Within the fictional historical setting of Avalon, there previously existed many ways to travel from Earth to Avalon and back during ancient times, which were created by the Twelve Walkers. Six of the Twelve Walkers created false paths that would lead travelers to dangerous places or drive them to the point of insanity, which resulted in a backlash from the human inhabitants of Earth against all magical creatures. [2] At this point, many of the magical creatures relocated to Avalon and left most of the paths between Earth and Avalon destroyed, with only a few remaining functional.
Merlyn, Roma, and the Starlight Citadel
Merlyn created the Starlight Citadel, located on a different island than Avalon. From the Starlight Citadel he founded the Captain Britain Corps, a group of superhuman heroes who would patrol the countless Earths in the Omniverse. Merlyn became the Omniversal Guardian and was assisted in his task by the Omniversal Majestor/Majestrix. His task was to safeguard the Omniverse against any threats and the technology Merlyn provided was capable of destroying entire universes that posed a serious danger. When Mad Jim Jaspers appeared, Merlyn faked his death and was replaced by Roma as Omniversal Guardian. Saturnyne became the Omniversal Majestrix.
Years later, Mastermind conquered the island of the Starlight Citadel, destroying most of the Captain Britain Corps and disguising himself as Roma. Mastermind wanted the Amulet of Right and the Sword of Might, two mystical artifacts which had once empowered Brian Braddock, also known as Captain Britain and his enemy Joshua Stragg, the Reaver. Braddock found the artifacts before Mastermind and discovered that he was the rightful heir to them. Through the use of those artifacts, he was able to defeat Mastermind, and Roma named him the new ruler of Avalon, whilst remaining as his advisor. Brian recently left his throne after the events in House of M and returned to Earth.
The Island of Avalon and the Celtic Gods
On the island of Avalon, home to the Celtic Gods also known as the Tuatha da Danaan, druids would forge the magical artifact known as the Evil Eye. The Eye was given to Prester John, who traveled back to Earth with it. The Celtic Gods themselves would have an endless war with the Fomorians, who would try to invade Avalon repeatedly. The Celtic Gods would receive assistance from Thor in repelling several invasions.
One of the Celtic Gods, the Lady of the Lake, safeguarded Excalibur, King Arthur's sword. She became a close ally of the Black Knight and even gave him Excalibur when he lost his weapon, the Ebony Blade. Years later, the Lady of the Lake gave the Black Knight his new weapons: the Sword of Light and the Shield of Night. In return the Black Knight became her protector. The Black Knight would often travel between Earth and Avalon and seek the Lady of the Lake for advice.
Avalon is also the home of the Green Knight, a primordial nature spirit. From the Green Chapel he empowers select warriors as his Pendragons to battle the servants of the Red Lord and his followers; known as the Bane. Pendragons of the past include Arthur, Merlin & the Knights of the Round Table, Robin Hood and the Merry Men, the World War I superhero Albion, Detective Dai Thomas, Captain Britain, Union Jack, and others.
The Lady of the Lake called Black Knight "The new Pendragon" when she gave him the Sword of Light and Shield of Night, it is unclear if Dane was tapping into the same mystical power that empowered the other Pendragon Knights.
The Manchester Gods
A druid by the name of Master Wilson spontaneously materialized in the north of the Otherworld as a personification of the industrialization and urbanization of present-day Britain.[8] He held the belief that the monarchies that predominated the Otherworld for centuries were unjust for the townsfolk, and that it was time for Avalon to urbanize and modernize so that it could more accurately reflect the collective subconscious of present-day Britain.[9] To achieve this, Master Wilson struck a deal with the fire demon Surtur of Muspelheim, whereby Surtur provided Master Wilson with the raw power to construct massive mechanized cities known as the "Manchester Gods" to wage war upon Merlyn, Captain Britain, the Tuatha da Dannan, Pendragon's Court, and the other ruling elite of Avalon.[10] Within the comics, following a destructive war, Master Wilson and the Manchester Gods forced the leaders of Avalon to sign an armistice and surrender, thereby establishing parliamentary democracy.[11]
However, when Surtur later assaulted the Nine Realms of Asgard using the technology of the Manchester Gods, the Asgardians Thor and Loki traveled to Otherworld and confronted Master Wilson, who was depicted as being regretful of having unwittingly helped Surtur and subsequently sacrificed himself and the Manchester Gods to stop Surtur's plan in the Nine Realms.
