The Briarpatch

The Briarpatch is the afterlife in the religion of the Bramble Church. It is said that followers of Brambleson, the Prince of Rabbits will go there when they die.
The Briarpatch is a vast thicket of brambles cosmically adjacent to the Garden Beyond the Stars, and is the realm where Brambleson was reputedly born and has lived ever since. Navigation through the near-endless tangle of briars is said to be impossible for any non-lapine creatures, but for Bunbun and other rabbit-adjacent beings is simple and intuitive. Bunbun souls are therefore freely able to hop between the Briarpatch and the Garden Beyond the Stars through one or more secret entrances that are impenetrable to anyone else.
The plants of the Briarpatch embody the principles of Brambleson’s doctrine, being at all times equally thick with beautiful flowers, delicious berries and powerful protective thorns.
However, it is also said in a few more obscure texts that, if one were to travel far enough through the Briarpatch, away from both Brambleson’s influence and the border with the Garden Beyond the Stars, one would eventually find a place where the pleasant and fruitful brambles give way to ugly, twisted, charred, "Scouring and Blighted" dead brush, revealing what this realm was reduced to over the course of several apocalypses – although, even here, gradually, new growths bloom among the ashes, as the Briarpatch slowly heals and reclaims itself over time.

The Undersands

Somewhere far beneath the Briarpatch, at the base of its many thorned roots, lie the barren, oppressively hot, ever-crumbling shifting tunnels of the Undersands, where the Terrier Beneath the Sands constantly hunts and plots and designs Its traps, surrounded by the lesser demons which It spawns as Its young or which breed on its hide like fleas. Legends say there may have been a small handful of times when the Terrier managed to briefly break through the protective thicket of roots and chase Brambleson down on the surface, but all the stories agree that Brambleson’s swiftness, cleverness and luck have never allowed the Terrier to get very far in such incursions before It is returned to Its own realm once again.

Type

Magical Realm

Included Locations

• The Undersands

Inhabiting Species

• Pooka
• Wolpertinger

Related Myths

• The Scouring Blight

Associated Deity

Brambleson, the Prince of Rabbits

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Interview Excerpts: Where do you feel safe?

RESPONSES

Masons

"The defences of our estate are quite formidable, thanks to a generous application of our own products, which I can testify personally provides an invaluable sensation of security."
-- Subvizier Aloysius Mason.

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Dargent-Laureats

"Wherever I’m in charge."
-- Vizier Victor Dargent-Laureat.
"Um… used to be at home. Now… I dunno."
-- Viziera Satine Dargent-Laureat.

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Ironsides

"Nowhere if I can help it!"
-- Vizier Balthazar Ironside.
"…there is a spot in the estate that isn’t much in use anymore. An overgrown garden area. No-one frequents it except me and a few local cats."
-- Subvizier Agamemnon Ironside.
"I’ve worked to make myself a safe place. Nowhere else was going to be."
-- Katib Menelaus Ironside.
"I look like this. I’m always safe."
-- Katiba Britomart Stargazer-Ironside.

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Stargazers

"In the midst of things."
-- Vizier Leopold Stargazer.
"I have enough trust in the Sailor and my own abilities to consider myself safe in almost all contexts, although mostso within my library."
-- Viziera Andromeda Stargazer.
"Oh, there’s my offices of course - one in the family estate and one up in the observatory. Plus a few little private spots which I wouldn’t tell you about, or it would defeat the purpose."
-- Subvizier Pollux Stargazer.
"I look like this. I’m always safe."
-- Subviziera Britomart Stargazer-Ironside.
"In my brother’s observatory, or at the telescope in my room. Wherever I can be mostly alone with the stars."
-- Katib Castor Stargazer.
"My mother did her best to make my old rooms as safe for me as she could. There’s a little library of my own there that only I know how to get into."
-- Katiba Cassiopeia Stargazer-Greenskin.

"I have an inkwell."
-- Bartleby.

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Dargents

"In my office, behind my desk."
-- Vizier Richard Dargent.
"Oh no. Not yet. That comes later."
-- Viziera Guinevera Dargent.
"Wherever I’m in charge."
-- Subvizier Victor Dargent-Laureat.
"Um… used to be at home. Now… I dunno."
-- Subviziera Satine Dargent-Laureat.
"I'm not stupid enough to ever feel safe. But I do feel a bit less anxious the further away from the noble court I am."
-- Katib Hugo Dargent.
"I know I’m always safe around the court! You just need to remember what to do and what not to."
-- Katiba Scarlett Dargent.

"It used to be the vents until that option was taken from me. I suppose now I stick to the shadows when I can."
-- Lindie Asklepa.
"…I’m not sure I ever feel safe. But that’s all part of the fun of living, amirite?"
-- Connie Furr.
"Most of the court. Especially my Viziera’s house."
-- Voltaire.

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Carterholds

"The streets. Away from constant surveillance."
-- Katiba Rouge Carterhold.

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Bakerstreets

"Nowhere in the city, that’s for sure. I learned my lesson in 1291."
-- Vizier Cobbler Bakerstreet.
"...[silence]..."
-- Subviziera Diana Bakerstreet-Underhand.
"[long silence] …fuck."
-- Katib Cody Bakerstreet.
"Anywhere I go, so long as I’m wearing a big enough coat."
-- Katiba Wiggin Bakerstreet.

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Underhands

"...[silence]..."
-- Katiba Diana Bakerstreet-Underhand.

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Baharats

"I’m afraid I cannot reveal the exact location without another’s permission, even if I wished to risk it – but there is a rented room above a pastry shop where I can finally be myself without fear of the court’s judgement."
-- Ex-Subvizier James Baharat.

"Oh, anywhere with my squadmates. I know they always have my back."
-- Beautiful Baharat Guard.
"On the stage, in the spotlight, briefly. It’s the only time the rest of the world slips away for a second."
-- Martini.

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Brasseyes

"Anywhere, if I came prepared."
-- Katiba Grimoire Brasseyes.

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Darktusks

"Wherever. I’m the most dangerous thing anywhere I go."
-- Mirze Rifi Darktusk.

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Greenskins

"There is no safety anywhere for orcs any more."
-- Vizier Kronk Greenskin.
"My mother did her best to make my old rooms as safe for me as she could. There’s a little library of my own there that only I know how to get into."
-- Subvizier Cassiopeia Stargazer-Greenskin.

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Jackalslicers

"When the household is together, alone, within the estate. Although as time goes on even that becomes less certain."
-- Viziera Atkin Jackalslicer.
"In my room. And I used to always feel safe around my friends, although I’m not as certain now."
-- Katib Fennec Jackalslicer.

"…sit with V’ziera."
-- Stubby.

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Shajaras

"We have put a great amount of effort into ensuring the Shajara estate is as safe and secure an environment as there can be - allows for a greater freedom of activity within it."
-- Vizier Hali Shajara.
"Anywhere my sweet Yhtill is looking out for us."
-- Viziera Cassilda Shajara.

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Brambleites

"Within the Warren, under the wise tutelage of Brer Bigwig Briar and his Brambleknights, moreso than any other locale - though in the field, I shall settle for ‘behind a blade’!"
-- Bugsby Cottontail.
"…I’m not sure I ever feel safe. But that’s all part of the fun of living, amirite?"
-- Connie Furr.
"I’m afraid I cannot reveal the exact location without another’s permission, even if I wished to risk it – but there is a rented room above a pastry shop where I can finally be myself without fear of the court’s judgement."
-- James Baharat.
"On the stage, in the spotlight, briefly. It’s the only time the rest of the world slips away for a second."
-- Martini.
"I can outrun almost everything in this form, and those I can't evade, I can generally fool through shapeshifting."
-- Vulpix.
"In my workshop."
-- Warren Furr.
"I have complete faith that the Brambleknights will protect me so long as I stay within the warren’s boundaries."
-- Winnie Furr.

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Patchwork Empire

"I don’t. I imagine I had a star, once, but nowhere since."
-- Pairaka.

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Undergazette

"I know we’re never safe in the city as it is, and we’d be even less so outside. But as long as I’ve got someone I trust covering my back, I’m good just about anywhere."
-- Krona Tailfeather.
"It used to be the vents until that option was taken from me. I suppose now I stick to the shadows when I can."
-- Lindie Asklepa.
"Ah, safety’s an illusion anyway. I just don’t think about it."
-- Tito.

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Yvette & her Handmaidens

"Well, between you and me my house has one little dressing room no-one else ever gets into. A girl must keep something for herself you know."
-- Yvette, the Courtesan.
"Right here, underneath the disguise."
-- Yvette Vixois.
"I don’t. I imagine I had a star, once, but nowhere since."
-- Pairaka.