Bersail

Bersail is a large city on the northern end of the Stormrend peninsula, and the setting of the Campaigns of Bersail; Smugglers of magic and Heretics resistance. Bersail also made a small appearance in the Relic hunters campaign, as a recuperation point for the party and allies against The Devoted. Bersail is the port of Porondar, it is grimy, criminal and a general hellhole of the poor, but simultaneously its the place you go to get rich through crime and trade. Bersail’s government is unique as it is still a vassal of Porondar but its ruled by a board of the merchant companies that trade from here instead of single lord. Many of them are also knights and posses companies in other parts of the world.

Districts

The city is generally considered to have 6 district The outskirts Not all of the cities buildings are inside the walls. Quite some people don't live inside the protection of the walls. This is a somewhat poorer area of the city, but its not as bad as the next. The guts The area inside the walls where the rivers pass through the city. This area often gets muddy and in general has unstable ground. A lot of little boats are used to get around too. This is by far to poorest and most destiture area of the city. Lower city A poor area of the city, the densely populated area of people all scrapping by, hoping to not end up in the guts. The area is the large portion between the guts and central city. The docks This area of the city isn't heavily populated, as its used for the large amounts of trade going in and out of the city. Central city The area around the central square, it houses the people which are generally off okay Upper city The merchants and lower nobles of the city who are actually off well, the area isn't that large its located around the great temple and bridge to the island. The island This is where the truly rich live. Most of the people on this island are family members of The 5 families of Bersail, as this is also where they meet and run the government of the city from. The bridge to this seperate island is guarded night and day, in general the island has high security constantly.

Maps

Bersail, year 655
This is the city of Bersail around the year 655. Population: about 20.000

Type

Large city

Location under

Stormrend peninsula

Included Locations

Owning Organization

The 5 families of Bersail

Characters in Location

Vehicles Present

Feathered Leviathan

Stormrend peninsula
- Bersail
- White tree monastery

Somewhere during the Myrean era

Bersail is founded
Founding

The place later known as Bersail was taken over by Myrea going from a small collection of fisher's houses to a trading outpost.
Circa the dark ages

Dark age struggle

Like all the other cities of the area, Bersail struggled to survive the aftermath of Myrea's fall and for a long time, the city simply tried to survive the various monstrosities unleashed on the world. The lack of trade at this time caused the city to shrink considerably as without trade, its position isn't as majorly advantageous.
+/- 120-200

Bersail grows

After trade starts picking up again, Bersail quickly rises to one of the most powerfull cities of the stormrend peninsulla. This was through being the only major city located along the coast that pre-existed giving it an edge on both import and export. On top of that, other cities would often just have to send export through them too as it being better than setting up their own ports, which was an endeavor most couldn't afford.

The city was seen as quite antagonistic during this era as those with military power in the surrounding were looking for an opportunity, and with the relatively small population and land, that opportunity was sure to come.
220 AC

The Bersail merchant's council creation

In the face of being conquered, the current monarch of Bersail changed the political structure of the city, inviting a couple of the most major merchants to form a council that would rule with the monarch above them. Through this the merchants could work together on laws to benefit all of them and they had vested interest in the city promting them to defend it and care who would be in charge.

This worked, giving Bersail stronger military power that warded of its rivals looking to conquer the city and let it keep its position as a trade center. This change also caused the city to gain an even stronger poor rich divide as the council could skew things in their favor even more than they already could. This resulted in a larger criminal underworld, one that the council would both fight against and work with from time to time.
320 AC

The Bersail merchant council, deposes the monarch

The merchant council worked out really well in protecting the city. The mistake that was made, however, was that the merchant council relatively quickly from its creation, collectively gained far more power than the monarch themselves. When that happened the council eventually deposed the monarch stripped them from all power and assumed rule themselves. From there on the merchant council also confederated the many tiny pieces of overseas territories they held, creating a powerfull collective trade center.
341 AC

440 AC

Bersail loses its outer territories

Since Bersail overthrew their monarch and became ruled by the merchant council, it was strong for a period of time, holding overseas territories beneficial to trade. However, beside the city itself, the many territories were hard to keep under their ownership. 1 by 1 they stated being picked up by countries that neighboured the small overseas territories.

Every time Bersail would get itself into a war that was basically unwinnable due to the distance of it all, or at least would be strongly prolonged and cause more trouble than its worth. This caused bersail to over a period of about 100 years to lose all its territories, sometimes in lost wars but very often just because they started selling them, realizing holding them was not worth it.

At the end only a few small trade posts remained, which are closer to trade and diplomatic embassies.
532 AC

The relic hunters visit Bersail

The relic hunters party visit the city twice. Once after saving Beatriz Despadida from The Devoted at Beorday, at which point they used the city as a gathering point when gathering allies to fight the devoted. The second time, they return with Noha, Malenia and a newly cured Phoebe, who all intend to meet up with other allies and set sail for Beorday.

Session Report
Read Session Report
Circa 570's

Bersail joins Porondar

While Bersail was holding strong, Camelot under the helm was rapidly gaining power and had very quickly been unifying the various small lands of the stormrend peninsulla. In pursuit of a unified front against the elves of lynoras, Bersail was to fall under that.

At first Bersail fought back, but after a couple years of war, it became clear that this would merely result in both sides entering a long and bloody war that would result in a slow but eventualy victory of Camelot, with the elves being the only one who would truly benefit with 2 weakened enemies. And so under pressure a peace deal was made of Bersail joining as a vassal state, but keeping its priviliges and a large part of its independence with some minor exceptions, like a tribute payment as being part of the land and of course military protection in return.
638 AC

Founding of the Stranded Sailor

Rodrigo moves to the city and starts a pub, The Stranded Sailor. It is used as a cover for the Leviathan Fleet, who wish to gain more influence in the city.
654 AC

syter

The witchhunters arrive in Bersail

During the Holy Cleansings, Bersail had been left alone despite being firmly witrhin reach of witchhunters. This was due to political pressure and bribes from The 5 families of Bersail. They had an interest in being a safe haven, as it was better for trade. Those pressures finally fell through in the middle of 654 AC and the witchhunters finally entered Bersail too.
654 AC

36 crawen

655 AC

12 wulf

The bersail campaigns

The events of the Smugglers of magic and Heretics resistance campaigns happen. The conclusion of these 2 campaigns results in the witchhunters of the Holy Cleansings being driven out of Bersail.

Additional timelines

The total history list

Article template

Settlement

World

Gajas

Comments

Please Login in order to comment!

Bersail

Districts

Maps

Bersail, year 655

Bersail is founded

Dark age struggle

Bersail grows

The Bersail merchant's council creation

The Bersail merchant council, deposes the monarch

Bersail loses its outer territories

The relic hunters visit Bersail

Session Report

Bersail joins Porondar

Founding of the Stranded Sailor

The witchhunters arrive in Bersail

The bersail campaigns

Additional timelines

Comments

Find your way!

Resources

WHO WE ARE

LEGAL

Get the news

Our Shop

Development

EVENTS

REACHING OUT

A BIG THANK YOU