BUHROHUR (County of)
Location: Southeastern continent of Brun, along the southern range of the Altan Tepes Mountains, east of Biazzan and south of Ylaruam. OW
Area: 4,368 sq. mi. (11,315 sq. km.).
Population: 25,000 including the town of Makrast (pop. 5,000). About 95% dwarven.
Languages: Thyatian (Hattian dialect), Dwarvish (Buhrohur dialect).
Coinage: Thyatian Standard: emperor (pp), lucin (gp), asterius (sp), denarius (cp).
Taxes: 25% income tax collected quarterly on the aristocracy, nobility, and wealthy; 20% income tax collected quarterly on everyone else (Va. 1, Ya. 1, Fy. 3, and Ei. 1). Thyatians abroad must still pay their taxes. Expensive and magical items are also taxed 25% of their worth. 10% imperial commercia sales tax on all goods except food, clothing, and fixed assets; levied on imports, rebated on exports. Tax on slave owning equal to 50% of the slave's value annually. Property tax levied based on quality of land, roughly 6% of its value annually.
Government Type: Dominion, member of the Thyatian Empire.
Industries: Light agriculture (principally subterranean), mining, metallurgy, gem-cutting.
Important Figures: Gilla Blyskarats (Countess, dwarf, female, Pr12 of Kagyar), Thadrik Karstone (High Priest, dwarf, male, Pr12 of Kagyar), Wagton Blyskarats (General, dwarf, male, F15).
Flora and Fauna: Pine trees and aspens in the Southern Altan Tepes Mountains. Herds of sheep, goats, and mules. Bees kept for honey. Bears, boars, centaurs, lycanthropes, mountain lions, foxes, dryads, wolves, unicorns and goblinoids can be found in the wilds of the empire. Hill giants and ogres in the hills. Pegasi, griffons, rocs, ruby, gold, and white dragons in the mountains.
Further Reading: Dawn of the Emperors boxed set, DDA1 Arena of Thyatis, DDA2 Legions of Thyatis, previous almanacs.
Description by Vivianna Romanones.
Another recently expanded dominion that had its status elevated from barony to county. This dominion is populated almost completely by dwarves, and is entirely mountainous.
The Land
Buhrohur is a small, mountainous dominion sandwiched between the pass of Biazzan and the vale of the Mesonian along the Altan Tepes range. It is a rugged land of almost unspoiled mountain beauty. The eastern half of the county is especially unspoiled, and has only recently seen any settlement. Buhrohur, like nearby Halathius, is rich in mineral wealth, especially gold. The inhabitants mine these in great quantities, generally in mining complexes that are located entirely underground.
The largest community is the town of Makrast. Makrast means "broken mountain" in Dwarven, and the town is named for the mountain it is built into. The eastern face of Makrast appears as if it was sheared off sometime in the distant past. The surface portion of the town is built unto a plateau up against this mountain face, with two paths or roads winding down towards Biazzan. Most of the town, however, is built below ground.
The People
The vast majority of Buhrohur's inhabitants are dwarves. Most of these are from the clan of the same name, who have lived in Thyatis since the founding of the empire. These came to help Lucinius in the struggle for liberty against the Alphatians, and stayed at the request of Emperor Zendrolion to build the Imperial Palace and help with the construction of fortifications around The City. On account of these services, they were granted the domain of Buhrohur and allowed to govern it with a lot of latitude (including putting restrictions on non-dwarven settlement and visitation). The dwarves of Buhrohur have served Thyatis loyally, but retained their isolation. Until recently, when things have begun to change.
Last year new settlers began to arrive. These were dwarves from Rockhome, refugees from the strife in those lands, including many that were dissatisfied with the isolationist policies Rockhome has adopted in the last several years. As fellow dwarves the Buhrohuri welcomed them. But they have already begun pressing for more open policies. Many of these new immigrants visit Biazzan frequently, and in addition they are advocating that some of the restrictions on non-dwarven visitors be loosened, at least in the surface portion of Makrast.
Even longtime citizens of Buhrohur are beginning to see the value of somewhat greater integration within Thyatis. While they have stood aloof, many unsettling things have taken place nearby-fiendish invasion just across the border in Ylaruam, purges and internal disorders within Thyatis itself, politically induced famine during the war, and now the Civil War. While the Buhrohuri have served when called, they have held themselves largely aloof from the political and policy debates within Thyatis. The "openness" faction advocates that greater involvement in the Thyatian mainstream will give their voice greater weight in decisions-that their advice will only be listened to if the other Thyatians are more familiar with their point of view.
Buhrohur has remained loyal to Eusebius
during the War of the Crown rebellion, but has not actively participated in its
battles. They send their taxes to
Eusebius' agents, and some dwarves serve in his army, but the dominion as a
whole has maintained its aloofness while the debate on what course to take
rages within Buhrohur. This is because,
despite the growing movement for openness, the isolationist faction still has
the upper hand in Buhrohuri politics.