Brienyamar

Brienyamar the Thundertop

Description

A hint of ozone in the air from frequent lightning strikes, and blasted rock is a sure sign that you are on the Thundertop - or Brienyamar as it is known by the locals. It is an elevated plateau rising high above the surrounding land, reaching impressive heights that seems to touch the clouds.

Climbing the sides of the Thundertop can be done, but it requires strength, stamina, technique and determination. Any regular travel up or down from the region usually goes through one of several established routes, where cargo lifts and stairs are set up.

It is populated by humans with the Thundertop heritage racial trait, one that is well adapted to the altitude. There are lowlander humans with other lineages, and other races, but due to the high elevation, they are a small minority.

History

The age of the hundred kings

In earlier times, they were divided into a number of smaller kingdoms, which often warred for dominance or territory. This was the status quo for centuries after the Destruction of Orn.

This all changed when Brien, the daughter of the king of a then insignificant city manifested the ability to manipulate lightning through magical means. Along with all of her children, she formed what historians in later times refer to as the Thundering Crusade. And in the span of a generation large parts of the plateau had been subjugated under the rule of Queen Brien. It was at this point the Thundertop changed name to Brienyamar.

The Thundering Crusade

This unification sparked the start of an age of order. No longer did the populous have to fear invading neighbors, though some wondered at what cost. Their previous kings warred over insults, but at least they had a degree of personal liberties. Queen Brien's rule was absolute, and though peace was enforced, it robbed them of much of their freedom.

Modern times

In following generations, and after numerous royal assassinations, the rightful heir to the throne was not a clear issue. This resulted in a bloody conflict between mainly Wilhelm Weimar von Gerholt of the leadwards Gryphon Tor, and Franz Werner von Donnerberg of the trailwards Wyvern Tor. When the fighting reached its peak, the lesser nobles all got together and decided on a reform of the current power structure. To put it simply, this is where the modern Brienyamarian republic was founded. Neither of the two contenders to the throne were happy with this, and vehemently denied the charters legitimacy, but the proponents of the change had the support of the people.

Though many years have passed since the dispute over the throne, and the republic as a whole has calmed down immensely from their previous state of war, the two would-be kings still feud from their two cities, much to the dismay of the inhabitants of both Wyvern Tor and Gryphon Tor. As long as they have supporters, or until their coffers run dry, there can be no real unity and peace between the two gates, nor in Brienyamar as a whole.

Cities

• Zerzaustenburg - isolated and windy
• Schwitz -fertile, famed for their livestock.
• Sonnestorp - fertile and sunny
• Hoh - One of the few lowland cities.
• Dunkeldorf - Grim's Fairytale Woods
• Wartburg - Fertile, with several fortifications
• Grünerd - Large swathes of fertile fields.
• Tendeltorp - officially abandoned, but used by brave travelers and smugglers.

Society

The people of Brienyamar are isolated from their surrounding nations by the great elevation, and though relatively inhospitable to outsiders, the people of the Thundertop are comfortable at the high altitude, and through strong traditions, rarely leave.

Cavalier Orders

From the time before the Thundering Crusade, the fighters and knights of the Thundertop have organized themselves into orders. The most famous and prestigious of these are the aerial combat cavalry of Gryphon Tor and Wyvern Tor, who ride their gryphons and wyverns respectively.

There are several orders that employ these flying beasts, as well as ones that are primarily landlocked. Many swear allegience to a specific city or noble family, but there are also free companies or all together differently organized orders. They often demand a period of initiation where the aspiring cavalier prove their abilities as fighters and their strength of character before they are granted their mount. This period is largely symbolic for the horse munted cavaliers, but for the griffon and wyvern riders it is still due to a scarsity of available mounts. Once an aspiring cavalier has proven their worth they are usually given a mount at little to no cost.

See the list of orders. For examples of possible orders found on and around the Thundertop. Many of these will either need some refluffing, and some will not fit the themes of the setting.

Traditions

Spears were traditionally favored because the relatively small amount of metal needed in them, and the fact that they could be braced to counter chargeing foes, both aerial and grounded.

In later years, with increased trade and improved metallurgy, there is a greater variety in weaponry, but most self-respecting Brienyamarians are at least proficient with a polearm of some sort, and have a spear hanging above the exit of their house. This is both for ease of access, and for good luck.

Population

Physically the inhabitants of Brienyamar are largely similar to the other human inhabitants of Orn. They are however better suited to life at higher altitudes, and do not suffer the same maladies as other humans when acclimatizing to extreme altitudes.

There is an iconic blue-green eye color that can be seen in parts of the population. It is said that this feature stems from the lineage of Brien, and is often seen as an honorable trait. The fact that an overwhelming majority those presenting a gift for magic have this phenotype, lends creedence to the idea that the two are related.

Psychologically inhabitants of the Brienyamar plateau often have a superiority complex towards most people living on the lowlands. The fact that they live above them physically as well does not lessen this tendency. This is the reason the term "low-lander" may be heard as both a descriptor of outsiders, as well as a term for someone who's opinion may be ignored.

Airships

For centuries the bravest and most dedicated inhabitants of Brienyamar have employed domesticated Gryphons and Wyverns for both transport and cavalry in their military conquests. This changed some time after the Thundering Crusade, when the lightning magic affinity allowed for a reliable electrolysis process to separate hydrogen and oxygen. This allowed for the invention of gas balloons that were lighter than air, and of airships as a new platform for transport.

The pioneers of this use of magic and technology were the siblings Gerhalt von Geldenkranz and Isolde von Geldenkranz. The brother was a competent engieneer and the sister had the gift of Brien, and so could produce an electric charge by magical means. Together they built the first dirigible and by crossing the canyon inspired a whole generation of alchemists, engineers and nobles.

After several more or less successful transits, and improvements to their craft, they set out on what would become their last voyage. When what started out as seemingly calm bell turned dark frighteningly quickly, the two pioneers met their end as their vessel was struck by lightning. The fireball was observed by onlookers on the would-be landing spot, eliciting gasps of horror from the crowd.

Search parties were dispatched, but only the burnt wreckage of their craft, and Gerhalt's left shoe was ever found.

Soon thereafter spells and improved technologies warding against lightning strikes were developed, as having your highly flammable blimp struck by a giant destructive spark is not a desirable situation, and careful commercial use of zeppelins picked up.

Currently airships are used for transport over the Brienyamar canyon by those who can afford the fare or who own their own vessel. They are to a lesser extent also used beyond the plateau, but as they are dependent on refilling of hydrogen on long voyages, the fact that a magically adept noble is needed aboard limits their practicality.

The army, who before exclusively used flying creatures for airborne troops, now also employ specialized flying vessels for logistics and troop transports.

There is a constant drive to improve airship technology among their engineers, which has led to many daring experimental designs, and variations in construction materials, gas mixtures and armaments.

Points of interest

The Pit, and the Totenkranz

A building on the edge of the great pit

The Pit, and the surrounding area, commonly known as The Desolation and The Brochenrand, are lands inhabited by outlaws and outcasts. Near the great abyss, which is known as The Totenkranz, mutants and other monstrosities have settled. What was an inhospitable piece of land to begin with have been rendered even more dangerous by these new inhabitants.

The region was established to deal with a genetic impurity. Abominations are real, and pose a real threat if unchecked. Aberrant traits mostly present themselves in noble bloodlines, "For the magical heritage of Queen Brien is a double edged sword". This is a closely guarded secret, and all nobles take steps to eliminate any offspring that present with any of these traits through killing them at birth - which is deemed a mercy. If any aberrant traits become apparent at a later age, the bearer must choose between death, or castration and banishment.

This impurity is called a double edged sword because it is the source of monstrous deformities and aberrant behavior, but also the source of the magic found in the noble bloodlines. Where this "gift" originated is not definitively known, but as one might suspect the first documented instance was with Queen Brien, as she was the first to exhibit the distinct magical abilities. It manifests as the ability to create and manipulate lightning through magical means.

Donargipfel

A mountain rising beyond the already tall paleau. It is said to be where Brien got her powers, and given its proximity to Ebentorp it is a likely claim.

It is the classic "where the gods live"-mountain of the region.

The Great Divide

A long and very deep rend in the plateau. It is thought to have played a role in the survival of humanity on the Thundertop after, or even during the Destruction of Orn.

Character themes

Base classes

• Fighter
  • High Guardian
  • Learned Duelist
  • Tactician
  • Swordlord
• Rogue
  • Heister
  • Spy
  • Roof Runner
  • Smuggler
• Skirmisher Ranger
  • Beastmaster
  • Dandy
  • Guildbreaker
• Gunslinger
  • Buccaneer(for airships)
• Magus/Spellblade
  • Vrilbound Magus
• Cavalier or similar mounted fighter (gryphon og wyvern mount), as well as some landlocked archetypes
  • Order of the Flame
  • Order of the Hero
  • Order of the Guard
  • and similar
• Alchemist
  • Gun Chemist (substitute fire for lightning damage?)

Presige Classes

• Stormcaster/Stormlord
• Pathfinder Chronicler
• Swordlord
• Student of War
• Grand Marshal

Common names