Empire of Briarland

The noble houses of the Empire of Briarland:

Ruling: King Samuel the 7th, male skeleton, The leader of his depressed and undead nation, Samuel is the most depressed of them all. Seemingly glued to his throne, all he does all day long is lament his failures and sins, what little time he can be productive is spent trying to find a way to atone for the sins by breaking the curse's hold on his people.
Champions: Jack Winston, male skeleton, the champion of Briarland in ages past, Jack remains the champion today, though now he is obsessed with death, searching for anything that can kill him, he often travels alone, challenging anyone and everyone to a battle to the death, attracting attention as he plays a mournful funerary tune on his magical bagpipes, searching for a fate that will never come.
Economy: Sir Jeffery Watson, male skeleton, unlike some of his other accursed countrymen, Jeffery Watson spends his time and money in the pursuit of things he can no longer enjoy, despite his pretending that sometimes fools even himself. He has harems, feasts, hunts, parties, prayers, and so on, all managed from his private island where he controls the finances of the once powerful Briarland, trading away relics for more food and gold he can stuff down his skeletal throat to pool at his feet.
Magic: Grimalkin, female skeleton, often traveling in the form of a beautiful human woman, Grimalkin is an ancient witch of terrible power and singular purpose. She seeks out the cultists of Martius, attempting to obtain items from them for some nefarious purpose none can work out, she is rather polite and kind so long as nothing is in her way, but to those obstacles that do arise, be they person, place or thing, they soon find themselves dismantled in such a horrific way that none dare to follow in their footsteps and stand against her.
Military: Sir Henry Winchester, male human, The only living human in the nobility at Briarland, Henry is the direct descendant from Samuel and heir to the throne, his ancestors escaped the downfall of Briarland minutes before it happened and survived all the ages since until Henry could return now, he is an older man, but has great experience in battle as he fought against Martius and his own undead people at Dread Harbor, now he returns to try and protect them from others, and protect others from them.
Diplomatic: Charles Cornwallis, male skeleton, a rather "big boned" skeleton, Charles is responsible for negotiating the deal that saw Briarland keep its independence in exchange for a tribute of slaves, he was bought out by the elves to convince King Samuel of the idea and was rewarded with a greatly extended life, leading right up until Martius slew him and the rest of the nation to keep as an undead army in the future. Now Charles is back, once again managing the diplomatic relations with other nations as none can be bothered to replace him, it is rare that there is an occasion for him to even do his job, but when one arises he normally does a horribly poor job.
Religion: Lady Elizabeth Talbot, female skeleton, Leader of the cult of Ias'uddra, Lady Elizabeth seems to be two totally different creatures depending on if its night or day. During the day she is prim, proper, with an air of nobility about her that she uses to expertly host any guests that might visit her manor in search of more information about her secrets or strange habits. When night falls she becomes the blood drenched and crazed high priestess of the cult, leading her cultists in dark rituals that give tribute to this otherwordly entity in exchange for power beyond reasoning.

General Information:

Archetype and Culture: Discount British, Irish, Scottish - The Empire of Briarland is a desolate place, haunted by the memories of its past and the curse of Martius. The land is barren and lifeless, with nothing but skeletons wandering the landscape. The kingdom is ruled by a melancholic king, who seems to have lost all hope and will to govern his people. His subjects, the skeletons, are similarly stricken with melancholy, as they sit in their houses and fields, awaiting the release of death that will never come. Despite their bleak existence, there are those among the skeleton populace who seek to find a way out of their cursed existence. They attempt to find purpose in their lives, hoping to break the cycle of melancholy that has plagued their people for centuries. However, the majority of the skeletons remain stagnant, waiting for something to disturb them or their bones to finally erode away. The arrival of human settlers in Briarland has brought a new dynamic to the kingdom. The two groups are able to live in relative peace, so long as the settlers do not disturb the dead. The humans seek to rebuild the kingdom, bringing life back to the desolate land. However, tensions are growing between the living and the dead, as King Samuel the 7th has recently begun taxing the new settlers, even in death, gold doth shine after all... this is causing resentment among the living population and leading to increased tensions between them.

History: The history of the Empire of Briarland spans several ages, beginning with the Age of Apostasy, during which Briarland was the only free human nation led by King Samuel the 7th. Samuel refused to aid his fellow humans enslaved by the elves and instead offered up a portion of his citizens as a tithe, angering his own people. During the Devastation, Martius approached Samuel and offered him forgiveness for his past crimes against humanity if he would aid them in their struggle for freedom, but Samuel refused. Martius tricked him into signing a pact that would allow Briarland to be called upon as his army at some point in the future. Martius chose Briarland as the place to battle Goddess Ynbris, and the resulting cataclysmic battle devastated the entire island nation. During the Age of Armistice, most of Briarland was sunken below the waves, with only a few survivors fleeing to join other nations. The island was left to rot, with few brave explorers attempting to plunder tombs. In the current age, Martius finally summoned the skeletal remains of King Samuel and his people to fulfill their pact, marching in long lines across the bottom of the ocean to arrive at his dread harbor from which he would launch his invasion of the world. The undead and living armies clashed, with the living unable to make much ground as the undead continued to reform before their eyes. The Heroes of Europa managed to defeat Martius, and with his defeat, the control he held over the undead army vanished. Samuel was allowed to return to rule over what remained of Briarland, and now as the skeletons mope around without motivation, a few living settlements are beginning to appear on various islands, tensions are rising between these living and undead as King Samuel seeks to tax them in order to obtain enough wealth to somehow uncover or purchase a blessed weapon of Martius he can use to free his people from their curse finally.

Client Race: bThe main race within the Empire of Briarland is the skeletons, who were raised up as an undead army for Martius. Martius used them in the war against the other nations of Europa, and he was able to bring their souls screaming back into their bones by a pact he made with King Samuel long ago. King Samuel was the leader of the only free nation of humans, but he refused to help his enslaved kin on the mainland. Martius tricked him and forced him to swear an oath that he and his people would answer Martius when he called, which he did hundreds of years after they had all died during the Devastation. However, now that Martius is gone, the skeletons have no direction with their lives. They are unable to find the peace of death as their skeletons will reform from most injuries if given enough time. The skeletons are a melancholic race, haunted by the memories of their past lives and the curse of Martius. They long for the release of death, but it is denied to them by the curse. While there are some among them who seek to find purpose in their unlife, the majority remain stagnant, waiting for something to disturb them or their bones to finally erode away. Despite their cursed existence, the skeletons possess a certain level of intelligence and are able to communicate with one another. They are also capable of basic tasks such as farming and building, but they lack the motivation to do so on a grand scale. Their main source of conflict is with the living human settlers who have returned to Briarland to resettle it. The skeletons view them with resentment and jealousy, as the humans possess warm flesh and the ability to die, something denied to the undead.

Leader: King Samuel of Briarland was a powerful leader during the Age of Apostasy, commanding the only free human nation, at least, that was true on the surface. However, he was also a pragmatic ruler, willing to make deals with the elves to ensure the safety of his people. In exchange for being left alone, Samuel agreed to supply the elves with a tithe of his populace as slaves. This decision would later come back to haunt him, as Martius, the god of humanity, saw it as a betrayal of his fellow humans who were enslaved on the mainland. When Martius came to power, he asked Samuel for help in freeing the enslaved humans. But Samuel refused, believing that his priority was to protect his own people. Martius then tricked Samuel into making a pact that would allow him and his people to be called upon in the future. Martius waited hundreds of years before finally calling upon Samuel's people to serve as his undead army against Europa. After Martius' defeat, the skeletons returned to Briarland and followed the example of their king, falling into deep melancholy and listlessness. Samuel hardly moved from his throne for years at a time, unable to find meaning or purpose in his life. The skeletons similarly lacked direction, as they were no longer under Martius' control and were cursed to wander the desolate land for eternity.

Source of Power: The national source of power for the Empire of Briarland lies in the near invincibility of their undead legions. These skeletons are cursed with the ability to reform themselves even after being destroyed, making them nearly impossible to slay permanently. The only weapons capable of keeping them down for good are those blessed by Martius, but these are rare and coveted by the cults devoted to him, who hold a grudge against the Briarland skeletons for their past betrayal of humanity. The power of these undead legions strike fear into the hearts of neighboring nations, especially those who had to fight them during the time of Martius. Europa knows all too well the overwhelming power of an army of the undead, and they understand that if King Samuel ever tried to conquer them, they would face a nearly unbeatable foe. The skeletons themselves are not a willing force, however, as they are overcome with melancholy and a sense of purposelessness. Their curse has left them listless and without any sense of direction, making them more of a liability than a true power. While they may strike fear into the hearts of all who have heard of their , they are just as likely to do nothing at all, lost in their own melancholy and longing for the release of death.

Religion: The national religion of Briarland is practiced by a growing number of skeletons who worship a deity known as Iash'uddra, also known as the "Star Flayer." While the details of this religion are kept secret from the living, it is believed that the followers of Iash'uddra believe in the cleansing of the living to bring them closer to the purity of death. The priests of Iash'uddra, who are called the "Flayed Ones," cover their skeletal frames with the flayed flesh of the living, perhaps in an attempt to recapture the warmth and life that they lost when they became undead. The Flayed Ones are known to be particularly brutal, attacking the living and tearing their flesh to add to their own coverings. While the exact nature of Iash'uddra and its teachings remain a mystery, it is clear that the religion of the Flayed Ones is a disturbing and violent one.

Capital: The capital city of Denlon in the Empire of Briarland is built upon the remains of the old capital, with most of the structures being the same ones that once housed the living inhabitants. Though the buildings are old, the city is considered to be very safe during the day, as the skeletons tend to just stare at the moss-covered ruins around them. However, at night, the city becomes dangerous as the worshippers of Iash'uddra come out to perform their dark rituals under the stars. The cult of Iash'uddra hunts down any living beings they find in the streets, bringing them back to be used as victims in their brutal rituals. Only blood remains as evidence of their activities when the sun rises in the morning. Despite the danger, the city is full of artifacts and riches, attracting adventurers seeking to uncover its treasures. The ruins of the old capital provide an eerie atmosphere to the city, with the remains of ancient buildings and walls looming over the inhabitants. The city is a stark reminder of the kingdom's past glory, now reduced to a desolate and dangerous place ruled by the melancholic King Samuel the 7th.

History of Briarland:

The Age of Apostasy: During the Age of Apostasy, Briarland was the only human nation that was free from the clutches of the elven slavers. The kingdom was ruled by King Samuel the 7th, who managed to maintain control over his people by offering up a portion of his citizens as a tithe to the elves. This allowed him to keep the elven slavers at bay, but it also made him deeply unpopular among his own people. Many saw his actions as cowardly and a betrayal of their own kind. As the Age of Apostasy wore on, the situation in Briarland grew increasingly dire. The kingdom was surrounded by enemies on all sides, and its people were plagued by famine and disease. King Samuel's refusal to aid his fellow humans, who were enslaved on the mainland, only made matters worse. The people of Briarland grew increasingly restless, and some began to openly question their king's leadership. Despite these challenges, King Samuel managed to maintain his grip on power. He was a shrewd and cunning leader, and he knew how to play the game of politics. But as the years passed, he became increasingly isolated and paranoid, and he began to see enemies everywhere. He trusted no one, not even his own advisors, and his rule became increasingly authoritarian.

The Devastation: During the Devastation, the Empire of Briarland faced the full wrath of the gods as Martius sought to free humanity from their shackles. Martius, newly empowered by his followers, sought out King Samuel the 7th, offering him a chance for forgiveness if he and his people would aid in the fight for freedom. However, Samuel refused, unwilling to help his fellow man, and Martius was left with no choice but to force the king to sign a pact that would allow him to call upon Briarland as his army at a later time. Martius would return, but not to summon Samuel to fight, instead the king could only watch as Martius faced off against the goddess Ynbris in a cataclysmic battle that would devastate the entire island nation. The battle was one of epic proportions, with each clash of their weapons sending shockwaves throughout the land. The skies darkened and the earth shook as the two gods fought, their power unleashed in a brutal display of strength. The people of Briarland were caught in the middle of this apocalyptic event, with thousands perishing in the devastation caused by the battle. Buildings were destroyed, towns were leveled, and the land was left barren and lifeless. When the battle was over, Martius retreated, leaving the Empire of Briarland to sink beneath the waves, a punishment for their crimes of inaction and unwillingness to aid their fellow man. The battle between Martius and Ynbris was a defining moment in the history of Briarland, a moment when the power of the gods was unleashed upon the mortal world with devastating consequences. It was a reminder of the cost of inaction and the importance of standing up for what is right, even in the face of great danger. The people of Briarland would never forget the horrors they witnessed during the Devastation, and the memory of that battle would live on in their bones when they were finally summoned centuries later.

The Age of Armistice: During the Age of Armistice, the Empire of Briarland had been reduced to ruins, with most of the nation lying beneath the waves. The few survivors who managed to escape the destruction fled to other nations, seeking refuge among their people. Meanwhile, the island of Briarland itself was left to rot, its ruined cities and forgotten tombs slowly succumbing to the ravages of time. Despite the dangers posed by the sunken ruins, there were still some brave explorers who attempted to plunder the tombs of the Briarlanders. However, most of them were never heard from again, and those who did return told of an eerie aura that surrounded the place, pushing them away as if they felt a deep, inexplicable revulsion to explore it any further. For the most part, the only remains of the Briarlanders that were left were their bones. Submerged beneath the ocean water or trapped in submerged tombs, the flesh of their bodies bloated and melted away until only their skeletons remained. The once-great Empire of Briarland was now nothing more than a distant memory, a footnote in the history of Europa.

The Year 539AD: Finally, Martius makes his move to fulfill their pact, the skeletal remains of King Samuel and his people were forced to claw from their tombs and march across the bottom of the ocean to arrive at his dread harbor from which he would launch his invasion of the world with them as his army. However, the combined might of Europa rose to meet Martius at the harbor. The living and undead armies clashed, with the living unable to make much ground as the undead continued to reform before their eyes. The Heroes of Europa managed to defeat Martius, and with his defeat, the control he held over the undead army vanished. The skeletons of Briarland fell onto their knees, weeping and covered in blood as the living watched with confusion. King Samuel spoke with the heroes and was allowed to return to rule over what remained of Briarland. It seems his return also shattered the strange curse that prevented the living from drawing near to the island. Now, as the skeletons mope around without motivation, a few living settlements are beginning to appear on various islands. However, tensions are rising between the living and undead as King Samuel seeks to tax them in order to obtain enough wealth to somehow uncover or purchase a blessed weapon of Martius he can use to free his people from their curse finally.