The Realm of Bu'Zian

It is said that they came from the skies, riding on a beast or fire. It matters little where they came from though, just that they are here now. You would be wise not to cross them lad if you wish to see the day out, those green haired amazons sure know how to fight. I have seen one pick up a man and toss him clean across the street for nothing more than looking at her the wrong way. It is their mistresses that are the true power in this land now though, they wield the powers of the gods themselves and even Azari stays clear of their palaces. If you are wise you will too.

Spoken by Herslios Merjuis, Innkeeper, to a young Adventurer (2611 AR)

 

Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Status: NPC domain.

Provinces/Holdings: Much of this land is mountainous and uninhabited with only a few small villages clinging to life. The only large population center is the city of Voislovia, home to just under 24,000 occupants. The rest of the provinces are left to themselves, although the occasional army patrol or trading party does pass through. Bu'Zian is off the main trade route between the Adurian Empire and Subriya sitting in a minor pass to the south of the main road. This means that few traders venture into this isolated mountain kingdom, which suits it's rulers just fine.

Abbreviations: SV = Sepheria Valinerian; BT = Bu'Zian Traders (Herslios Merjuis); LK = Lakshu; AB = Aranera Bu'Zian

• Law: The Reigar Sepheria Valinerian has a small force of Helots in the city of Voislovia that she uses to assist the Lakshu in keeping the peace, although it unlikely that the warrior woman would ever need any assistance. Throughout the rest of the realm the Lakshu are the only law enforcement that is needed. They also act as a military force in case of an invasion.
• Temples: No temples are permitted inside Bu'Zian. Missionaries from the temple of Azari in Floresele did once travel to Bu'Zian in an attempt to convert the people of the mountains to their religion. They were unfortunate to encounter a patrol of Lakshu warriors and were promptly killed.
• Guilds: A few years ago a small group of traders in the city grouped together to share the cost of transport of their goods and later formed the Bu'Zian traders. The guild has an elected head, which is currently Herslios Merjuis, owner of The Gap, the largest and most popular inn in the city. The guild has recently opened a small trading post on the shores of the great lake.
• Sources: Aranera Bu'Zian, the founder of this settlement and joint regent of the realm is currently gaining control over the sources of the mountains that ring the great lake. As a Reigar her magical powers seem strong enough to gather in the magic of the land without a bloodline, or perhaps she may have a device of some sort that allows her to use the sources.
• Provinces: The two Reigar control all the provinces of Bu'Zian through their Lakshu soldiers. They spend almost no time among the people though, instead just issuing orders to the Lakshu and leaving them to run the realm. They look on the people as a resource to supply raw materials for their work.

Regency Generated/Accumulated: 18/18
The Reigar have somehow discovered a way to collect regency, much the same as a blooded regent does, despite not possessing a bloodline themselves. How they do this is unknown, but both seem to be able to draw on the regency pool, and use it. The Lakshu holdings do not generate regency.

Treasury: 59 GB.
Art treasures created by Sepheria and latter discarded make up much of this treasury. The city of Voislovia uses a different currency from other lands, using different sized gemstones instead of gold or silver coins. Anyone travelling to Voislovia must exchange their money if they wish to buy or sell anything in the city. Smaller settlements accept most forms of payment including barter.

Bu'Zian's Gemstone Currency:

Army/Navy: Bu'Zian has no real standing army as such a thing is measured in other realms. Instead there are the Lakshu, perhaps the finest fighting force in existence. There are maybe five hundred of these Amazon warriors now in Bu'Zian, although the exact numbers are not known. They act for the Reigar rulers to keep the people under control. In the early years of the conquest there was some fighting, but after seeing the power of the Lakshu and the shakti they possess most people have now submitted to Reigar rule. There are still a few who are attempting to retake the city, but this number grows smaller as each year passes.

Regent: The two Reigar currently share control over this small realm, although neither takes much interest in the day to day affairs of Bu'Zian. Instead they prefer to pursue their research into the nature of Aebrynis, attempting to control the mebhaighl that flows strongly through these mountains.
Sepheria Valinerian lives in the city and has been dedicating her time to improving the architecture of the old Subriyan trade city. Over the past twenty years almost every part of the city has been replaced and improved, making it into one of the most beautiful cities in Aduria. Still not happy with the work Sepheria continues to improve on her artwork, lining the streets with coloured magical lights that glow only at night, and painting spectacular murals on the dull white walls of city buildings. She is only young as Reigar go and the city is her finest work of art so far, one that she hopes to improve on as time passes.
The second of the Reigar is Aranera Bu'Zian. It was she who masterminded the capture of the province that is now home to the city of Voislovia from the hundreds of Subriyan soldiers that held it. With her she had less than twenty Lakshu, and without losing a single warrior destroyed the Subriyan fortress and claimed the lands as her own. Since she discovered the existence of mebhaighl she has been working on controlling it for something spectacular. Aranera has spent many years working on this project and has gained some small control over the lands sources. She has yet to channel these sources into powerful realm magic though, but when she does look out.

Important NPC's: Herslios Merjuis (MAd; T5; Unblooded; Age 45) is the current head of the Bu'Zian traders. He has learned over the years that working within the law is the best way to advance in this land, and has become the most successful merchant in the province. He currently owns the Gap Inn, as well as several other profitable businesses. The Gap is the largest inn in the city, sitting on the very edge of the waterfalls that dominate the center of town. Spray from the falls means that the lower area of the inn is very damp, but Herslios has built up above the waterfall and now his inn has one of the most spectacular views available. The lower floors are sealed against the spray, but have windows that look out over the drop. The upper floors are turned over to a popular restaurant, and it is this feature that makes the inn so popular. Because Voislovia is off the main trade route it gets few visitors, although numbers are on the rise, so by building the restaurant Herslios gets twice the number of customers that he once did.

Sir Oeren Paestinie (MA; Pal12; An, tainted, 12; Age 53), an old paladin from Anuire has only recently arrived in Voislovia. So far he has not bought much attention to himself, dressing in old clothing and covering his armour. He has however assisted a few people who have been injured, healing them. It is unlikely that he will be welcomed by the Lakshu and their Reigar mistresses though, as they have made it clear in the past that priests and other followers of religious orders are not welcome. This could be why Oeren is keeping a low profile.

Sarius Nellios (MAd; 0-Level; Unblooded; Age 34) is the owner of the most profitable gemstone mine in Bu'Zian. Most of these mines are usually controlled by the Reigar, as is Sarius's mine, so little in the way of profit can be made. Sarius however has made an art of hiding part of the output of the mines and sending it in small packages into Subriya for sale. Although he only gets a few stones each month out he has been making a vast profit from this and is building up a empire of thieves and merchants, and soon may even begin to challenge the Bu'Zian traders for dominance in the city. So far these thefts have not been detected, but if they are it is not likely to be welcomed at all.

Description: The lands that make up Bu'Zian have long been fought over by the rulers of Aduria and Subriya in the many wars. That has all changed since the coming of the Reigar. Before their arrival Voislovia city was little more that a fortress clinging to the cliff face overlooking a huge waterfall at the end of the lake. This fortress no longer remains, having been torn down by the Reigar for the stone which they needed to rebuild the town on the lake shore below. In the years since then the population of the city has expanded, and most of it has been completely rebuilt. Several other nearby provinces have now also been claimed by the Reigar, although they were unclaimed before then, as most of the region is inhospitable, snow covered mountains.

• Bu'Zian (5/4): This province sits right in the center of the entire realm, built at the eastern end of the great lake. The city is build across the huge waterfall that tumbles down the mountain before flowing off into Subriya. The city consists of three parts. The first is the southern side of the city, stretching from the mountain side to the bridge over the waterfalls. This area is mainly filled with the homes of the people of the city, and a few shops. This is also the oldest part of the city, where the Subriyan fortress once sat. The fortress is now gone, pulled down and its stones used for construction elsewhere in the city, and the fortifications and wall have also been removed as Sepheria thought they didn't suit her plans for the city. The road running across the bridge turns west here towards the villages along the shore of the Great Lake. Traders from those villages often travel to the city, bringing fish and other goods for trade.
  The second part of the city is the palace that has been built in the center of the waterfall, with bridges to either side. This palace is reserved for the Reigar, Lakshu, and their servants with most people being only permitted here during the day hours.
  The final part is the northern side of the waterfall where most of the craftsmen and shops are situated. A road leads east from here towards Subriya and the occasional trade caravan still travels this route.
  
  
• The Great Lake (2/7): Water covers much of this province, forming a body of deep, cold, water known as the Great Lake. Surrounding the province are some of the largest mountains in the Valsenio range. Mount Valsenio itself is only a short distance to the north of Bu'Zian and on clear days it's peak can be seen rising into the clouds. During summer, when the snow on the surrounding peaks melts, fast flowing streams of icy water flow into the lake filling it to capacity. In the rest of the year this water drains east, down the waterfalls into Subriya, although the level never drops below 70% of capacity.
  The people of this province are mainly fishermen or herders who live in small villages alone the lake shore and supply much of the food to the people of Voislovia to the east. They have a comfortable existence, and are generally not bothered by the Lakshu.
  The lake itself is home to more than just fish however, and many dangerous monsters are rumoured to exist deep beneath the dark waters. The most powerful of these creatures is Canistilieria Hallikturinustien (Canny for short) an old Adurian Dragon who lives on the northern side of the lake. The people fear her as she has been known to eat people in the past. The Reigar have declared the northern side of the lake off limits to the people of the realm.
  
  
• Valsenio Heights (0/9): This mountain province is home to only a few people, mainly goat and sheep herders and hermits. The entire province is usually covered in snow, but during summer some of the lower forested areas melt, the water flowing south into the Great Lake. The forests are made up mainly of the gigantic Bu'Zian pine, one of the large trees in Aduria. These pines would make great timber, but few are ever harvested due to the dangerous terrain. Occasionally a expedition comes from the city, usually during summer and cuts down a few tree alone the lake shore, before floating them to Voislovia city.
  
  
• Mount Valinerian (0/9): The southern most province is similar to Valsenio Heights but has even fewer people living in it. Perhaps only as few as fifty people live in the whole province, and most of them because they desire solitude. It is claimed by the Reigar mainly because this is where they first arrived, their Spelljammer (a refitted hammership) crashing onto the slopes of the mountain. The wreckage can still be seen, high up on the barren peak, although it is usually covered by snow.
  
  
• Stargazer's Peaks (1/8): This province is home to the Reigar, Aranera Bu'Zian, who has built a small fortress high in the mountain that make up the province. She has bought in some locals to provide her with what she need, usually food and raw materials for her great project. What this project is to be is only known to her, although it has something to do with gaining control of the sources. How exactly she has done this is a mystery at the moment, but it is though to involve some sort of magical item that allows a unblooded regent to gain RPs as a blooded scion. It is unlikely that she would want to make one of these items for anyone else though, as Reigar rarely repeat their triumphs.

Allies: Bu'Zian has little contact with either the Empire of Aduria to the west or the Republic of Subriya to the east. Both have in the past attempted to communicate with the Bu'Zian rulers but have received no response. As a result Bu'Zian has no allies, nor looks like gaining any in the future.

Enemies: When Aranera Bu'Zian took over this realm from Subriya many of the republics soldiers died in the fighting and Subriya has not looked kindly on the tiny nation since. They sent several military expeditions to retake the provinces in the first couple of years after the conquest, but after repeated losses called off the attack and left the people of Bu'Zian alone. The president of Subriya still wants the mineral and gemstone rich mountains back though, but sees no way to do so presently.

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