Brusau¶
"Brusau has been at constant war for as long as anyone can remember." (S319)
Contested
This page is named in two open questions. State of Brusau in 704 SM: the Rivenlands gazetteer (S319) has Queen Aalina Lorimer alive and Brusau an independent kingdom at war with the Imperium in Fall 704 SM, while the campaign sessions (S187-S191) have her dead and the kingdom ceded to the Sancturi by treaty. Legion garrisons in Dalmar: the fortified temple at Haddensfield is held by the 3rd Cohort of the VI Nightshade Legion in S190 and of the III in S191.
Brusau is a kingdom of the Riven Kingdoms "located along the broken sea between two Sancturi frontier provinces" (S319). It "has annexed many smaller kingdoms and had many skirmishes with Sancturi forces", and "the last Sancturi invasion about 5 years ago was only barely repulsed" (S319). Its people are Humans, Orcs, Lizardfolk, Oesterkull and Dwarves; its patron is Rakkar, Lord of Strength and Conquest; its capital is Altandon. Also spelled Brunsau (S149).
Government¶
The Lorimer Dynasty and its council, the Erubule, are a Factions page. In brief: the Lorimers have held the throne "for the last 20 years" after the Tabor dynasty "lost out in a political move and have been exterminated or exiled"; Queen Aalina Lorimer, 32, is "a stern and effective ruler ... an excellent military strategist" who "despises the Sancturi Gods and the Imperium" (S319). Her heirs are Prince Eofhelm, 8, and Princess Aylyld, 15. Ser Abram is Knight Commander of Brusau (S172). The kingdom's knightly orders, the Order of the First Star and the knights of the Blue Fire or Sapphire, are the Factions page's too (S187, S189).
Law and borders¶
"Magic use is permitted across Brusau, but the penalty for any serious crime committed with magic is death. Sancturi worship and proselytizing is forbidden and punishable by death. While Slavery is not legal, existing slaves and even Undead are tolerated" (S319). The borders are open, "however, Sancturi agents are considered enemies and will be arrested and ransomed or executed. Sancturi traders and mercenaries are allowed but treated with suspicion. They are often followed or checked up on by Brusian agents. Sancturi priests are normally turned back" (S319). The Keepers of Abaddon keep a Master Keeper in Brusau, Ryd Uglow, "one of the most experience Hollow-hunters still alive" (S319). Brusau Rangers, cavalry, patrol the roads in dozens (S162).
Economy¶
"Fishing, Hunting and Broken Sea trade routes are big income sources for Brusau. They are also well known for vegetable farming in the Hills" (S319; the hills' name is left blank in the source). Badengrove is farmland for grain and ale, with iron mining (S187). "Due to its aggressive nature, Brusau does not have many allies, though it does have treaties of non-aggression with several trading partners" (S319).
History¶
Brusau "invades and annexes 3 petty kingdom neighbors" in 652 SM (S326). From 700 SM the Nightshade Legions' Dalmar Campaign "took considerable Brusau territory", but "they have been pushed back by Brusau backed with Ozau mercenaries. There has been no major conflicts in the past year as both sides have become entrenched. Skirmishes and raids are common but the yield is generally low" (S326). The magus Vinias "led the White Fire to assist the Kingdom of Brusau in driving back the Imperium at the Battle of Beddenford" (S319); see Sancturi Campaigns. As of Fall 704 SM the Sancturi "are presently in a infrastructure and building phase before the next major offensive which most people predict to occur within the next year" (S319).
The treaty¶
The campaign tells a different ending. "After Queen Aalina Lorimer's death, the Erubule (council) made a treaty with the Sancturi. The remaining Lorimers (royal family) and the rest of the nobility have been granted provincial Sancturi citizenship (only valid in Brusau for 5 years .. afterwhich it will mature into full citizenship) in the reorganized province of Brusau. They retain their lands and wealth" (S187). The Sancturi, "given control of Brusau in a treaty", set the Arbitori Bannerguard and Covenant agents to "hunting worshippers of Arcantus" (S187, S189). The III Nightshade Legion holds Altandon; Brusau Rangers patrol under a Sancturi commander (S191); and an Abolean soul reaper was "on the loose in Brusau" (S191). The Sancturi wanted posters for the Dreadwitch Nicoleta accuse her of a "Demon plague on Brusau" (S192). Whether this is Brusau's fate or a parallel telling is the open question above.
Places¶
- Altandon, the capital, has its own page.
- Ablingen. Home of Matron Martyna, a priestess of Arya "powerful enough to break" a devil's pact, "but she is a busy woman consumed with other concerns" (S162).
- Nalren. A town on the road north from Floren; its inn is the Blue Horse (S162). The ruins of Kilmarn lie in the forest beyond it.
- Toffeld. Land in the hills above Toffeld was granted to the party's priest Almund for a temple of Arya, and architects commissioned (S187).
- Badengrove and Bainesgrove. Counties. Nicoleta was made Countess of Badengrove with its grain, ale and iron (S187); Lord Jasper holds Bainesgrove (S187).
- Haddensfield. Seat of Lord Heikama Naru and of the Verdant Knights' fortified temple under Master Ageric, which "has fallen and is presently occupied by the 3rd Cohort" of a Nightshade Legion, Commander Ariharu; Ageric and Knight Berno were held and tortured there (S190, S191). Its inn is the Bruised Bailey, kept by Regoleo, in indentured servitude to pay off 120 imperials (S191).
- The Halls of Methusial. An underground sanctuary of the hidden sect of Arcantus in Brusau, named for the Archwizard Methusial: three archways, twelve alcoves, a hall of lights, bedrooms, offices and religious texts, an armoury of "dozens" of sets of golden plate, and a stable with horse and griffon figurines that call their beasts. The Book of the Eye in the Ancient High Kalari language was kept here (S186).
- A Grand Aryan Temple stands "in the north" (S172); the party's priest Almund went south for the Brusau Aryal Conclave (S189).
- A medium-sized town of Brunsau has a thieves' guild, to which the rogue Neven Hayes belonged (S149).
In Play¶
Brusau is the Sancturi Campaign's second home: the party's mercenary company, "The Doomguard", formed in a fishing village of eighteen houses two and a half days from Altandon (S187). A plot note left Brusau's own storyline unwritten: "Brusau : ??" (S133). The Namakan runeblade Kagara, recruiting for a Sancturi task force against Amer, "will be in Brusau" (S179, S180). Ruins of Brusau lie in the Sunaram Cluster of the Rift in a later age (S066).
Gap
The sources do not name the two Sancturi provinces that flank Brusau, the three petty kingdoms annexed in 652 SM, or the hills famous for its vegetables.