ATLAS OF WESTERN BRUN
Introduction to Western Brun
Continuing with its effort to expand its presence in lesser-known areas of the world, the Mystaran Almanac introduces this year a new region to its atlas section: Western Brun. Western Brun is a not a well-defined region, but rather encompasses the Empire of Hule and its surrounding region, some of which are satellites, while others are independent nations-sometimes even empires. Western Brun is the area west of the Great Waste and north of the Yazak Steppes, and south of Hyborea (though pending our extending to cover Hyborea, events and places from these northern reaches are tagged as part of Western Brun).
Labelled as evil by our Old World standards, the empire of the Master is little known in eastern Brun, where Thyatis and Alphatia have been traditionally casting their shadows. Up to the invasion of Darokin by the Desert Nomads in the wake of the Great War that ravaged the Old World a decade ago, and the spectacular meteor impact that concluded that epic, Hule was seen as a far, evil hagiarchy ruled by the Master and his holy men in the name of the treacherous Immortal Bozdogan. The rare accounts of its grandeur, evilness, and expansionism were tales told second-hand by Minrothaddan merchant princes who traded with Slagovich merchants. Little did we know.
In this almanac, you will at last learn from our correspondents about the holy land and its mysterious Master. You will also find out about the nations that lay to the west of Hule, and that have gone even more unknown by us than the mysterious Hule. We will also recount the recent-and occasionally no so recent-events, hopefully shading a new light upon the events that happened right here in the Old World, and for which we were not prepared as we had had so little prior contact with the western empire and other the distant nations of the west. Hule is indeed a big player, however far and forgotten it is, in the international field, and it is certainly not the city-states and baronies of the Savage Coast that will contradict me on that point. We hope that by introducing it to the almanac we will help this otherwise ignored empire come into full light, so that it won't ever have to introduce itself the hard way again.
Correspondents for Western Brun
Here is our list of correspondents that give us detailed information on the nations, places, and events of Western Brun:
Giulio diSergio-Orsini
The only correspondent from the Klagorst region is the Thyatian Giulio diSergio. Descendant of a fallen aristocratic family, and born in Kerendas, Giulio was a Thyatian diplomat, formerly in Karameikos. After the war of 1005-09, due to his obvious diplomatic incapacity at the court of King Stefan, he was given the doubtful honour of exploring the western parts of Brun in 1010 for the empire. Giulio has travelled westwards for years, and has now settled down in Valeryistadt. His reports on regions not covered by our almanac before have been given to us by the Thyatian government thanks to the intercession of Vivianna Romanones.
Marina Takanitas
At 23, Marina Takanitas is one of the youngest on our team, and she brings us news from the empires west of Hule. Marina is a trader who hails from Kastelios, one of the biggest, and fastest-growing, port cities in the region.
A cheerful person, her laughing brown eyes and bouncing golden curls are hard to miss in a crowd, but this exterior also serves to shield a very capable correspondent who will stop at nothing to get you, the reader, the ground-breaking stories of western Brun as they happen. No danger is too much for her, and, believe me, she knows how to use that short sword she carries!
Piotr Drobnjak
Adventurer and part-time merchant, Piotr is our correspondent for Slagovich and nearby states. A devout follower of Halav, the young Piotr has a deep knowledge of city-states' affairs.
Piotr describes us his hometown, Slagovich, and the mysterious land of Hule (this one just from bibliographic research).
Atlas
BYLOT HILLS
BRASOV (Kingdom of)
CHEVALLE (Kingdom of)
GOURNZEE (Duchy of)
HULE (Hagiarchy of)
KERMINHAE (Land of)
KLAGORST (Confederated Kingdoms of)
GREENKHLAAWDAA (a.k.a. Land of the Closed Society)
SZEKESH (Land of)
STYGIA (Grand Duchy of)
THE WHITE ORCS OF THE NORTH
YEZCHAMENID EMPIRE
ZUYEVO (Empire of)