Bracken

> *In the shadow of the jaws of the many towering fjallar, Rótthand and her fellows gave this land the Rakki name of Rávmunnen, the Mouth of the Fox. The people lived high up the farward fjall, and Rótthand and her crew knew this was not the end of their journey. Nonetheless, they spoke with the people of Rávmunnen, who in their tongue named themselves as Brakkánr, people of the Brakkan valley.*
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- Ragnar Fjállaþorson's travels.

### Location

Steep cliffs, around an inlet, in the valley of two mountain ranges; thick natural spires of rock; several small islands

### Rule

A fairly chill form of anarchy; some mafia groups and factions

### Foundation

As Bræknge, sometime before -1800 by the royal house of Wulfborn, then left in ruins in the early -1800s, slowly becoming Bracken

### Known For

Lack of laws; virtually impossible to invade; rich history; absolute freedom

### Exports

Manufactured goods; grown produce; fish and seafood

### Languages

Rakki (official language), Darim, Vreigardt, Yupiisut and other Gildegran languages

### Demographics

A jumbled mess, with slightly more Danderillonian, Rakki, and Darim

### Telegraph Code

005-

**Bracken,** also called the **City of Thieves** and sometimes nicknamed **The Last Free City**, was a free city situated at the most narrow point between the Delling Mountains and Auril's Girdle, in the northeast Danderillon. It was bounded by the Bay of Drowned Wishes (a Rakki name that stuck) to its east, which was full of many large thin spines of rock, known as the Wishing Ribs. Bracken was always a free city of many cultures, people, and origins. It had a population of some few million people in the modern day. It was a historic centre of trade and population, going through many historical periods.

It had a high number of Vreigardt, Darim and Rakkimarran populations, due to its location at a point between Kol Darim, the Danderillon, and Rakkimar's Faerunian claim. There were lots of interesting Places in Bracken.

## Names in Local Tongues

In Bracken, people mostly spoke Rakki or Darim, and there was lots of Vrei too. Luskan was uncommon.

* In the extinct Brackian language it was once called **Rice Bræknge,** meaning 'Valley of the King'
* In Darim it was known as **Bräken** (The Broken Mouth), due to the city's maw-like shape from atop the mountains.
* In Vreigardt it was called **Brǎkiţa**
* In Old Rakki its name began as **Brakkan**, and its people the **Brakkánr**
* Despite there being numerous Rakkimarran languages, most of the Rakki, Saemhl and others called the city **Brökhenfjorð**, or just **Brökhen** for short.

## Under the Wulfborn Kings

> *'No man could ever live on the Spines! They are far too steep, and too much a waste of time. Not in a thousand years would you find men living in, nor on them - what a foolish notion.'*
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- Princess Palifrynn.

Due to its position on the inward slopes of the valley of the Bay, it was near-inaccessible except via tunnel or sea. Bracken was one of the earliest monarchies on the continent, with King Palifrun Wulfborn declaring himself ruler of the city and its environs in the -1800s. His royal house's ensign was a gold rope knotted into a loop. The city was near-inassailable (or thought as such) due to its strong walls.

During the era of the Rice Bræknge (Kingdom of the Valley), the Wulfborn family ruled for a two generations comprising three rulers. Beginning with King Palifrun who declared himself King, rather than Lord of the city, the crown then passed to his eldest daughter Gerwulf, and after a short rule, to King Æthelwulf. King Æthelwulf was an ambitious son and a cunning ruler, and he had plans for the kingdom. In -1798, he began exacting tribute from the lowlands villages like Pszczow, with the aim of eventually taking over Kol Darim and the plains to the south.

Back then, it should be noted that **Bræknge** was not built in the same place that modern Bracken grew. Braeknge was west of modern Bracken's city centre, with some vestiges remaining in the Old Town and seafront. The islet that would one day be lumped with mud and earth to make the future Cross Island currently housed the castle for the city's harbour chain.

## After Being Raided

After the Great Raid on Braeknge in the year -1798, the city was mostly ruins, with people living on the outskirts. The inner city, hit hardest, was a hub of crime and lowlives, who inhabited the burnt-out and destroyed rubble. Gangs like the Bodysnatchers saw opportunity and took it.

## As the Free City

> *We must make for the last free city left, and perhaps there, they won't find us.*
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- Cazryl De'Zephyn.

It was a beautiful city, with plaster whitewashed houses and tiled roofs, and large bridges spanning the bay full of sailing ships.

The bulk of the city was spread across the two mountain slopes, as well as three huge pillars of rock in the bay, known as the Desiderate Spines. Many bridges connected the Spines together. Beneath the exterior, covered in houses, the Spines were also home to forges, palaces, and carven streets of houses in the rock.

Bracken historically has always been full of organised crime, and many factions, such as the Bruisers, Rounswells, tripartite early Iron Chapter (Ram/Gauntlet/Cross), and more.

In 1490, Bracken's organised crime world was shaken up by several plots from within by some heroes. This ended with the Rounswells and the Di Lamendolio Family being completely ejected from the city, the Battle of Bracken, and the coronation of the first King of Bracken in centuries, King Altor Mazander. During Altor's rule, the city looked a little different. Many factions had left.

## Under King Altor

The city changed significantly after the battle, though much was rebuilt. Only **two** bridges remained between each spine and the mainland, as the widest ones had been blown up during the fighting. Though they were gone, the palaces of many factions were still here.

Under King Altor, the city was safer, though some resented the shift away from the 'good old days' - it was less 'free'.

Rounswell Palace, the grand hall on the south side, was now made into King Altor's royal palace. It was grand, and extremely well guarded by his private army**.**

**Palazza di Lamendolio** was rebuilt after the family left, and now housed Kessar and her Bruisers, who controlled most of the north side.

**Old Pegasus Fort** was the second bastion of King Altor's **Winged Cavalry.**

**Cross Island,** a natural but expanded island, was home to the **Greysword Fort** of the **Golden Flock**.

The **South Spine** was the ward of the **Mystic Concordant**, who retained their place from pre-battle Bracken.

The **Central Spine** was home to the faction **The Accordion**, who now were part of King Altor's navy and oversaw trade.

The **North Spine** was mostly residential and industrial.

The **Harpers** also had some influence upon the south side, hired by the king.

The Gauntlet and The Cross were no longer present in Bracken.

## True Anarchic Bracken

    The Serpent's Head was successful in its mission, and cleansed the city anew. Cross Island was completely razed and left to rot, the landscape full of burnt wrecks and the bridges cut. The remainders of the Flock left Bracken, and many other factions broke to infighting. The Bracken Harpers staked a Mystic claim. Navassa Kenway led The Accordion. Toby Trouble was in charge of the Street Rats. Thomson Ra-Hanif led the Lamplighters. Some of the Bruisers split to join the Street rats, others flocked under Lewis to join his Spellswords, mages and warriors alike. Two large dark zones existed full of chaos and empty of law. It was quite fun.

## In the 1550s

Decades later, Bracken would also be the fateful place where Velarin Naysayer was murdered by the Agents of Chaos, when they blew up the NMV No More Mr. Nice Guy in the bay, and stormed the wreck with Hazirawn.