1: In the beginning, the Galaxy was inhabited by an immensely powerful race known as the Aerolk, who vanished long before any of the modern races of Known Space emerged.

2: Humanity evolved on a planet known as Url. After several thousand years they almost destroyed themselves in a catastrophic war. Survivors escaped the now-uninhabitable planet in a migration known as the Scattering.

3: Descendants of these survivors divided into three 'camps': those who saw peace as the best way, those who saw war as the best way, and those who revered only money. The first became the Guild, the second became the Sphere and the third became the Company.

4: The founders of the Guild were based on the planet they called (with no imagination whatsoever) Guildhome, while the Sphere was centered on a planet called Arth. Thus the Sphere is properly called the Arthirian Sphere. The Company only has one major base of operations - a planet (?) called simply Headquarters. Their financial empire extends throughout Known Space.

5: Guild and Sphere inevitably came into conflict. Although their philosophy was one of peaceful coexistence, the Guild maintained a large and efficient military force, and finally they won the war. The resulting economic chaos almost tore the Sphere apart, and the hard line military government was replaced by one that was a little more progressive. Although military endeavour still features highly in the Arthirian psyche, it is no longer the be-all and end-all.

6: What followed was a period of prosperity for the Guild. Many alien races and planets were accepted as members of the Guild.

8: Meanwhile, the cat-like Zin-Shee had been expanding their Matriarchy for millenia, based on conquest and enslavement of the races they encountered. Their expansion stopped, however, when they came upon the planet Calemor.

9: The inhabitants of Calemor (known as Calemora) were masters of the fighting disciplines and a power known as Psychosomatics. The Calemora and the Zin-Shee were a match for each other, and the war between the two lasted for several thousand years. It was known as the Blood Feud, and it became a part of the culture of both races. The Zin-Shee capital was moved closer to Calemor in order to better manage the war.

10: Observers from the Guild arrived at Calemor and stopped the war,inviting both parties to become part of the Guild. The Calemora readily accepted, but the Zin-Shee were divided. Even now there are Zin-Shee planets that are exclusively part of the Guild, Zin-Shee planets that are exclusively part of the Matriarchy, and some planets hold dual citizenship.

11: The friendly Zin-Shee told the Guild about a race known as the Draca. The Draca believe in the inferiority of the flesh, and the modification of the body using cybernetic technology. They also believed in testing the strength any new races they encountered, and if they were found wanting they were wiped out. They had committed genocide on many dozens of races before the Guild made contact.

12: Advised by the Zin-Shee, Guild ambassadors made contact with the Draca, and were able to demonstrate that the Guild was strong enough to withstand a Dracan onslaught. Some Draca still believe that the Guild should be tested, but the majority accept the Guild's strength and their right to survive. The Dracan Holding, however, is not a part of the Guild. Some Draca have left the Holding and taken citizenship with the Guild, but this is by no means common.

13: Then the Empire invaded Guildspace. The Empire is a comglomeration of the Katha, who are the masters, and their many slave races. This invasion almost wiped out the Guild. The Sphere mantained a carefully neutral stance. They covertly funneled arms and assistance to the Guild, but maintained their position of overt neutrality in the hopes of brokering a good deal with the Empire should they prove victorious.

14: The Empire suddenly broke off hostilities with the Guild for no apparent reason. It has been speculated that another, more powerful enemy emerged on the other side of the Empire, and their military forces were required to counter this new threat. No-one knows for sure.

15: As part of the post-war negotiations, an area of space between Guild and Empire was set aside as a demilitarised zone (now known simply as the Zone), and the Arthirians were given the responsibility of patrolling it, which they have done with admirable efficiency. The Zone is now one of the safest regions of known space.

16: The situation now stands: The Guild and the Empire are the largest states in Known Space, and between them is the Zone and the Sphere. The Zin-Shee Matriarchy and the Dracan Holding are also large states coreward of the Guild, with many planets under their control. Zin-Shee expansion is still continuing coreward in the old way. The planet Calemor lies at the border between the Guild and the Matriarchy. Many people in the Guild believe that the Empire is preparing for a new invasion, although these rumours have not been confirmed.