once had residents living in the few houses and the windmill but since the spontaneous appearances of undead and minions it is believed that they were all killed. It also homes the infamous "headman's hill" where many criminals of Albion await their death at the gallows, and one of the four mysterious Focus Sites.

Greatwood: The temperate forest that surrounds the area south of Bowerstone, Greatwood is probably the least inhospitable of Albion's wild areas, but it is still nonetheless populated by hostile giant insects as well as the site of frequent bandit ambushes.

Greatwood plays host to the renowned Orchard Farm, Fisher Creek, the Pretty Rose Cottage, and the infamous Hobbe Caves.

Grey House: The ancestral home of the Grey family, abandoned after the current Lady Grey's ascension to the mayorship of Bowerstone. The manor has since become haunted, overgrown, and is covered in a perpetual overcast.

Heroes' Guild: The headquarters of the Heroes' Guild is located on the eastern landmass, south of Bowerstone. The grounds are made up of a large castle, a building for housing the servants, gardens, training ranges, a private forest, and a stream passing through the grounds. The site itself is an Old Kingdom fortress, possibly the site of Archon's Castle.

The Guild houses many treasures, including the legendary sword Avo's Tear (Fable: The Lost Chapters only) and the Murren Greathammer. The Sword of Aeons is supposedly locked within the Chamber of Fate in the Guild where it can only be removed with the Septimal Key.

The outside of the Guild boasts a robust gatehouse, a title vendor, the Boasting Platform and, in Fable: The Lost Chapters, the Primal Demon Door in which Sages of the Old Kingdom were imprisoned to guard the Fire Heart.

After the fall of Jack Of Blades, people start to believe that heroes had very little importance. Before long and after The Hero's death villagers of Bowerstone revolted against the guild with fire-arms, the heroes of the guild reluctant to fight the people they strived to protect did not retaliate. The villagers then took this as their chance to burn this guild. These events lead to the Fall Of Heroes.

In Fable II the ruins of the Guild may be explored.

Hook Coast: A seaside town founded by monks of the Old Kingdom. It is covered in snow for much of the year, and perpetually shrouded in fog. Hook Coast is a mysterious town, with strange people and an old lighthouse that is the topic of many legends.

The lighthouse itself (or rather the altar located at the top) is a relic of the Old Kingdom, used to call forth the Ship of the Drowned. The Ship can be used to navigate any sea, provided a map, but with dangerous mental consequences to its passengers; many go mad on the treacherously long voyages. The Lighthouse altar is activated through the use of the Fire Heart, a relic located in the Primal Demon Door.

Knothole Glade: Situated in the middle of Witchwood on the western landmass of Albion, Knothole Glade is often under attack by various enemies. It was founded by woodcutters, and the Celtic-influenced architecture represents this.

Lychfield Graveyard: The largest gravesite in Albion, it is used by nearly all the towns on the mainland save for Oakvale which built its own in the wake of the bandit attack. It is rumoured (with good founding) to be haunted by the spirits of the deceased and roamed by fear-inspiring Undead creatures. It is also the resting place of Nostro, the founder of the guild.

Oakvale: A small port town located on the southern end of the eastern landmass. The town was the sight of the bloodiest bandit raid in the history of Albion, with much of the village burning down and most of the citizens being slaughtered. Those that survived rebuilt the town , and it is once again a prosperous port.

Unfortunately, by the time you reach it in Fable II, Oakvale has been reduced to a flooded ruin in a coastal marsh filled with plenty of undead and other nasty creatures. Weather you can return Oakvale to its former Glory in Fable II has yet to be seen.

Old Kingdom Passages: Ever since Nostro the Gatekeeper has been killed, these passageways have been blocked to all. If opened, the trail of a dead forest beckons forth to the old graveyard circle, where the spirits of the dead are unable to rest. The doorway there heads down into passageways that lead to Bargate Prison. The path emerges on one of the small archipelagos around Bargate prison but most of it is underground.

Temple of Avo: A small temple set up south of Knothole Glade, which collects tithes for the deity Avo. The monks at the temple are in possession of some of the most powerful artifacts from the Old Kingdom. Nearby the Temple rests the sword of Huw, a giant who lodged his powerful weapon deep into a stone.

Twinblade's Camp: A large mass of tents on a defensible hill, it is the home of the Bandit King, Twinblade. It is filled with dangerous bandits, deadly assassins and more than one shocking plot twist. The Camp itself consists of an outer gate, defensible pathway, secondary gate, two separate camps for the lesser and elite bandits, and Twinblade's Tent itself, filled with the spoils of clandestine triumphs.

Witchwood: A thick, mist-filled forest on an island off the coast of Albion's main landmass. Witchwood is infested with Balverines, as well as the occasional bandit group.

Archon's Folly: An altar/volcano in which the player has a showdown with Jack of Blade's dragon form. It lies beyond the Bronze Gate, and the magma that surrounds the ruined altar might explain why the Gate is boiling hot despite being located in the Northern Wastes.

It was rumoured that the Archon forged the Sword of Aeons in the fire behind the Bronze Gate, hence the name. Another plausible origin of Archon's Folly is that it is the "birthplace" of Jack of Blades, quite reasonable considering it seems to be the only place that could destroy his soul mask.

In Fable, the area is called Dragon Cliff. It is only accessible using a modded Xbox.

Archon's Shrine: Located in the Northern Wastes just outside of Snowspire, the Shrine is a complicated mystical mechanism that can only be activated by fueling it with the souls of 3 great Heroes; the soul of the champion, the soul of the heroine, and the "oldest soul". The Shrine controls the ancient Bronze Gate, which leads to Archon's Folly, a ruined palace of the Old Kingdom arrogantly built inside an active volcano. Albion lore holds that when the Bronze Gate opens, it will bring about the End of the World.

The Necropolis: A veritable city of the dead, a horror story frozen by both time and the ices of the North. Legend has it that a greedy man sold the secrets of the city's defense to an enemy force for wealth beyond imagination. He received his wealth, but only shortly after did a tide of darkness cut down all the citizens, himself included. Its denizens are said to not even be aware of their death, forever drifting between the very alive dangers that fill the city.

Northern Wastes: A land mass to the northwestern tip of Albion, subsequently forgotten by the people of its time. It is believed to be a complete frigid wasteland, even though some parts still inhabit life-forms. Access to the Northern Wastes (although it was believed to be called by a different name in its day) came to a sudden halt after the days of the Old Kingdom, ships never appeared in the harbor at The Lost Bay and probably any ship that tried to find its way got lost at sea. Other areas of the Northern Wastes are just barren tundra home to many vicious predators of ice.

Snowspire: Snowspire is an ancient town located deep in the Northern Wastes on the eastern landmass. The oracle of Albion is located there.

People of Repute

The Hero: The Hero is the main character of the game, whose birth name is never mentioned during the game. His appearance is customizable, and thus depends on the players' preferences. He is a descendant of Archon, the ruler of the Old Kingdom, and is destined to become the strongest and most powerful Hero of his time because of his bloodline.

Jack of Blades: It is not known how Jack of Blades came into existence, all that is known is that he, along with the Knight and Queen of Blades, came from a place known as The Void, which is possibly a realm populated by demigod-like inhabitants. In the Tales of Albion, a virtual book created by the Lionhead team working on Fable, it is told that the Knight, Jack, and the Queen of Blades came to Albion many years prior to the time known as The Old Kingdom. It was when the descended upon Albion that they ordered the people to bow before as if they were gods. The people of Albion refused to pledge fealty to Jack and his compatriots and in response they were punished for their decision. They were asked twice and they refused, and once again punishment was delivered up them. It was on the third time that the people of Albion, barely surviving from the previous punishments, bowed before Jack and his allies.

Not much is known about how the Knight, Queen, and Jack of Blades ruled, but it can be speculated that it was most likely a despotic reign. It seemed that all three ruled in a Triumvirate manner, Jack getting control of the northern lands. Jack and the other’s rule ended with the rise of William Black, who trained and eventual challenged Jack to a battle in which William stole the Sword of Aeons, which had been originally wielded by Jack himself. Later Jack and William would face off, resulting in the destruction of Jack’s body and a majority of his power (This has been speculated because of evidence pointing out the William was most likely vastly stronger than the Hero of Fable). Jack’s soul survived, returning to The Void.

Years past, and the Old Kingdom fell. Sometime after that Jack returned to Albion; it is highly likely that all records of his previous existence had been lost, the only being knowing Jack’s true identity being Scythe. It is at this time that Jack becomes a celebrity hero who acquires a vast amount of money, which allows him to buy the loyalty of the guards at Bargate Prison.

At the start of Fable, Jack formed a three-man conspiracy, containing Twinblade, Maze, and himself. Though each member had their own goal, they were able to formulate an attack on Oakvale, where Jack captured Scarlet Robe, Theresa’s and the “Hero’s” mother. Shortly after, Twinblade appears to have broken his ties with Jack and Maze in order to consolidate the bandit clans he had conquered. It is not known if Jack planned for the “Hero” to either kill or break Twinblade’s control of his unified bandit clan, but what is known is that he made no attempt to stop it either.

Later on in the game, Jack succeeds in bringing together Scarlet, Theresa, and the “Hero”. By previously activating the focus sites all over Albion, he was able to summon a weakened version of the Sword of Aeons. He proceeds to kill Scarlet and battle the “Hero”. He then is slain, but his soul returns later in the game, taking the form of a black dragon. He leaves behind his mask, which later on allows the player to absorb the power of various heroes if the player chooses to do so. At the end of game, if the player choices to have the “Hero” wear Jack’s mask, Jack possesses the hero instilling great power and corruption. Otherwise the Hero throws the mask into the volcano, destroying the mask and with it Jack.

Guildmaster (Weaver): The Guildmaster is one of the oldest Heroes alive. He operates the Heroes' Guild and is in charge of training Hero apprentices. The Guildmaster watches over every step of the Hero's journey through the Hero's adventure, often offering advice and issuing orders along the way. In Fable: The Lost Chapters, the Snowspire Oracle reveals that the Guildmaster's true name is Weaver, and that along with Maze, he led a bloody revolt against the previous Guild due to his belief that the Guild should not force its Heroes to walk the path of good, but rather should give them the freedom to choose their own destiny. Late in the game, the Hero is given a choice to kill the Guildmaster as a final requirement to fight Jack of Blades.

Maze: An old wizard and one of the strongest Heroes in the Heroes' Guild. Maze rescues the young Hero from bandits during the Oakvale raid, and takes him to the Heroes' Guild to be trained as an apprentice. He becomes a father figure to the Hero and helps to guide the Hero on his search for his missing family. However, the Hero eventually learns that Maze is in league with Jack of Blades, the being who destroyed Oakvale and killed the Hero's father. He in fact was part of Jack's raid and was left behind to kill the Hero. Upon seeing the boy, Maze had a change of heart and took the boy in, thinking that he could kill Jack. His hope wavered eventually and fear brought him back to Jack. The Hero then proceeds to kill Maze in battle, and before he dies Maze reveals that he helped Jack because he didn't want to die. In Fable: The Lost Chapters, the Snowspire Oracle reveals that as a young boy, Maze's parents were killed by Balverines, but Maze was saved from certain death by Jack of Blades and two Heroes (Jack killed the Balverines that were about to kill Maze, and then killed the Heroes). Maze was never able to escape from Jack's shadow.

Whisper: Whisper is the Hero's friend and sometimes his rival, and is an acrobatic fighter wielding a pole staff. Whisper and her older brother Thunder were stranded on Albion after a storm wrecked their ship and, subsequently, were raised in the Heroes' Guild. She trains with the Hero when he is a boy, and the two quickly develop a strong friendship and rivalry. Throughout the game, the Hero will be pitted in duels against Whisper, peaking at a fight to the death at the hands of Jack of Blades. During this battle the Hero will have to choose between killing her or sparing her life. In the latter case, it is later revealed by the Oracle, she returns to her land as a Hero.

Thunder: Thunder is Whisper's brother, and Champion of the Arena. He is initially disdainful of the Hero, and continues to look down on him throughout the game. Thunder is in love with Lady Grey and courts her obsessively and thus develops a grudge against the Hero when Lady Grey becomes interested in him instead, which intensifies with the death of Whisper, should the player choose to do so. Thunder makes a brief appearance near the end of the main story to aid the Hero in fighting off some of Jack of Blades' monsters.

Briar Rose: A very powerful and intelligent female Hero. She is from a noble background, but her family fell into hard times when she was a child, so she ended up joining the Heroes' Guild. She is more of a scholar than a fighter, and relies more on intelligence and magic rather than physical strength. Although she initially vilifies the Hero, Briar Rose slowly begins to respect him after the two fight together in quests against Jack of Blades' forces.

The Archaeologist: One of the only men to examine the ruins of the Old Kingdom of the era, his study of the Focus Sites and Old Kingdom passages put him at odds with Jack of Blades, and as a result he has become rather reclusive, hiding wherever he can. The Hero first meets him on a mission for Maze, who claimed he was an old friend of his. The Hero later saves him from Jack's minions, only for him to continue hiding. He escapes to the Cities of the West disguised as a glove trader. He then never stepped near a ruin or opened a book since.

Lady Elvira Grey: The seductive but villainous Mayor of Bowerstone; in her youth, Lady Grey was convinced by Jack of Blades to murder her older sister, Amanda, so that she could inherit the position of Mayor. The player finds Amanda's skeleton in the basement of the Grey family home, clutching a piece of parchment exposing Elvira as the murderer. In the original game, the Hero is given the option of marrying or not. In Fable: The Lost Chapters, the Hero may also expose her villainous deeds and take her place as Mayor.

Scarlet Robe: The Hero's mother, she was once a famous Slayer of Balverines, and was respected as Champion of the Arena and the greatest female hero. When she was severely injured by Balverines during a particular battle, Scarlet Robe was found and nursed back to health by Brom, and the two of them fell in love, became married, and raised a family. She is eventually killed by Jack of Blades to activate the Sword of Aeons.

Brom: The Hero's father, he is a woodcutter from Oakvale and married Scarlet Robe after he nursed her back to health when she was injured after an attack against a pack of Balverines in the arena. Afterward they had two children, Theresa and the Hero. Brom was killed in the bandit raid of Oakvale while fighting to protect his family. His statue is in the Oakvale Memorial Graveyard and his tombstone can be found in the Lychfield Graveyard.

Theresa: The Hero's older sister who has prophetic powers due to their ancient bloodline. During the Oakvale raid, Jack of Blades blinded her, and she was found by Twinblade and raised by bandits, eventually becoming Twinblade's second-in-command because of her prophetic powers. Despite her blindness, Theresa possesses extrasensory perception due to her exceptional Will abilities. However, she leaves Twinblade's service after he is defeated by the Hero. Searching for their mother on her own, Theresa is eventually captured by Jack of Blades. After the Hero defeats Jack of Blades, while the Hero and Theresa are in the Chamber of Fate, Theresa gives the Hero 2 options. The Hero can either kill Theresa and obtain the Sword of Aeons, or the Hero can let his sister live and throw away the Sword of Aeons. Either way, the Hero will never see Theresa again.

Twinblade: A gigantic ex-Hero who left the Guild to unite a dozen bandit factions and become the King of Bandits. When Maze alludes to him being responsible for the raid on Oakvale, the main character infiltrates his camp and defeats him personally. Before finishing the duel, the Hero is interrupted by his sister, who reveals that it was Twinblade who found her after the raid and saved her from a seemingly inevitable death. Teresa then leaves, and the Hero is given the choice of eliminating or sparing him. Either way, Twinblade or his followers later hire a band of assassins to try to kill the Hero.

Scythe: Scythe is an ancient Hero and one of the oldest beings in Albion. He is obsessed with cheating death, and he has only managed to live for so long because of supernatural means. He is a withered shell of a man, resembling a tall, mummified corpse. At the beginning of the game, he leaves for the distant Northern Wastes to guard the Oracle of Snowspire. He returns after the defeat of Jack of Blades to seek the Guild's help in battling a new threat to the region.

In the Tales of Albion it is strongly suggested that Scythe is the original Archon, William Black.[6][7] It is stated that Nostro's noblest actions were guided by Scythe. However when Nostro became corrupted Scythe left, only to return for Nostro's final hours of life.

Nostro: A deceased hero, once known as the Gatekeeper. When he was alive, Nostro founded the Heroes' Guild but was only happy with a blade in his hand. It is revealed that he had not died the way he wished because he had died at the hands of an assassin, who had poisoned him. Because of his manner of death, his soul wanders Lychfield in perpetual torment until the Hero defeats him in battle.