Bravoure

Bravoure /brəˈvʊə/, known as the Kingdom or Realm of Gold, is one of the largest nations of Terra. It is located on the Reclining Drake continent in the northern hemisphere. In 1731:AV, Bravoure reached a record population of about 10 million inhabitants.

## Name

The name Bravoure comes from the Bravan term that signifies 'of the brave', referring to the royal name *Bravi* that later evolved into *Brave*. The capital city of Bravoure is Bravoure City.

## History

### Before the scriptures

It is assumed that two distinct nomad tribes were the first inhabitants of the land that later became Bravoure. Arrivers from the north settled in low Gurdal, while those who came from the sea built the First City (*Prima Cite*) on the southern coast. The union of the two tribes was peaceful, as the mountain tribe mostly consisted of *monachi*, or monks, who were looking to spread their faith further south.

### Anno Varkadia

The monks of Gurdal spent centuries pondering on life and the human condition. The meaning of life was the most crucial question they sought to answer. With this mission in mind, the monks wrote thousands of texts about the Storms of Creation, the birth of Terra, the rise of humans, and the pursuit of happiness and fulfilment. Some of these scriptures paved the way for scientific research, particularly into astronomy and botany.

The monks compiled the old texts into the *Scripturas Veritatis* (Scriptures of the Truth). Bravoure's inhabitants embraced the scriptures in unison, and it is with that sentiment that all settlements scattered across the land unified under one ruler. As an influential peacekeeper and spokesman for the monks, Julius Bravi became Bravoure's first king.

With time, the name *Scripturas Veritatis* derived to *Scripturas Veteris*, which is why the monks' texts are referred to as 'Scriptures of the Old'.

### Age of Rise

As Bravoure expanded north, humans met nomadic elves who had settled west of Gurdal. Although cautious at first, trust was eventually earned, and a treaty of peace was signed. When Bravan settlers reached the ice, they made first contact with the dwarven dynasty of King Nomir Reothadh. The northern domains had become too hazardous to occupy, and the dwarves were searching for a new home. Bravoure opened its doors to King Reothadh and his clan, and the dwarven king sponsored the Ternary Alliance between humans, elves, and dwarves in turn.

Bravoure grew larger, and with the arrival of the dwarves, business thrived. As a token of gratitude to the Bravan king, the dwarves built advanced mining infrastructure in the mountains of Gurdal. In this time, the Bravan gold was the main currency. Trade with the neighbouring lands of Tazman and Iskala increased. Bravoure could now build a proper city, a capital, with a beautiful castle, distinguished housing, and a church. The Cathedral of Bravoure was built, and with that, the Congregation for the Varkadian Faith became a beacon of unity.

Magic in Bravoure was tolerated but not normalised. Before the reign of Maxima Bravi, mages were village sages or advisors to noblemen. No proper educational system was in place for people practising magic. When Maxima became queen, as she was fascinated by magic, she inaugurated the construction of a 'school for the gifted'. It was named Schola Maxima del Magi and welcomed over a hundred students the first year alone. Queen Maxima appointed one of her advisors to lead the Schola del Magi. At the end of her reign, the school had grown so much in popularity that it became its own entity detached from the Crown. Later in the years, the Schola Maxima del Magi changed its name to Magi Academy of Bravoure.

### Dark Ages

With the systematisation of magic and arcane advancements, the Magi Academy of Bravoure thrived under a four-man council, referred to as the Great Four. However, with power came the fear of losing it, and the Great Four sought to maintain that power through all means necessary. The Academy sank into the sinkholes of corruption, holding the Crown hostage through threats and manipulation. The Bravan king at the time, Leopold II, became the magi's puppet. Crime in the capital rose drastically, and the people were forced to execute the magi's bidding.

It is during that time that is estimated the disappearance of the dwarves. The Reothadh dynasty retreated underground, leaving all infrastructure behind. Historians presume that disgust or fear compelled the dwarves to leave Bravoure.

The Age of Dark lasted about two centuries. The Great Four were eventually overthrown from within during a coup plotted by rebellious magi.

### Golden Age

Order was restored in Bravoure after the takedown of the Great Four. The Magi Academy renewed its values under the Equilibrium Order and released the Crown from its grasp. After the death of Leopold II, his daughter Valencia took a more entrepreneurial approach to leading her kingdom, and business in and out of Bravoure thrived again. Bravoure built a massive fleet of sturdy trade ships that could cross the Sea of Khal in less than a week. The demand for Bravan gold overseas increased decade by decade, turning Bravoure's gem trade into a global business.

Tazman was Bravoure's neighbour and closest ally. The southern land was rich in limestone and ruby, making it a strategic economic target. Unification of the two lands was proposed and eventually signed by Tazman's queen Dame Calista. Tazman operated as an autonomous region inside the kingdom.

During that time, Bravoure signed an alliance with the land of Vanhaui. Vanhaui was a rival economic force, with many nations having adopted the Hauian-Bretannian as a second language. Later, Bravoure also adopted the language, which was from then on known as Common.

### Rule of Sharr

The earthquake of 1101:AV opened a rift north of Sud that unearthed evidence of an ancient tunnel dug below the ground connecting Bravoure to the Dwellunder. The kingdom later invited dark elf refugees into the land, which caused tensions to rise in the capital. People began questioning Bravoure's values of acceptance and whether everyone deserved a place in the kingdom. Despite Bravoure's best efforts, a significant gap had spread between the common people and the wealthy bourgeoisie.

Tensions and resentment in the land did not make King Godfrey's reign easy. When the dark elf prince Xandor Kun Sharr threatened the kingdom with invasion, Bravoure collapsed. The war that ensued was quickly fought, and with the king's death, Lord Sharr began the occupation of Bravoure. The opposition movement during the war was to be eradicated under the Purge Order, but survivors regrouped and joined forces in the infamous Bravan Resistance.

In 1354:AV, dissidents in Bravoure rebelled against Lord Sharr. However, Lord Sharr had been alerted of the conspiracy to kill him. The uprising failed, and the Resistance almost went extinct. A decade later, after establishing a military base in the Mines of Orgna north of Bravoure City, Lord Sharr was vanquished in the Battle of Orgna. The Resistance took over the capital and freed the people. Mother Divine Astea oversaw the restoration of the kingdom until the election of Charles Goshawk in 1365:AV as Bravoure's regent.

### Age of Tension

> Bravoure is not the same you remember.
>
> Cayne Falco, City of the Dead

Following the rise of Goshawk to power, the latter changed his title to Monarch of Bravoure. With the fear of the dark elf force returning, Goshawk proceeded to eliminate any dark elf remaining in the kingdom. Those events were part of Goshawk's Solution, which occurred through 1380 and 1383:AV. The Bravan people themselves were put under strict curfew rules and were constantly under investigation. Many innocent people were executed or imprisoned following Goshawk's reign.

The Bravan economy rose during that period as most of the people sank into poverty. Bravoure became a strong militaristic force, and when blackiron was discovered in the northern domains, Iskala was consequently annexed in 1450:AV. The nation that consisted of nomadic tribes was invaded in less than a month. The production of blackiron-based weapons immediately commenced, rendering Bravoure's army even more powerful. The rest of the world, particularly Galies, began seeing Bravoure as a rising enemy. In 1498:AV, the Bastion was built as a stronghold that served both as a prison and arsenal.

Azera Condor was crowned Monarch of Bravoure in 1550:AV. Condor's desire to change the nation resonated among the people. However, despite her title, she held very little influence, as the military operated as an acting senate. Yearly efforts led by General William Corax were made to arrest protestors and rioters, but in 1554:AV, the rising rebel force of the Wolf Pack stormed the Bastion. Corax was defeated, and the Wolf Pack captured the Castle of Gold.

After the takedown of Bravoure's totalitarian leadership, Azera Condor stepped down as Monarch of Bravoure, leaving room for the Council of Guardians to lead the land.

### New Dawn

Bravoure once again rebuilt itself. After almost two centuries of oppression, it took time and patience to install a peaceful government. Bravoure reverted to the triangular structure that predominated the Golden Age, with the Council, the Senate, and the Assembly. In 1603:AV, Tazman declared its independence.

## Geography

The mounts of Gurdal form Bravoure's backbone, where its highest point is located on the Crest of the Drake. The Azul river contours most of the land and finds its source across multiple glaciers in high Gurdal. Volcanic activity does not occur in Bravoure. However, there are historical accounts of eruptions beyond the northern border.

Because of the length of the continent and the mostly mountainous hinterland, Bravoure's climate is highly diverse. To the north, the winters are cold and often snowy. The closer to the Sea of Khal, the warmer the climate. The climate of the Coast of Sud is mostly subtropical, with mild winters and hot summers. In the capital, the average summer temperatures range from 20 °C (68 °F) to over 25 °C (77 °F).

Winters can vary widely across the country, with lingering cold, foggy and snowy periods in the north and milder, sunnier conditions in the south. Summers are hot in the south. Southern areas like the Tazman peninsula can experience occasional strong tropical thunderstorms from spring to autumn.

In terms of flora and fauna, Bravoure is home to many different species of birds. Ibexes and chamois populate high Gurdal. Emerald wyverns used to be seen in the valleys north of the capital but were massacred by Lord Sharr and went extinct.

## Politics

Bravoure's leadership follows a triangular democratic structure, with the Council of Guardians, the Senate, and the Assembly that form the Bravan Republic. The Council is the administrative power of Bravoure that oversees the kingdom and manages economic affairs. It is a joined conglomerate of the militaristic, religious, academic, and political powers of the land. The Senate, composed of senators, is the executive power of Bravoure. It approves and enacts laws submitted by the Assembly. The Assembly is the legislative power of Bravoure. Deputies of the Assembly write laws that contribute to the Civil Code.

## Economy

The currency standard in Bravoure is the Gold Standard (gold-silver-copper standard). 100 copper is equal to 1 silver, and 100 silver is equal to 1 gold. Coins are manufactured at the Goshawk Bank (Bank of Bravoure) in the capital. The gold and silver coins are actually made of copper but plated respectively gold and silver.

Bravoure's main export is the Bravan Gold, along with large quantities of wheat and barley.

## Demographics

### Language

The main language spoken in Bravoure is Common, which is an evolved form of Hauian-Bretannian. That is because Bravoure is composed of a variety of cultures and people from different origins. Old Bravan is spoken mostly among humans in Bravoure. It had gone dormant for a long time but was used as a code language by the Resistance during the Rule of Sharr, which contributed to the revival of the language.

In Tazman, the people speak the Taz language, which is a Bravan-based language mixed with Tazman's native tongue.

### Religion

The people of Bravoure worship the gods of the Draconic Pantheon. Draconic (Varkadian) Faith is the predominant Terran religion. The basis for Draconic Faith is described in the Scriptures of the Old, with the great white dragon Varko as the king of the gods. Evidence of this faith predates Bravoure. It is believed that the southern tribe that created the land already believed in an early version of Draconic Faith, while the northern tribe followed rites focused on achieving enlightenment. When the two tribes joined, so did the different beliefs, and they now coexist together.

## Culture

Bravoure is seen across Terra as a cultural superpower, known for its considerable architectural achievements. The construction of arches, domes, columns, and temples during the Age of Rise has influenced the rest of the world. Two of Bravoure's most prized architectural jewels are the Cathedral of Bravoure and the Arena of Sud (Colosseum).

### Cuisine

Bravoure is also renowned for its highly diverse cuisine, with the momrogi, a wheat-based dumpling stuffed with meat or potato, sometimes with fruit, and spiced soup as the national dish. Gurdal is rich in herbs like thyme and sage, while turmeric and ginger can be found in the forests south of Sud. Such culinary variety has made Bravoure one of the top destinations for explorers.

### Sud

Sud is Bravoure's cultural centre. It earned the name City of Coloured Lights because *it never sleeps*. The Carnival of Sud and many music festivals are traditions that date back to before the Anno Varkadia. Sud is also the home of many gladiators who fight in the Colosseum, which has become the city's main attraction for tourists from all over the world. In Sud, people still wear long togas of colours and gold and contribute to the city's nostalgic atmosphere.

### Calendar

The Bravan calendar, like the Kanjuunese, follows the rotation of Terra around Sols. However, the Bravan calendar divides the year into seven moons, or months, each named after a dragon-god. The month of Daakius is sometimes shortened or elongated to account for the inconsistency in days between seven moons and one rotation around Sol. In 921:AV, Vanhaui adopted the Bravan calendar. Before that, it used a similar system to the Kanjuunese calendar, which divided the year into seasons. In the early 1400s, Kanjuuna adopted the Bravan calendar. Galies followed a lunar calendar and counted a new year at the end of the winter season. In 1555:AV, Galies also adopted the Bravan calendar. It is unclear when the island kingdoms started using the Bravan calendar, but by 1600:AV, most of the world used it.

## See Also

* Bravoure City
* Sud
* The *Tempest of Bravoure* series