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Gunpowder Plot

The Gunpowder Plot was an attempt to overthrow the British government in November 1605. On 5 November, Guy Fawkes tried to blow up Parliament as part of a Catholic plan to kill the Protestant King James I and VI of England and Scotland respectively. His failure was later celebrated every year as Bonfire Night. (PROSE: The Night After Hallowe'en)

Four different incarnations of the Doctor became involved in the events: the First, (PROSE: The Plotters) the Sixth, (COMIC: The Bits We've Missed So Far) the Eleventh, (GAME: The Gunpowder Plot) and the Thirteenth. (PROSE: Black Powder)

History

Origin

Fawkes learned to use gunpowder when he fought alongside the Spanish against Dutch Protestants. (GAME: The Gunpowder Plot)

The Plot

The Eleventh Doctor posed as a fellow conspirator. He nicknamed Fawkes "Guido" and assisted him in finding fuse wire which Fawkes had previously thrown over London Bridge to allay suspicion. The Doctor, for his part, wanted to learn about the involvement of the Rutan known as Lady Winters and for history to proceed according to its known course.

On November 5th, (COMIC: The Bits We've Missed So Far, PROSE: Black Powder) 1605, (PROSE: Black Powder) Fawkes was trapped in a locked room filled with barrels of gunpowder beneath Parliament. He lit five of them in another room to launch Lady Winters' Rutan ship as the Eleventh Doctor briefly put Parliament safely in orbit. When he attempted to set off the remaining thirty-six, King James' men came for him. (GAME: The Gunpowder Plot) Moments before he was captured for his crimes, the Eleventh Doctor appeared in TARDIS and took him to Amy and Rory's home in 21st century London. The Doctor asked Fawkes to set off fireworks for them, but he blew up Amy's shed with them instead. The Doctor suggested they leave because Amy was working herself into a fury. (COMIC: Gunpowder, Time Lord and Plot) Eventually, Fawkes was captured for his crimes. (GAME: The Gunpowder Plot)

Fawkes gets TARDIS'd
The plot is foiled. (COMIC: The Bits We've Missed So Far)

According to one account, his plot was foiled when the Sixth Doctor crashed his TARDIS into him moments before he was to blow up the Houses of Parliament. (COMIC: The Bits We've Missed So Far)

The Thirteenth Doctor and Yaz witnessed Fawkes getting captured but stayed in hiding to prevent a future where Parliament was destroyed. However, they were unable to stop Berthold Schwarz from doing so. After finding Schwarz cursed in the far future, they brought him back to 1605 where his past self chose not to commit the crime, returning history to normal. (PROSE: Black Powder)

Aftermath

One account suggests that after the collapse of the plot, Robert Catesby and Sir Thomas Percy fled to Holbech House in Staffordshire. They were shot and killed by the Sheriff of Worcester's men. Also killed was the genuine Guy Fawkes. The presence of the First Doctor and his companions had altered history so Fawkes died a year early. Sir Robert Cecil, King James' chief minister, immediately seized upon the political opportunity inherent in a dead Fawkes. He fingered his political rival, Robert Hay, as Fawkes, allowing for Hay's execution under Fawkes' name the next year. History thus healed itself. (PROSE: The Plotters)

Fawkes' failure was celebrated yearly on Bonfire Night, when effigies of him were burned. During one of these celebrations, an alien animated the dummies to attack the crowd. Following the death of the alien, they returned to normal. (PROSE: The Night After Hallowe'en)

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