recursal/Fanatic-Fandom huggingface dataset:
Fal Buscua

Fal Buscua, literally meaning 'Lonely Buscua', is a theocratic city-state in the centre of the Sacred Coalition. The city of Buscua has always been a holy one, regarded as one of the sites where the god Ekdos descended to earth. This makes it a spot of contention between Ekdians and Urcanists, who both worship the same figure.

Currently the city is under its own government, though Urcanists to the west and Ekdians to the south both claim ownership and jostle for control of Buscua. This has necessitated the foundation of a large, well-trained army to fend off both factions as the Buscuan government see themselves simply as keepers of a holy site, and care not for the intricacies of the event. They do, however, regard the city as an Inclusionist Ekdian site, and are less than friendly to Orthodox Ekdian visitors.

Fal Buscua is geographically located near the upper Flentia River, sandwiched between Grioja and the eastern canton of Sarvalneiv. The city lies on a six-way crossroads between the cities of Sovum, Ropkula and Turenca in Grioja and Kruzarna, Turzum, Prinitras in Sarvalneiv.

## History

The city of Buscua has always been a holy site, and as such has a strong priestly caste. When the Vardano-Reman Religious Wars began, the priests of Buscua managed to keep the city from converting wholesale away from the Reman Pantheon. This contrasted with the region directly north, which converted quickly. When the Reman government began to lose control of the area, half a dozen converted Ekdian lords banded together and tried to invade the city to enforce their faith, but two loyal Reman legions - the Legio de Sampanius and Legio de Corrina - were stationed in the city and repelled the invaders at the Battle of Lepia Plain in 652.

Buscua, along with the loyalist cities of Hronka and Sopiesta, tried to maintain contact with the failing central government, but were forced to strike out on their own when Reme disintegrated completely in 654. They formed the short-lived state of Bellina, which survived three years before disagreements forced the lords of Hronka and Sopiesta apart. Buscua saw the enmity between the two and seceded entirely in 657.

Since then the city-state has been known as Fal Buscus, 'Lonely Buscua'. The priestly caste, though still in de jure control of the state, has been weakened by the necessary creation of a strong military. De facto, the city is governed in a consular fashion, with the High Priest and First General sharing control of the city. This has given rise to a vicious political situation in the city, with consuls rarely lasting their five-year rules.

Over the years the city has become more tolerant towards Ekdians and Urcanists as well - Fal Buscua depends on imported food to provide, and the Ekdian countries of Grioja and Uclos are the main providers of food for Buscua. While the Reman Pantheon is still the official religion of the state, there are Ekdian and Urcanist temples in the city and all are welcome.
De Gaudin

House de Gaudin is a Lacrivian noble family and hold the title of Cont de Roumur. Currently the head of the house is Ardolphe de Gaudin.

The de Gaudin arms are blazoned 'Gules, a pile Argent between two escutcheons Or'.

## History

House de Gaudin allegedly once held lands on the Crevier River, though the exact location is unknown so this claim is disputed. They were removed from these lands some time during the Great Gap, and lived as landless noblemen in the court of the Duc de Bouchier until the formation of Lacrive.

Once Lacrive was founded, the de Gaudins served as faithful vassals of King Hector and his son Guillaume. When the latter was overthrown in 496, the de Gaudins quickly turned their allegiance to the new rulers, the Ardouins. Their loyalty was rewarded in 502 with the title of Cont de Roumur - recently vacated by House Orinne after their forceful drafting into the Fallen Company.

Since then, House de Gaudin has managed to stay on the right side of the ruling dynasty, and in recent years the house has produced several brilliant strategists to serve their country.

## Notable Members of House de Gaudin

* Jean I de Gaudin (538 - 599) - Head of the house from 559 to his death in 599. First Marshal of Lacrive for the last ten years of his life.
* Jean III de Gaudin (573 - 625) - Head of the house from 620 to his death in 625. Marshal of Lesser Lericonnia between 618 and 623.
* Hector de Gaudin (660 - 723) - Head of the house from 690 to his death in 723. Fought in the Siege of Saari in 678 and served as a chevalien in the Guard de Bouchiere from 680 to 690.
* Ardolphe de Gaudin (706 - Present) - Incumbent head of the house. Currently a commander in the War of the South Lake; recently took part in the Battle at Armel Gate.
Allais

House Allais is a Lacrivian noble family holding the Barony of Grenet in Lesser Periconnia. They are subject to the Cont de Mont-Azieu, who in turn are subject to the Duc d'Argenin and, after that, the King himself.

The arms of House Allais are 'Azure, three swords crossing a spear'. These arms were given to the founder of the house, Henri Allais, for deeds he accomplished in the service of House Cazenavre during the Richeleu Ducal Wars in the 7th Century. For these deeds he was also granted his fiefdom, which has remained more or less the same since it was given in 631.
Legio de Scuteus

The Legio de Scuteus was a legion in the service of the Reman Republic and, later, a mercenary unit.

The legion was founded in the 140BCE as part of the mass mobilisation the Republic saw under Consul Gnaeus Cervilius Otho. Named 'Legion of Shields', the legion was placed under the control of Legate Julius Demecius Veranthus and sent to the north of the Republic.

The legion took part in multiple incursions into the lands of the Fen Boroughs, flitting between temporary forts before finally finding a permanent home in the fortress of Castrum Faricium in 211CE.

The Scuteus was downgraded to a half-legion in the early 4th Century amid the financial troubles caused by the collapse of the Kingdom of Horelia, a valuable trading partner of the Reman Republic. After this, it functioned exclusively as a garrison legion until the Great Gap.

After the Gap, the Legio de Scuteus had regained its former stature and now stood among Reme's finest. It was one of the three personal legions of the city of Reme, along with the Legio de Turmenus and the Legio de Hortensius.

The Scuteus performed its new duties until the onset of the Vardano-Reman Religious Wars. When the rebellions began to break out, the Scuteus was the legion entrusted with the defence of Reme - the Turmenus and Hortensius were sent to quell rebellions in the western reaches of the Republic.

When the Republic finally collapsed in 654, Legate Emerus Waldenius Celdens took control of the city of Reme. He founded the city-state of Urbus Rema and made the Legio de Scuteus its standing army. This period of the legion's history lasted until 660, when the city rebelled and expelled the Legio de Scuteus by force.

The legion wandered for the next several months before finding a new stronghold in Lorion. Here they stayed until 662 when they were defeated and forced out by the armies of the King of Lapeda. Again they wandered and stayed in the city of Ars Mons until, again, they were forced out in 665. This time by Antolijus Sannas and the Auxilia Agrimenta.

Severely weakened and demoralised, the legion began to act as mercenaries. They rented out their services to any who would pay, and ended up fighting in the Battle of Moccara in 667. By this point it is recorded they were composed of only one thousand men by the end of the battle.

The legion was in the service of the Sheikh of Thutan after Moccara, and here they remained until their historical record peters out in the mid-670's. It is known that their banner - a shield crossed by lightning bolts - is now the banner of the Kingdom of Bala'ad during its Fehwid dynasty, though exactly how this came to occur is unknown.
Cyclos

Cyclos is one of the splinter states of old Kharos, centred around the city of Cycladia. It is run by a military government due to its status as the Plainspeoples' punching bag. It uses this prerogative, as the 'Grand Cyclosian March' , to 'protect' the other human states by conducting endless campaigns against the People.

Cyclosian armies are lightly-armoured and large. They are optimised to fight the swift Plainspeople, using the ideology that, if caught, a soldier will stand no chance anyway so armour is no object.

Typically a Cyclosian soldier will wear a light helmet of copper or brass - depending on rank and status these helmets may bear several feathers to imitate a horsehair plume. Some soldiers, mostly higher-ranking, also wear breastplates and greaves. Cyclosian soldiers carry ranged weapons such as slings, bows and javelins, as well as daggers and sometimes kopis swords.

The Cyclosian army rank system is thus: Strategos -> Lariarch -> Tarparios -> Polarch ->Korios ->Soldier.
Gehemnian (culture)

The Gehemnian culture is a Germanic-based culture inhabiting the central Vasterlands.

## History

The Gehemnians are unique in their origin - they are the only humans in Tairghol not to have arrived with the Halcyonian Flotilla. Rather, the Gehemnians came from the northern seas in the early 1st Century BCE. Far more warlike than the Armedeans and Ancturans, the Gehemnians drove a wedge between the peoples already living in the Vasterlands. They established several petty kingdoms and expanded as fast as their supply lines could manage, and were only stopped once the surrounding cultures united against them.

After the unification of the surrounding peoples during Volkmar's War, the Gehemnians were forced to accept their neighbours and became more peaceful. While still warlike, the Gehemnians of today are nowhere near as aggressive as their ancestors.
Atvor

Atvor is a village in northern Vadya, lying on the coast of the Turquoise Bay. The village is only a few leagues from the capital Sahl, and its citizens survive mostly by way of deep-sea fishing in the bay.

## History

Atvor is an ancient settlement, possibly older than Sahl - this would put it in contest with Rijut as the oldest settlement in Vadya and, discounting Huon Sa, the oldest in the western Vasterlands.

Several fragments of crockery and statues bear striking resemblance to those found in the abandoned city of Ancturum, and it also has the distinctive pentagonal street layout seen in the same city. This suggests trade between the two, and possibly cultural affinity as well. It is because of this that Atvor is alleged to have been involved in the Rape of Ancturum - no artefacts from the city have been found anywhere other than here and in Rijut.
Gerontian of Vas

Gerontian (689 - Present) is the incumbent monarch of the Kingdom of Vas, a small land in the Northern Wing of the Sacred Coalition. An old man, he is not expected to live much longer. He will be succeeded by his great-grandson Vericulus, who is currently only seven years old.

Gerontian was born the son of Herias, the first King of Vas. He took his father's throne in 721 at the age of 32, and affirmed alliances with his southern neighbours of Alvornia and Radruus before declaring his intent to scour the area of the 'Cudumbian menace'. This promise was not fully realised during Gerontian's reign, as the Cudumbian kingdoms rallied against him and never gave him an opening.

Despite this opposition, Gerontian is known best for launching the Vasian Invasion of East Stresh in 735, in which he enlisted the help of mercenaries from Suren's Desert - the White Lion Company - in attacking the Kingdom of Stresh. He managed to conquer the town of Marthus before Prai Stresh also took the opportunity and took the rest of Stresh for itself; though it is yet unknown why Stresh's ally Tra Stor did not assist its neighbour.
Attack on the Ruadhain Forest

The Attack on the Ruadhain Forest, also called the Forest War or Gabrain War, was an event during the Wars of Lacrivian Aggression. Cont Bellevue, seeing the weakness of the Faramondian crown after the Scanbroughan Secession, decided to capitalise and annex lands his family had claimed for decades.

The action involved the forces of Cont Bellevue and several of his chevaliens, numbering around five hundred. The only early opposition was Duke Tuathalain, the ruler of Ruorgagh, who cobbled together a force a fifth the Lacrivians' size to face them.

Tuathalain holed himself up in his hall and endured a two-month siege, at the end of which he and his men were forced to surrender. Bellevue spared the defenders and sent Tuathalain himself on a boat down the Ruorgagh River, telling him to sail east along the coast back to Faramond.

Faramondian forces mobilised under several Counts and Dukes in late August 638, but their efforts were for nothing. Bellevue had been reinforced, and his claims legitimised, by the Lacrivian King Richaud IV.

Once Duke Tuathalain arrived in Faramond he was shunned for surrendering to Lacrivians; he lived out the rest of his life as a landless noble in the court of King Aylard, then later King Arnulf III. He died in 654 at the age of thirty-seven, leaving behind three sons with claims on what is now the town of Rogneus.
Dhum Teic

The Forest Corridor, colloquially called Dhum Teic in the north and Silvandria in the south, is a series of fortress cities and walls built some time during the Great Gap to connect the enclave of Caer Moranh to the rest of the human world. Long and thin, Dhum Teic covers between five and ten leagues east to west along its hundred-league length, and borders the Kingdom of Tauromea to the south.

While it cannot be called a country in full, Dhum Teic is ruled by a council of the fifteen strongest lords in the Corridor, who meet once a year to vote on changes to the region.

Dhum Teic is one of six places acting as a shield between mankind and the People. It is a major gathering-point for the Dianfirre, volunteer warriors from all over the world who man the Dhum fortresses.

## List of Dhum Cities

* Bryncaer
* Dinas Goleddol
* Felwran
* Lleowaed - the main gathering point for Talorian, Varlish, Faramondian and Flennish. Also the base of the Talorian Order.
* Corsteir
* Iath
* Anrefn
* Teyrnas
* Rheicorfus
* Penfrith
* Pysgothe Caer
* Cledyfum
* Coedus
Fuurin

Fuurin is a region on the coast of the Persidian Sea - an exclave of the Kaiganese fiefdom of Kitabatake. It borders the fiefdom of Hojo to the north, and Moryouka to the east and south.

## History

Historically Fuurin has been the realm of the fairly liberal Takafuwa clan - in recent years, the rise of the warrior kingdom of Igashikuze has made the Takafuwa uneasy, though it was only in the last twenty years that the Takafuwa pledged allegiance to Kitabatake for protection during the Diet of Kazenida.

Initially, during the negotiations in the treaty the Kitabatake suggested the Takafuwa be absorbed into the Kitabatake client state of Hojo. This deal was unacceptable to the head of the clan Takafuwa Ryozuro - he would lose face by indirect vassalage. Ryozuro delivered an ultimatum, demanding to become part of Kitabatake proper, but with a large degree of freedom. As expected, the Kitabatake negotiated away the degree of freedom, leaving Ryozuro with the deal he had desired in the first place.

## Geography

Fuurin is a flat plain sandwiched between two rivers - the Fuwa and Arakawa. Towards the northeast corner of the region the land rises into a range of low, rolling hills that carry on to form the western end of the Zapardian Mountains.

The region is fairly cold, with summers averaging 10-15 degrees Celsius; winters are frequently sub-zero.
Aratris

House Aratris is the newest of the Aladornic Houses, created by the incumbent Minister of Dalfore as a reward to a political ally, the new head of the House. Aratris is seated in Nuntrick, clashing with the resident House Bryoreus.

The arms of House Aratris are 'Party per pale Or and Vert, a bordure counterchanged'.
Gotham City

**Gotham City** is one of the major cities in the DC universe, as well as the setting of *Batman: The Telltale Series and Batman: The Enemy Within.*

## Codex

Gotham City

POPULATION - 10 million.

This city is like a living creature. It's always growing, outward and upward. The people who live here are survivors -- they have to be -- and they deserve better then the corruption that infests this place.

Carmine Falcone and Mayor Hill are the root of that corruption. They claim my family is involved, too. But that can't be true.

## Locations

*Locations are listed on first appearance*
### Season 1

#### *Realm of Shadows*

* Gotham City Hall
* Wayne Manor
* Batcave
* Cobblepot Park
* Arkham Island
	+ Arkham Asylum
* Café Triste
* Eastside Docks
	+ Warehouse 133
* Skyline Club

#### *Children of Arkham*

* Crime Alley
* Monarch Theatre
* Gotham City Police Department
* Stacked Deck

#### *New World Order*

* Gotham General Hospital
* Wayne Tower
* Skyrail Depot
* Selina Kyle's Apartment

#### *Guardian of Gotham*

* Gotham Heights
	+ Vale Residence
* Vale Water & Heating Warehouse

### Season 2

#### *The Enigma*

* The Virago Casino
* Divinity Church
* East End
	+ Riddler's Lair

#### *The Pact*

* Gotham City Police Department Armory
* Old Five Points

#### *What Ails You*

* SANCTUS Laboratories
* Bonus Bros. Carnival
* Gotham Bridge

#### *Same Stitch*

* Ace Chemicals
* Cathedral Hill

### Mentioned Only

* Blackgate Penitentiary
* GothCorp Laboratories
* Gotham City Brokerage

## Inhabitants

The following list includes only characters who were known to be in Gotham at some point during the series.

* Amanda Waller
* Arnold Wesker
* Bane
* Bruce Wayne
* Carmine Falcone †
* Eli Knable
* Hamilton Hill †
* Harleen Quinzel
* Harvey Bullock
* Iman Avesta
* Jack Ryder
* James Gordon
* Joe Chill †
* Lucius Fox †
* Martha Wayne †
* Oswald Cobblepot
* Peter Grogan †
* Renee Montoya
* Rumi Mori
* Selina Kyle
* Joker
* Riddler †
* Thomas Wayne †
* Tiffany Fox
* Vicki Vale
* Victor Fries
* Victor Zsasz
De la Mar

House de la Mar is a Lacrivian noble family in the Ruadhain Forest. They hold the Baronies of Bessions and Argenoit, and have a claim to the County of Clanoît; following the Attack on the Ruadhain Forest this title was confiscated and awarded to the traitorous Gabrain House Broglie.

The arms of House de la Mar are 'Potent Argent and Azure, a dolphin hierant Or'. This, along with the name of the family, cement the heritage of House de la Mar as seafarers. The house is now landlocked due to the confiscation of Clanoît, marking the decline in the house of late.
Captain of the Berham Guard

The Captain of the Berham Guard is a position in the Berham Guard, a unit of city guardsmen committed to the defence of the eponymous city between the Great Gap and the Sack of Berham.

The Captain was the absolute commander of the guard, and reported directly to the Grand Marshal of Faramond between 403 and 648, or the Marshal of Dunfleasel between 648 and 660. This put him at the same political level as the generals of the field armies in both command structures. It was also traditional that the Captain received an automatic knighthood upon assuming the position.

The position was hereditary in the Bardell family from 574 until its destruction, being passed from father to eldest son when the former became head of the family. The Captaincy was never officially hereditary; it was rather an unspoken tradition. The Captaincy was officially decided through a vote drawn from Berham's noblemen, but the Bardells had enough influence inside the Guard that opposing votes were often 'lost'.

The Captain of the Guard at its most critical moment was Sir John Bardell, the Captain during the Sack of Berham. He performed sensibly during the siege, assuring that the King of Dunfleasel and his court had an escape option until late during the sack.

## Notable Captains of the Berham Guard

* Sir John de Rancine (r. 403 - 421) - First known Captain of the Guard
* Sir Emery Bardell (r. 574 - 580) - First Bardell Captain of the Guard
* Sir John Bardell (r. 650 - 660) - Last Captain of the Guard
Ferahaa

The Sharqiya of Ferahaa was a Desert-Plains realm centred around the town of Ghashfir around the end of the 5th Century.

## History

The region of the desert-plains has always been volatile - countries break up as quickly as they form, and Ferahaa is no exception. The Sharqa of Ghashfir seized control of the area in 473, taking the reins from the ailing Sharqiya of Harash.

With the support of the Tungrid minority to the south, Ferahaa grew fast, snaking east and taking Poleius and Alentus from the Reman buffer state of Erigia in 482. This, unfortunately, drew the attention of the Reman consuls.

Several sanctions and trade embargoes failed to make Ferahaa return the taken land, and the presence of the Tungrids, an ostracised minority in Reme, only exacerbated matters. Eventually, in 494, matters came to a head and Reme declared war.

The Khuran War lasted four years, with Reme only backing down in 498 at the threat of Vardanid intervention. The population was well aware that it was animosity towards the Tungrids that sparked the war, and they were forced out of the country by royal decree in 499.

Ferahaa was stable for the next several years. It came under attack in 507 by the neighbouring Sharqiya of Khutna. Forcing this invasion back, Ferahaa lasted another six years. It was finally defeated and partitioned between the Sharqiyas of Khutna and Isfan in 513.
Unnamed Police Officer

The Police Officer is a minor character who only appears if Bruce fought Oswald first.

## Overview

This officer presumably works for the GCPD, he is seen held hostage by Harvey, if Bruce stopped Oswald first. No matter the dialogue Harvey will always shoot the cop in the head, however if Bruce stopped Harvey first, he does not appear in the episode leaving his status ambiguous. It is possible that he continued to work for the GCPD, most likely still alive.

## Personality

Not much is known about his personality, other than being fearful when taken hostage.

## Physical Appearance

The officer is Caucasian-American with a white complexion, he has dark brown hair and auburn eyes.

## History

Not much is explained about his past though it can be assumed that he worked at the GCPD for a good few years.

## Involvement

### Batman: The Telltale Series

#### City of Light

The officer only appears if Bruce went to Wayne Enterprises first.

**In-Game Decisions**

**Go After Oswald (Dead)** If Bruce went after Oswald, Harvey will shoot the officer in the side of the head, then will push him over.

**Go After Harvey (Unknown)** If Bruce went after Harvey, the officer remains absent from the episode, it is unclear what happened to him after the events.

## Relationships

### Gordon

Not much is known about their relationship, though it can be assumed he respects Gordon well enough.

### Harvey

The officer seems rather scared of Harvey as displayed when held hostage.

## Trivia

* This officer one of many characters who's fate is determined by a branched choice.
* The only way you can possibly save the officer is by fighting Harvey before Oswald.
De la Munte

House de la Munte is a near-extinct Lacrivian noble family. Seated in the mining town of Roumur, they held the settlement for fifty years before being ousted by House de Caringois in 155.

## Coat of Arms

The coat of arms of House de la Munte are 'Argent, a pall inverted Gules between three escutcheons Sable'. The symbolism behind this design is unclear.

## History

Originally House de la Munte were a band of travelling chevaliens, only twenty strong and landless. The head of the house in the late 1st Century, Geoffrois de la Munte, heard of the new settlement of Roumur and made a proposition to the people of the town. He offered the protection of a noble family, a force for good to stand up to any raiders or aggressors. His offer was accepted and Geoffrois built his motte-and-bailey fortress on a hill overlooking the town shortly afterwards. He was welcomed by the populace as he brought with him a sense of law and order, and promised to provide caravans for the traders as they passed through his territory.

The gold ran dry in 101, giving way to a much more lucrative vein of iron. In the war-torn region of Lacrivia, iron was in short supply and high demand, making Roumur a strategic target for every warlord within fifty kilometres.

Roumur came under attack several times over the next century. House de la Munte successfully defended the settlement against House Bois in 114 (the First Siege of Roumur Castle) and House Erlinghard in 152 (the Second Siege of Roumur Castle). However, their luck did not hold and Roumur fell to House de Caringois in 155 after the Third Siege of Roumur Castle. In its entirety, this period of local history is referred to as the Struggles of House Munte.

Following the loss of Roumur, only the youngest son of House de la Munte, Demechard, managed to escape. He found refuge in Clernois, becoming a baker to eke a living. Though he and his immediate successors tried to keep the pride of the house alive, eventually the heirs of House de la Munte forgot their heritage. Nowadays the line of the house still exists, though they are unaware of their nobility and claim to Roumur.
Keng Fung (culture)

The Keng Fung are a cultural group residing in the Qiutianshan Mountains. A small group of mountain warriors and hunter-gatherers, they have been forced into the hills by the encroachment of the Tianguese during the Fengyuang Mountain Wars in the 5th Century.

The Keng Fung are descended from the Yi Chinese, who were part of the Vasterlands Fleet during the settlement of the continent.
Ghashfir

Ghashfir is a town in the Valandrate of the Samilans, in the Jan'ah Hills. It is connected by road to Maseeb and Sahrur, as well as the Gerentian town of Abhah.

## History

Ghashfir was founded at some point during the 3rd Century BCE as a trading post and farming settlement. Like most towns in the area, it did not care for politics during the first several centuries of its existence. The rise of the Desert-Plains culture in the 2nd Century CE drove the formation of the first nation-states in the area.

Ghashfir was quickly annexed into the Sharqiya of Alo Manduk, and after it toppled became part of the next Sharqiya, and the next, and the next. Like every town in the Jan'ah Hills, Ghashfir has changed hands too many times to count.

The most memorable of these Sharqiyas was Ferahaa. In the late 460's, Ghashfir was part of the Sharqiya of Harash, but the town itself was in the hands of a family of minor noblemen - House Vandalak. The ambitious head of this family, Harses, ripped ailing Harash apart and instated the Sharqiya of Ferahaa in 473, with himself at the helm.

Ferahaa lasted exactly forty years, at the end of which Ghashfir was ceded to the Sharqiya of Khutna. House Vandalak was allowed to maintain its hold over the town. From then, Ghashfir was relatively peaceful. House Vandalak died out in the 7th Century and was replaced by House Takarin.

Nowadays Ghashfir is part of the Samilan nation.
Bows of Ashar

The Bows of Ashar were a mercenary company operating in Suren's Desert during the 7th Century.

Not much is known of the Bows' service record, other than that they were hired by the Sahranic government to aid the Sharaffi Sheikh Ardos al-Halambri during the Battle of Moccara in 667. Shortly afterwards, they were disbanded due to heavy losses during the engagement.

The Bows of Ashar are known to have fielded a force of around one thousand light missile cavalry. They had a highly-organised command structure as far as mercenary companies go, and were capable of advanced manoeuvres on the field of battle.

The name of the company comes from an obscure Parsanian god, Ashar. It is understood this deity was a god of war and fertility.
Kajasthan

Kajasthan is a sprawling state encompassing most of the western part of Suren's Desert. It is landlocked, but has limited access to the Trade Lake via the Korunn River, a tributary of the Prye. Kajasthan is bounded, clockwise from north, by Flenburgh, Omeland, Sawistan, Sahran, Kisvara, Dessar, Tadmor, Roumidia, Oshijan, Senheim and Oethen.

Kajasthan formed out of the mess of the Vardano-Reman Religious Wars as a kingdom centred around the town of Jazaha. Its first Shah profited greatly from the social disorder of the time, hiring a large mercenary army and conquering the surrounding splinter states. After a decade of fighting, he took the city of Sahira and, once it was pacified, he moved the capital there.

From Sahira, the successors of the first Shah took it upon themselves to conquer more land. The sparsely-populated states of the west Suren's Desert fell one by one, leading Kajasthan to its current status as the largest country in the area, and second largest in northwest Tairghol (second only to Dalfore). Despite this, Kajasthan is relatively poor due to its lack of arable land and the costs run up by the Shahs' excessive use of mercenary armies to fight their wars.
Goron Penhaligon

Goron Penhaligon (c.535 - 560), also known as Goron the Archer, was a Dalforean man-at-arms and member of the Guerr-en-Exile.

The first time Goron appears in history is in the city of Unetheas, where he joined the existing core of the Guerr-en-Exile. From there he was part of the party all the way until their untimely demise at the Clouded Peak some time in the early 560's.

Goron's epithet suggests he was an archer, obviously, but this is a modern interpretation of the name. It stems from a Dalforean saying: 'The archer shoots straight and true, unerring in his work'. In reality Goron was an incredibly forthright and honest individual, never failing to speak his mind and do the moral thing. He never wielded a bow, instead specialising in the man-at-arm's weapon of choice - the billhook.
Gothelm

House Gothelm is one of the twelve royal Talorian houses. It has its seat in the industrial town of Ribohame and has provided two Cyngs: Beohrtsige Bellringer and Taetwulf Sunhammer. Both of these are long in the past, though, and House Gothelm has fallen on hard times recently.

Gothelm's coat of arms are 'Argent, a goat salient horned Or'.

## Notable Members

* Beohrtsige Bellringer (392 - 422): 3rd Cyng of Talor
* Taetwulf Sunhammer (437 - 482): 7th Cyng of Talor
Harä

Harä is a country sandwiched between the Hurva and Astarciy rivers, and the Huon Range in the north. Harä is much smaller and weaker than Dalfore and Kafetra, its immediate neighbours, and is a member of the Dalforean League to offset and downplay this weakness.

Harä doubled in landmass in the early 500's after it conquered an offshoot of the fallen Tungid nomads in the Hurva region, marking the first and only time Harnese men have marched to war.

## Geography

Lying in the foothills of the Huon Range, Harä is a hilly country. There are only two regions: Harä and Hurva; the former in the north and vice versa.

Hurva is fairly prosperous due to its borders with Dalfore and Kafetra; it is governed from Zinthur. Further north are the towns of Baragsel and Serdon. Hurva is flatter than the north of Harä, making it arable land suitable for subsistence farming.

The capital city of Nermohoff is in the northern region of Harä. Other towns in the region are Nala, Ursha and Bränos. This area is mostly foothills, so is used for mining and milling; produce from the region of Harä is mostly exported in exchange for food.

## History

Harä did not exist before the Great Gap - the area around Nermohoff was inhabited by Kafetro-Vadyan tribes. The Astarciy River split these tribes off from the rest of the Kafetro-Vadyans, and as such they grew apart.

After the Gap the country of Harä existed as a duchy centred around Nermohoff. It originally consisted of what is now the County of Hurva, and had icy diplomatic relations with the theocratic nation of Sernuria to the south.

Sernuria collapsed in 485, partly owing to pressure Harä put on it through trade and leveraging with Kafetran tribes on the eastern Astarciy bank. After this fact Harä sent settlers south and established a settlement at Serdon - an act that split the upper nobility into factions for and against settling the now-vacant city of Zinthur.

This political rift became far worse over time as the factions divided further. The tension boiled over in 499 at the death of Duke Ashger Vagardael - each faction supported one of the Duke's two sons, Herolf and Kalgrim, for the throne. The civil war, styled the War of the Brass Throne or the Tronkrige, blazed across Harä for the next five years, resulting in the ascension of the older brother Herolf.
Gehoven

Gehoven is a Oetherian town lying on the Trade Lake.

The town is situated on the southern side of Langress Bay, sitting on a road between Zaltmeer and the capital city Laageward.

Gehoven's origins are uncertain; the site has been inhabited for as long as can be remembered. The buildings in the town proper are stone, which is unusual for the area, and are said to be hundreds of years old. Around the outskirts the current citizens have built more traditional wood-and-stone buildings.
Baenurra Camp

Baenurra Camp is a town in the Dalforean region of Ormol region. It is home to the Aladornic House Nernellis. Originally founded in the 2nd Century BCE, the town has been inhabited on and off through the years, used as a trading post and stopoff point between Sunsu in Huon Sa and Afaqa in Dalfore.

## Etymology

Baenurra Camp's name is derived from the Khams Tibetan 'Bǎnǎ rê Kham', translating roughly to 'Hidden Fish, Mountains of the Kham'. This is a literal description of the area by the Kham Tibetan settlers.

## History

Baenurra Camp was founded during the Age of Migration by Kham Tibetan sailors on the Kuwan Wa. The captain, Songtsen Gampo, named the area by combining words for what he found. The bay was relatively hidden and teeming with fish, hence the 'bǎ' and nǎ respectively; there were mountains of the Huon Range in the northern distance which resembled the mountains of the Kham region in Tibet, hence the 'rê Kham'. Its name literally means 'Hidden, Fish, Kham Mountains'.

The Tibetans had not landed alone. Another two Chinese ships, the Taizun and Guangbing, settled south of Banara Kham and immediately set about slaughtering the local Running Men, a practice the people of Banara avoided. This was just as well - the Running Men snapped and massacred the crews of the other two ships several years after they settled. The People recognised the pacifism of the Tibetans, though, and left them alone.

Over time Banara Kham bastardised, becoming its current form Baenurra Camp when the Tungrids arrived in the 6th Century. These newcomers also respected the freedom of the citizens, and many settled in Baenurra peacefully. The town became part of the de facto Tungrid state, and later part of the splinter state of Ormol.

Nowadays, Baenurra Camp is the northernmost town in the Republic of Dalfore, having been diplomatically integrated in the 7th Century. It retains many of its old Tibetan customs, along with a smattering of Tungrid culture as well. The town is heavily separated from any other Dalforean town due to this different, alien culture - especially alienated are the ethnically-Dalforean House Nernellis, the local lords appointed and sent by the Dalforean government due to a distinct lack of noblemen or feudalism in the town when it was integrated.
Armedean (language)

Armedean is an old language that was once spoken throughout the western and central Vasterlands. It has since been replaced by new dialects: Vadyan and Efulian. Armedean is still spoken in southern Vadya, though it is slowly dying out. Armedean is part of the Arpo-Vorsilic language group.

The language is still the primary method of communication for the Armedean people who reside in Avzold and parts of Efulia.
Fiscwicke

Fiscwicke is a bustling coastal town in northeast Talor. As its name suggests, it is a major producer of fish and boasts the largest civilian fishing fleet on the north shore of the Trade Lake.

Fiscwicke is home to the down-to-earth house Leodwalding, who have a monopoly on the fish trade but tend to keep prices low out of sympathy for the populace. It is not uncommon to see members of this royal house on the fishing boats, helping to pull the nets in or gutting the catch.

## Fiscwicke Meet

The Fiscwicke Meet is held every summer, when conditions permit. This is a boat race boasting over a hundred ships from Talor, Satï and sometimes Ulgard as well. Contestants sail from a starting point in Fiscwicke to the central town of Mearhus, collecting a token as proof, before sailing back.
Ashar

Ashar is a Parsanian god of war and fertility formerly worshipped in the regions of Soran and Kathafji. Since the religion of Ekdianism began to gain prominence, the worshippers of Ashar slowly faded away.

## Origins

Ashar is believed to have first been worshipped during the 6th Century BCE in the town of Kanat - his oldest shrines are located here, now converted into temples of Ekdos. From here his worshippers spread south, and at its height, Ashar's area of worship was spread throughout Soran and Kathafji.

Ashar is known to be the namesake of the mercenary band Bows of Ashar.
Asukai

The Asukai Clan is a powerful entity in central Hojo. Seated in the trading town of Funayako, it strangles all trade heading from the eastern frontier to the coast, and sits on the Golden Road between the warring powers of Kitabatake and Igashikuze.

The Asukai have their roots in the Great Gap, emerging from the strife as an independent nation. They were quickly subdued by the Jirocho, then by the Ashibayana, then finally by the Hojo. They maintained a significant amount of power in each takeover, and still have a large amount of influence over the Chief of the Hojo.

The clan derives its name from the Kaiganese characters 'A', meaning 'Chariot', 'Su', meaning 'Torn Asunder', and 'Kai', meaning 'Reformation'. The origin of this phrase is unknown, but may have something to do with events going into the Great Gap. The Kaiganese were great charioteers before the Gap, and often used them to hunt the Plainspeople, but post-Gap there were no chariots to be seen.

The arms of the Asukai Clan are 'Shinki, a vertical label Kin upon which the characters A, Su, Kai, written as Chariot, Torn Asunder, Reformation'. This blazon uses the official Kaiganese heraldic style.
Chateau Mereville

Chateau Mereville is a Lacrivian castle in Greater Lericonnia. It serves as the seat of House Trimbodeaux, the Baronne de Mereville. The castle is known for the fact that its moat is filled with red water - the locals insist this is dragon blood, but scholars have since proven the phenomenon is simply caused by the unique biological characteristics of the local ecosystem.

## History

Chateau Mereville was founded as a motte-and-bailey castle by House de Gerie during the 2nd Century BCE, and served as the house's seat for three hundred years. When bandits ousted House de Gerie in the mid-2nd Century CE, the castle was abandoned and left to rot until the Great Gap. It was used intermittently by bandits and outlaws, as the absence of local lord made Mereville a relatively lawless area.

Sometime during the Gap, House Trimbodeaux came into possession of the castle. The family purports its founder, Renault Torimbeau, took the castle back from the dragon that inhabited it, though this draconic opponent is largely written off as being a gang of bandits or outlaws.

With the rise of House Serre, the Chateau Mereville became one of the first settlements conquered by the new Kingdom of Lacrive. For a long time Serre was unable to advance east against the powerful House Hertoise, so Chateau Mereville became his eastern bulwark. Between 460 and 480, the castle was extensively renovated from an outdated motte-and-bailey into a modern stone castle.

Since House Hertoise fell in 478, Chateau Mereville has been a place of peace. The only actions fought nearby in the last two hundred years have been small skirmishes against bandits, and even those adversaries have been eradicated of late. Mereville is so close to the crown lands of Lacrive, and House Trimbodeaux so friendly with the royal family, that other noble houses are afraid to attack.
Beaudouin

House Beaudouin is a Lacrivian noble family residing in the Alletoix Mountains. They hold the Barony of Osalletoix, and are direct vassals of House Le Villiers, the Cont de Rolimar. He in turn is vassal to House le Feuvre, the Duc de Liniçon, who is vassal the Kings of Lacrive, House Ardouin.

The arms of House Beaudouin are 'Gules, a pale Argent within which three escutcheons Or'.
Jalobras

Jalobras is a village in Dalfore. It is part of the administrative region of Abrunn.

Jalobras is inhabited by three Aladornic Houses: Houses Persanus, Balharris and Begwyne.

## Lozenges

The three houses of Jalobras all feature lozenges on their coats of arms and the town itself is decorated heavily with the shape - there is no concrete reason why this is, though it has manifested as several local myths and legends.
Caharlic (language group)

The Caharlic language group is spread across the western side of Tairghol. It comprises a group of around half a dozen living languages, as well as two extinct predecessors.

The living Caharlic languages are:

* Huon - spoken in Huon Sa
* Tianguese - spoken in Tianguo, Yudao and Sanguo
* Neskirian - spoken in Nameraya, Saikouji and Ovodnesk
* Late Balayan - spoken in Kamkara
* Kaiganese - spoken in Igashikuze and its surrounds
Cyng of Talor

Talor functions via an elective monarchy. The dozen recognised 'royal houses' each put forth a candidate for the throne, and the lesser houses of the city of Eorlsburh vote on their new Cyng. The elected rules until death or abdication - though the latter has only been the case once before, with Cyng Ekkehard the Thunderbolt. Monarchs are called Cyngs if male, and though there has never been a female monarch it is generally agreed that the feminine form of Cyng is Cwynn.

Upon ascension, the Cyng discards his surname in favour of an epithet describing some aspect of his character. These epithets can change over time, when new events cause the Cyng to be popularly seen in a different light for better or worse. The adoption of this epithet is meant to symbolise the Cyng's new responsibilities - he cannot afford to be partial to his blood relatives. This is an act poorly disguised, however. For the last hundred years or so, the throne has been dominated by House Fylning and their close allies in House Hardwalden, mostly due to the Cyngs throwing their weight around to rig the next elections.
Aostin Hercourét

Aostin Hercourét (730 - Present) is the incumbent King of Dunfleasel and head of the Armel-based House Hercourét.

King Aostin is known to be a just, trusting monarch - likely a reaction based on the brash, grating personality of his father King Herbert. He is the first cousin of the late King Fionbarr of Gabrainn and thus the uncle of the current Gabrain King Faelan.

Aostin is currently in command of the shattered Dunn and Gabrain forces, recuperating in the town of Eastlee following their defeat at the Battle at Armel Gate.
El Cruzado

The El Cruzado was a galleon of the Vasterlands Fleet, one of the seven ships of Basque origin. It was captained by Theobald Blois, formerly King Theobald II of Navarre, and carried mostly Basque crusaders from the 10th to 14th Centuries.

The El Cruzado found no place in Castoles with the other Basques; Theobald believed there were greater riches waiting down the Spurnian River. He was proven mostly wrong, and cut his losses when the fleet reached the West Sea. The El Cruzado ran aground on what is now the Middle Dock in Delfar.
Faramondian (culture)

The Faramondians are a culture inhabiting the southern shore of the Trade Lake - mainly the region of Faramondia as well as parts of Ruadhain, Dale and the Southride. They are descended from the mediaeval English contingent of the Halcyonian Flotilla, led by Clovis Merovingius.

Faramondians have only deviated slightly from their roots. Their shields bear plants, flowers and woodland creatures; their folktales tell of heroic outlaws and daring knights.They have had to adapt to the reality of mainland living - fishing is still a large industry for the Faramondians though not their primary source of food.
Castle of the Sun

The Castle of the Sun is a relatively modern fortress located to the east of the Sahri city of Qairi. It has always been the seat of power of House Mofid, which originally built the castle.

## History

The Castle of the Sun was conceived and designed in the 670's by Sheikh Peyman the Architect in response to heightened tensions between himself and the Satrap of Raysum. This reasoning was never made official, however - the reason the Sheikh gave his monarch was that he was worried for the safety of his realm after the Kiban Intervention several years ago had cut easily through Qairi's defences, and he required more reassurance of power and stability in the area. The Shah agreed, and subsidised Peyman for the construction.

The fortress was completed in 681, boasting the tallest keep in Suren's Desert, as well as seven gates, twenty-five towers, and more than a dozen kilometres of wall. It was named, as is tradition, by the Sahri monarch Shah Vahraz II - he dubbed it the Castle of the Sun, after the uninterrupted view of the sunrise afforded by the room he slept in to bless the fortress.

The Castle was tested in late 738 during the Sharaffi Invasion of Kiba. It held the Kibans at bay for an admirable seven months before finally falling in April 739 - the last Sahri-Sharaffi castle to fall in the war. The Kiban occupiers repaired the damage they dealt to the keep, though the Amir Tower has been abandoned due to the massacre which took place during the last day of the siege, and the subsequent supposed hauntings.

The Castle of the Sun was abandoned by Kiba in 742 as part of a tactical retreat dictated by the Year of the Plainspeople. It was reclaimed by House Mofid shortly afterwards, and since then has been part of the reconstituted Shahdom of Sahran.

## Layout

The Castle of the Sun is centred around a granite keep four stories high. Around this keep is a small courtyard, into which also open a barracks, armoury and several storehouses. The first curtain wall, twelve metres high and three thick, separates this nucleus from a less centralised area containing other amenities. This sector is surrounded by another wall, this one only eight metres high and one-and-a-half metres thick.