[color=black][center][i][h2][b]B[/b]roacien[/h2][/i][/center][/color]

[center][h3][color=black][b]A[/b]n [b]O[/b]verview[/color][/h3][/center]

In this small overview, you will be told about the history of Broacien in accordance to the records and books inside the king's library. However, if you're looking for glory, bloodshed and a small but [i]defiant[/i] kingdom that stood alone, impoverished and without power, against a greater empire and won, you'd best look elsewhere. The kingdom of Broacien only knows those tales from long, long ago as their recent years have been spent more in servitude of other kingdoms and empires. 

But one thing that has become clear through that; [i]the lands of Broacien may be conquered, the hearts of men and women on these lands can never be taken.[/i] Over the years they have been conquered, but broken free time and time again. This is seen in the borders of the country too, which grew slightly every time they broke free, taking pieces of land in the rebellions. As such they have grown from a mediocre piece of land, merely contested by large countries for the sake of bloodshed and greed, into a force to be reckoned with.

[center][IMG]http://i60.tinypic.com/2dtt69x.jpg[/IMG][/center]

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[hider=Barren Flats][center][h3][color=black][b]B[/b]arren [b]F[/b]lats[/color][/h3][/center]

[center][IMG]http://i61.tinypic.com/jl6vwl.jpg[/IMG]
[i]“A sheep farmer, with his small but comfortable house.”[/i][/center]

The Barren Flats are the region in the most north of Broecien, named after it's flat, but desolate and barren lands. As a result of the lack of anything noteworthy here, the region only produces fleece, besides small sustainability farming. There are many sheep farms in the area, each with a small flock. Besides the flat lands that lie here, there are also many forests with pinetree's. As a result of that the wood industry is also quite big here, with most of the wood travelling to the Barren Hall to fortify it, atleast recently. With the area being so grand, but having little capability of sustaining a large populace, the population here is very spread out. It can sometimes take three days on horseback to deliver a message to your neighbour, although this differs greatly in the area.

The Barren Hall is the keep most prominently present in the [i]Barren Flats[/i], in the main passage way from the kingdom into the [b]North.[/b] It is essentially the last stop before you enter a white wasteland of snow and ice, and therefore it doesn't see many people travelling by. This is not an issue, however. The keep features large, high walls, grande towers and many positions for archers. The castle was clearly made with the intent of stopping tribal attacks, as well as providing a toll point on one of the few passable mountain passes in the area. The Barren Hall acts as the main fortress in the area, and is under command of lord Jachsen of Hayhill, a young noble lord who wishes to prove his skill to the king with martial skills. As such he has made it his mission to greatly increase both the number, as well as the skill, of the local militia hailing from the area surrounding the Barren Hall.

[hider=Barren Hall][center][IMG]http://i57.tinypic.com/1z225nb.jpg[/IMG][/center]
[center][i]“Barren Hall, in the Cold Valley.”[/i][/center]

As stated before, the Barren Hall is more or less the final frontier between the North and Broacien. There is barely any trade, save the wood and stone that are brought to the castle on orders of lord Jachsen of Hayhill, who is currently reinforcing the castle to ensure it stays in top condition. It holds a strategic position in the Cold Valley, in the mountains that are known as the Rivenrange after the man who first found passage through them. This allows it to effectively toll who ever does pass by, although this isn't many people. 

The fortress features many rooms, which is to be expected given it's gigantic size. The towers alone are easily the size of a windmill and a half. Inside the towers there are numerous barracks in the lower floors, and arrow-staches in the higher floors. At the second highest floor, before the shooting platform, there are several braziers on each tower, ready to be hauled up the stairs quickly and to be lit, in case archers need to fire flaming arrows.

As for the main keep, which is equally as grand as the towers, there are several large rooms. For one, there's a large feasting hall, complete with a very large, single wooden table running down the center, and smaller tables on the side. Besides this feasting hall, there is many bed rooms, reserved mostly for noble courtiers, who work for lord Jachsen in different tasks, although guest rooms are also available. The armory is also located in the main keep, as well as a working room and a 'throne room' although it really is just a large wooden throne at the center of the keep, with a red carpet in front of it, so that lord Jachsen can hear of issues, complaints and suggestions.[/hider]
[hider=Rochwin Village][center][img]http://pre03.deviantart.net/6d7b/th/pre/i/2013/075/2/c/castle_by_woutart-d5y53td.png[/img][/center][center]
[i]“Rochwin village, with it's castle-keep atop the hill.”[/i][/center]

Rochwin village is [i]one[/i] of the very, very few villages in the Barren Flats. It's main feature is a tavern, which is a rare sight in the Barren Flats. “The Red Rat” is the last tavern stop before you reach the Barren Hall, after which you will essentially have no more access to a warm fire with some nice ale and a tavern wench to please you. The Red Rat seems to be the main reason people come to this village, with barely another handful of people living here. There are, likely, more visitors than inhabitants at any given time. 

Besides the Red Rat there is also the local marketplace, which sets up every 3th of the month. Many Flatlanders come to Rochwin village simply for the marketplace, as it's a chance to meet others, to buy and sell goods and to simply have a good time. The local superior, an earl named Towin, is in service of lord Jachsen of the Barren Hall. He is the one that leads here in his place, and is tasked with making the village as profitable as he can.[/hider]
[hider=Iochlan Ruins][center][img]http://pre14.deviantart.net/a49a/th/pre/f/2011/115/6/1/fog_in_the_dawn_by_andreasrocha-d3ev9hp.jpg[/img]
[i]“The Iochlan ruins, all that remains of a past many wish to forget.”[/i][/center]

At the border between the Barren Flats and the western swamp and grasslands, the Iochlan ruins are remnants of history left by the Broacienians. The ruins remain used as a military outpost, albeit temporarily. A military encampment is generally always to be found in these ruins, to scout and protect the western border against invaders and intruders. The area is less barren than the rest of the Barren flats, however that doesn't mean people do live here. It's said there is a curse upon this ruin, and the area around it, although that is more than likely common folk superstitions. Never the less the area is empty, and nature flourishes. Poachers can frequently be seen in the forests surrounding the ruins, as the hunting here is good. As a soldier, being stationed at the Iochlan ruins is generally a punitive measure taken against you for whatever you have done, as long as it was only a small offense. Given the fact that the ruins are covered in mist more often than not, the area has a very eerie feeling to it and travellers will often go [i]around[/i] the ruins rather than past them by boat, since it's considered bad luck to travel through mist in a boat.

The history of the ruins are rich, as they were used in the first rebellion against the kingdom that ruled over Broacien, at that time still a formidable castle rather than a heap of stones and moss. Never the less, it was used for multiple more rebellions until the first Broacienian king rose and proclaimed it [i]his[/i] keep and it became the capital of Broacien. The glory was short lived, but grand. Shortly after Broacien came under attack by a stronger force, who catapulted the fort of Iochlan keep into the heap of stone it is now. [/hider][/hider]

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[hider=Grosswick][center][h3][color=black][b]G[/b]rosswick[/color][/h3][/center]

Grosswick is the name of the center region, where the forests are green and the grass is.. greener. There are many farms here, mostly tending to the production of grains and potatoes, and other such foods. There is also small scale horse breeding going on, but there's no entire industry dedicated to it. Instead, a horse just gets made 'naturally.' There are many forests, rivers and open fields in Grosswick. It's also the largest region of all in Broacien.

There are noticeably more keeps and castles here, although they are smaller than those in other regions. This is due to the fact that many of the nobility are centered around the town, paired with the castle-keep, of the king. The town and castle are, together, called [b]Hoffburgt[/b], which is located in the utmost north-east corner of Grosswick, on the cliffs near the Crashing Gulfs. The entire region of Grosswick, as well as Broacien, is ruled by king [b]Gregar Barin Grochain[/b].

Grosswick seems mostly the political center of Broacien, ofcourse due to the presence of the king and his sons and daughters. The court is always filled with nobleman, knights, merchants, wealthy people and peasants who have a complaint to make to the king. Grosswick seems to have the largest amount of population in the entirety of Broacien, although getting a census for this has proven pretty impossible, even with the help of the Monarchist church.

[hider=Hoffburgt - keep][center][IMG]http://i61.tinypic.com/2nqdsf6.png[/IMG]
[i]“Hoffburgt, royal and noble. It's keep is inpenetrable, but can the same be said of the town?”[/i][/center]

The Hoffburgt is the capital of Broacien and the staying place of the king, lord Gregar Barin Grochain.It features both a town, which is on the cliff itself, and a castle-keep, which stands on a hill in the water, the rocky approach making it virtually impossible to climb to the top. The only access point from the sea is the docks, which are at the back of the hill, and which is closely guarded. Besides that there is a gigantic drawing bridge that spans across the gap between the hill and the cliff.

The Hoffburgt, with it's political focus, needs gigantic rooms for accomodation for courtiers, noblemen, knights and ladies-in-waiting, as well as bedrooms for the royal family, for others that are staying there. As such, there are many many bedrooms available. Besides that there are atleast 3 feasting halls, each equal in size and interior. All have lots of tables, firepits and have direct access to their own kitchens. The throne hall is triple the size of the one in the Barren Hall, which was already a large hall. It has enougn space to fit 400 people at once, as well as 150 more knights to guard whatever ceremony demands that much people.

In the keeps courtyard, there is a large 'park' with flowers and trees, as well as bushes, where many nobles come to relax during the days when the sun shines. There are sandy paths here with benches lining alongside them. However, do not expect to see the peasantry spending their days here. Only the rich and noble come here, and even then it's mostly the women as men see it mainly as a waste of time.

In the keep itself, there's a square courtyard that features training dummies and the likes, as well as a room with an armory in it. This is where the castle guard trains and arms themselves, preparing themselves in the case of an uprising, or an attack. And giving the unstable and finnicky political environment, it's probably best that these men train as hard as they can.[/hider]

[hider=Hoffburgt - town][center][IMG]http://i62.tinypic.com/20p3tw1.jpg[/IMG]
[i]“The town of Hoffburgt, seen from across lake Penried.”[/i][/center]

The town of Hoffburgt is a stark contrast to the keep that stands near it. Where as the keep is mostly a signature of nobility and strength, the town resembles more something amongst the lines of poverty and criminality. Although not all is bad, the town simply has a bad atmosphere, which paired with it's dark alleyways and corners, combines into a dark town with ample opportunity to strike from a dark corner. 

People in the town thrive mostly off of the nearby iron and coal mines, as well as hunting, farming and woodcutting industries. None the less there is still a large part of the town that doesn't have much money, being forced to pay everything to rent, food and, if they live in the wrong neighbourhood, protection from criminals, [i]against[/i] criminals. [/hider]

[hider=Motte Alcen][center][IMG]http://i59.tinypic.com/2qs5wlt.jpg[/IMG]
[i]“Motte Alcen, a small keep near the Pentol river, where it heaves tolls.”[/i][/center]

Motte Alcen is a military keep, with practically no civilians nearby. It's a permanent stationing location with a small garrison, which controls the Pentol river to ensure that all those that sail across it, travelling either west to east, or east to west, pay their due toll. Besides the toll, they are also stationed there to maintain control of the area, as it's located on the east border, which is a contested area by nearby kingdoms. A permanent stationing area is the only way Broacien can maintain it's influence in the area, whilst the small size is small enough to ensure that not too many men are lost. 

In the keep there are very little things to do. Daily tasks of the local garrison include training, keeping watch on the wall, heaving tolls and ensuring the safety on the river. Inside the walls are a small barracks, a very small armory, and a small tavern for those visitors who wish to spend the night. Besides that there's also a house which has room for wives and children of stationed soldiers. In the larger keep atop the hill there is also a falconry set up, with both pigeons for delivering messages, as well as a set of falcons for hunting. The motte Alcen get's it's supplies by verdict of the king, who has ordered a nearby village to supply them with food and drink each week, as well as to deliver repaired weaponry and armor, and to take back broken or damaged items for repairing. This way, a tight connection has been established between this village and the motte, which means that ultimately the two are seen as one. [/hider][/hider]

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[hider=Murkran][center][h3][color=black][b]M[/b]urkran[/color][/h3][/center]

[center][img]http://orig09.deviantart.net/939c/f/2012/206/a/6/swamp_by_maykrender-d58itbt.jpg[/img]
[i]“Murkran, where the water holds bodies of centuries ago.”[/i][/center]

Murkran is the name of the swampy, grassy area to the west. It is home to an exquisite diversity in interesting points of interest, and many explorers have travelled here to simply investigate the wildlife. The swamps are home to many interesting newts, salamanders, snakes and frogs and toads. Besides the travellers and explorers that come here, caravans also frequently pass through here on the Pentol river, which flows from west to east, from the great mountains in the far west, to the Raging Gulfs in the east. 

The main stronghold of this area is the [b]Witches' Crest[/b] which is commanded by lord Griven of Lanthford, an old and battle weary man. Old lord Griven has fought in many of the campaigns and even fought in the last Broacienian rebellion. As such, he is more than double worth his rank, and is well respected throughout the realm, although some now doubt his skills since he's growing old and senile. Never the less he commands the Witches' Crest and maintains it with remarkable skill, as the Crest has flourished over the last few years. 

[hider=Witches' Crest]The Witches' Crest is a small keep, especially compared to the others, that stands on an island in the swamps. It's largest tower gives it a clear vision over the swamp, but since there are many trees there, it's hard to see anything. Never the less the area around the swamp has been clearcut to the extent where it can be possible to spot attackers somewhat sooner. 

The Witches' Crest is not really anything noteworthy - it has no feasting halls, it has a small throne room, and it has a barracks. The armory is always understocked and the town outside of the Crest is half abandoned. Never the less, the keep has recently increased it's profits by building a toll post on the Pentol river. People who do not want to pass by this post now need to fare around, costing atleast another week. 

People in the Witches' Crest are traditionally very, very religious and mostly belong to the strongest believing branch of the faith, who will burn you at the stake for something as simple as adultery. This is, consequently, where the name of the keep comes from. It was the place where the local populace rounded up the local populace, lit a pyre and burned the witches that inhabited the swamps. Ofcourse, not all witches were caught, as the witches were very smart. Never the less many witches died that day - some innocent, some of them questionable. Soon after a wall was built around the pyre, to prevent intruders from watching, or interfering. This wall slowly evolved into the castle it is today.[/hider]

[hider=Carliffs Cliff]Carliffs Cliff is the location of, presumedly, sacrificial rituals held by either witches or people that follow the Nordic pantheon, or possibly both. Human remains litter the area, and there's a large round stone at the center of the cliff's top, as well as three large runestones facing towards this round stone. It's unclear to Monarchistic explorers what this location is, but luckily for whom ever uses this location, it has remained mostly hidden and not many people have found it's location. Even if they had, it might've been discarded as century old relics. 

When looking down from the cliff you can see clearly all over the swamps, and perhaps even make out specs of people, whether they be hunters, travellers, explorers, or perhaps even a lone witch who is returning to her swamp shack with new plants.[/hider][/hider]

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[hider=Redsand][center][h3][color=black][b]R[/b]edsand[/color][/h3][/center]

Redsand is a very small frontier to the south, just before the borders of Broacien clash with the ibn-Wahad sultanate's borders. Being a small frontier, the region can hardly be called a region, but never the less it is so diverse and different from the others that the king has issued a decree stating that Redsand is to be seen as a place to do battle with the Sultan, Kamil al-ibn-Wahad, if the time comes. As such there is little to be found here except for Coedwin. The region is not under noble command, as there are no noblemen living in this area as of yet. As of that reason, the region is commanded by commander Reginald Griswich, a veteran from the kings castle guard, who has now been put in charge of Coedwin.

The area is arid, and there is almost no resources here. As such all the resources Coedwin needs are supplied by caravans that travel there every month. Main supplies delivered here are food, drink and weaponry and armor, as well as additional recruits to be stationed here. However, unlike in the North, Redsand is an open land, with many sandy plains. As such there is no natural chokehold and Coedwin is merely a station, rather than a defendable location. If the Sultan wanted, he could ride straight past Coedwin. 

[hider=Coedwin][center][IMG]http://i61.tinypic.com/2wgx43r.jpg[/IMG]
[i]“Formerly Jawai al-Qasar castle, this keep was taken from the sultanate in the last holy war they launched against Broacien.”[/i][/center]

Coedwin is a large castle that defends the realm of Broacien against the Sultans' attacks if they were to occur again, in the name of Sawarim. As such he Monarchistic priests greatly support the existence of Coedwin and pressure the king in investing in it's reinforcement. The king, unwillingly, follows their suggestion and he has sent several of his castle guard there, to help with both the training and the tactical reinforcements of the keep itself.

Besides the obvious tasks and features, Coedwin is also host to the barracks of the [b]Servants.[/b] The Servants are the most zealous and pious men of the Monarchists, who ride to battle for both king and religion. This religious order was created in order to efficiently combat the Sultanate, which had far more troops, and as such these are some of the best trained troops Broacien has to offer. It should probably be mentioned, however, that the title of 'best trained' doesn't mean much when the majority of your army will always be peasant levies.[/hider][/hider]

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[hider=Neighbours][color=black][center][i][h2][b]N[/b]eighbours[/h2][/i][/center][/color]

[center][h3][color=black][b]I[/b]bn-[b]W[/b]ahad [b]S[/b]ultanate[/color][/h3][/center]

[center][IMG]http://i62.tinypic.com/2cx7wbk.jpg[/IMG][/center]
[center][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXHGCLkQOLM]A Sawarim chant, to be sung before battle with infidels.[/url][/center]

The ibn-Wahad sultanate is a collection of desert lords, desert tribes and loosely organised village federations, all coming together under the banner of Kamil al-ibn-Wahad. They follow the Sawarim religion, believing in God and his wife. Their religion heavily conflicts with the Monarchists in the north, and as such they have launched several invasion attempts that have often been thwarted, but have resulted in massive casualties on the Broacienian sides. Their invasions were usually followed up by invasions from neighbouring countries who saw a weakened Broacien and grabbed their chance. Because of the history a lot of prejudice and hatred exists for those from the desert lands. 'Desert lords' as they are called are often mistreated in Broacien and it's for that reason that there isn't many, if any at all, to be found in Broacien. 

In the sultanate, there's a heavy fixation on following faith. Those who do not believe, or are not a hundred percent dedicated to faith, are outcasted and will have to live their life in shame on the outskirts of society. Besides that, horses play an important role in society as well as in their armies. If a man can ride a horse, he instantly rises on the social ladders. For that reason a lot of low born peasants attempt to learn how to ride a horse, by stealing them. For some strange reason, that Broacienians don't understand, if you steal a horse and get away with it, you can keep it because it shows you learned how to ride a horse while stealing it - you are worthy of that horse. A strange practice, though it rests in practicality.

Besides horses there is also a large fixture on family in the sultanate. Where the Broacienians focus solely on the nuclear family, meaning parents and child, the desert lords and their people focus on the entire extended family, grandfathers, uncles, great grandmothers. It's all important, and they live on a basis of 'honor your forefathers'. Burials are, for that reason, a very big thing. Even lowborn people have large and exciting burials, with grand tombs that are either placed on holy sites, or that are placed underneath the house of the family. 

[center][img]http://pre08.deviantart.net/62b3/th/pre/f/2012/179/7/7/approaching_the_prey_by_kamikazuh-d5584z3.jpg[/img]
[i]“A desert lord tracker lies in wait, spying on a caravan of Broacien traders. There will be slavery and rape tonight.”[/i][/center]

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[center][h3][color=black][b]T[/b]he [b]N[/b]orth[/color][/h3][/center]

The North, not as much a name as it is a direction. The North is home to many tribal federations who struggle with eachother for hunting grounds to obtain food, since the land there is even more barren and snowy than the Barren Flats in Broacien. The people living here all follow the Nordic pantheon, with many gods each with their own speciality. 

At best the people living here are pagans and heathens, at worst they are savage. The differences in morals and norms are a complete opposite of the Monarchists, and it's more likely that a Monarchist would find something compareable in the Sawarim than in the Nordic pantheon. Never the less, the people here are somewhat friendly towards the south, not coming closer than the mountain pass ever since the Barren Hall was constructed. Now they only show up to the Barren Hall to trade fur and such for foods and drinks, and perhaps a weapon. 

The societies in the North are constructed around a family, which is usually about 3-4 families with the same ancestors. These are a single group, which will then group up with others when needed, such as during hunting seasons. The women stay at camp, keeping a fire and the kids safe, while the men go hunt. The hunting groups can reach anywhere between 10 males to 30 males. Common hunting targets are white hares, stags and, when the time is ripe, seals from the frozen over Crashing Gulfs.

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[center][h3][color=black][b]T[/b]he [b]E[/b]astern [b]H[/b]orsemen[/color][/h3][/center]

Where the Grosswick plains end, the land curves up in a mountain range that has never been crossed by man, and then rolls down into a grassy field full of horses, atleast if you believe those drunkards in the inns who claim to have explored it. Although this isn't completely true, there's a core of truth in it.

In the east, there is a mountain range that has indeed never been crossed once, and at the other side of this mountain range lies grassy steppes that go on for miles without end. The horsemen of the east roam here, a society constructed on owning horses and archery proweess. These people follow their own version of the Nordic pantheon, having given them more suitable names in their tongue, as well as changing their gods meanings and ideas. 

Not much is known of these people, after all, these people have never crossed the mountains, and neither have the Broacienians. Perhaps one day, someone or some group will find a passage across the mountains and pass into these lands to make contact, and see what these horsemen will say? Perhaps they will answer with words, or perhaps with arrows. Time will tell.

[center][h3][color=black][b]T[/b]he [b]W[/b]est [b]B[/b]order[/color][/h3][/center]

On the west border lie two countries, one lead by king, the other by queen. And the king and queen, they both bear the same surname, being brother and sister. These kingdoms are Cherwin and Ridran, who are lead by king Rechwan Tourlais, and queen Anne Tourlais. These two kingdoms are not at war, as one would expect, but have a strong binding alliance. The two kingdoms were, not long ago, part of a single kingdom which was Cherwin, whom controlled bith the areas of Cherwin and Ridran, as well as holding a small piece of Broacien. But with the death of the old king, the lands were split in two and handed to his two children, Anne and Rechwan. 

Now, the most north country of the two, Ridran, lead by queen Anne, has gone to war with the tribal federations. Queen Anne wishes to take control of several parts of the north, to extend her influence and have more land for herself. Perhaps she wishes to overtake her brother, and to claim his lands as hers. It's only guesswork, and as long as she fails at her military endeavours, she will never show her brother how capable she is.

In the war that has been going on for two years now, the Ridranian soldiers march into the white lands of the North, only to be forced to fall back by heavy snowfall and skirmishing tribes. Never the less queen Anne seems certain that she wants to take these lands. Any sane queen or king would've given up long ago, but perhaps she isn't so sane.

Meanwhile Cherwin has it's eyes aimed at the east, carefully poking at the weaknesses in Broacien. It knows that it can take Broacien in a war, but is afraid that it's neighbour, Ridran, will attack once it's weakened. Because of that reason it seems they've abstained from war, but it's not a sure thing, as ultimately a king is not a rational being in all cases.[/hider]

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