Briesen

Briesen sits on a rocky spur of the Pessamit mountains, carved into the northern spur of the Pessamit mountain range. It is the furthest south kingdom in the March, anchoring the southern flank of the Routot there for generations. Known as the Stone City, it is carved into the living rock, its building merging with a series of tunnel networks naturally occuring in the mountainside. The city has unique relations with the Elves in the Kochi forest, being closer than any other major city to its borders. Elvish exclaves can be found in the city, made up of both official diplomats and more renegade outcasts or exiles. The Poses river pours from an aquifer deep beneath the city, erupting from beneath it to spill northwards into the Tintry.

Politics

Briesen is the second largest city in the March, and commands a strong position as the anchor to the Routot border with Arran. This role has made its kings relevant for much of the regions history, providing them a consistent and relevant base from which to project their political desires. In the modern day, King Julot has little of his own ambitions aside from seeing his kingdom remain strong and important on the regional stage. To this end, he largely places himself alongside Queen Marguerite of Borleux, the pair having been friends for much of their reigns. The pair’s goals almost always align, and so Julot has been content to allow the much more aggressive Marguerite take the lead to accomplish them on his behalf. This has allowed him to focus inwards within his kingdom, ensuring it runs smoothly and its populace is well-cared for.

In doing this, he has also been able to tap into the growing community of Elven exiles within the city. Embracing them has been perhaps his, and his ancestors, best move. Folding them into his court and society has given him access to a number of secrets the Kochi forest keeps, and has opened dialogue with the secluded Wood Elves themselves. Briesen has hosted diplomats from the Elves, with some even residing in the city full-time to relay the desires of the rest of their kin. In such a role as ambassador, King Julot’s friendly and carousing nature has granted him surprisingly good relations with his guests. A major challenge that comes from this, however, is preventing violence between the exiles and those very same diplomats, with the outcasts considered as criminals by many who still reside within Elf society. This is a delicate balance, and the presence of some of his closest advisors, of whom some are elf exiles, has been navigated thus far extraordinarily well.

Groups

Elf Exiles

A relatively large group in Briesen is its Elf exiles, living in small pockets around the city’s New Town. These Elves are those who have fled the confines of the Kochi forest, preferring to live a more free life among the humans than suffer the oppression of religious hierarchy in the woods. Typically, they blur the lines between the two cultures, wearing clothing that seems to be hobbled together from both. They practice some traditions, each keeping whatever they choose most important from their past lives, while also trying to fit in with their human hosts. Perhaps the most common thread linking them all is tattoos, which exiles tend to have to mark themselves forever as separate from Elf society. Many of these expats have taken up service in the city, either in its armies or as tradesmen, and have become as much a part of Briesen as its human inhabitants. They are looked down upon by the Elf diplomats and priests that come to treat with King Julot, but the jovial king has thus far defended his adopted citizens.

Stonemen

The Stonemen are a group of highly trained wardens, forming the King’s personal and court guard. A relatively small cadre of soldiers, they leave the city only alongside the king, travelling with him wherever he goes. Each is a highly dedicated knight, having earned their own litany of honours and glories across their careers. They are known for their intense discipline, standing still for hours while the King of Briesen holds court. This statue-like grace has earned them some mockery from outside the kingdom, though never within earshot of them. They are all very heavily armoured, each fighting like a slowly creeping mountain in combat. Their last engagement against Arran saw them hold back a much larger charge to defend their fallen king, the glory from which they still bask in.

Landmarks

Oldtown

Briesen is technically two separate settlements, broken into the Oldtown and Newtown. The Oldtown is carved into the living rock of the Pessamits themselves, stacked along a mountain slope. A winding main road links each of the buildings, eventually leading up to the main gate of the King’s palace itself. Each of the buildings in the Oldtown have stood for centuries, carved in times long past. Caverns and tunnels dot the hillside, connecting the buildings as hidden alleyways or basements. In this way, many buildings are actually many, great vaults with countless antechambers jutting off into the heart of the mountain. Most of the buildings here belong to the wealthy; either old merchant families or noble estates looking to be close to court. The mountain is carved to drop off near its base, forming a natural wall of sorts. From its parapets and ramparts, the Briesen city guard keep careful watch over the surrounding land, able to readily defend the city should the need arise.

Personalities

King Julot

Julot is the ruler of Briesen, an ancient city carved into a spur of the Pessamit mountains. His line has lived in the city since its inception, ruling over the caves in some capacity since that time. Despite his lineage, Julot is not a terribly influential ruler. He has few ambitions beyond his natural home, focusing on solidifying his holdings rather than expanding beyond. His true virtue lies in his loyalty, not to any greater office, but to the March. He has thrown his support wholeheartedly behind Queen Marguerite, moving alongside her in nearly every endeavour she undertakes. His devotion has been rewarded with immense respect from the ferocious queen, who views Julot with a rare warmth. Julot is short and squat, with nearly no neck to speak of. His girth is brought on by a fondness for food and drink, and his hospitality is known to be legendary. He wears furs and jewellery of precious stones mined from his mountains. He is in his early forties.

Hisa Sweetbough, Lady of the Glade, Elven Outcast

Hisa is a strange figure, present in Briesen for the past fifty years. She is an exile from the Kochi forest, having left its canopy to find a more meaningful life. She first came to Briesen during the last conflict with Arran, and quickly found herself swept up in the war. She made a name for herself as a tracker and scout, leading several raids across the Poses to disrupt an Arran advance. For all of this, she was granted an estate within the city and a landed title. Since then she has served her adopted home loyally, fiercely defending Briesen’s kings and their right to rule. She works to welcome other Elven outcasts or travellers, and has built her own small retinue of its warriors. She is dedicated to her role, and takes her soldier’s prowess quite seriously. Despite this, she is often laughing in the face of combat, behaving like a madwoman when fighting gets its thickest. She is above average height for an elf, and quite thin. She wears a long braid down to her lower back, weaving bits of cloth into it. Tattoos ring her neck, diving down onto her chest. She has hazel eyes and pointed features.