County of Bisan

## History

### Realm of the Lionsword

Long before the Day of Ashen Skies, a proto-Busilari tribal chieftain known as Bisan conquered Milcorissian lands and established a strong realm. The swordsmanship of the Lionsword was legendary and he established a martial tradition which prevailed for millennia. Even after the Wexonard migrations, the Bisanese did not forget their heritage and the banner of the Lionsword was still used by the County of Bisan.

### Loyal To The Last

During the Dragonwake in 470 AA, the Damerian Republic granted land for Wexonard tribes to settle, in exchange for guarding the Borders against gnolls and other threats. In the Lilac Wars, the Wexonards of Bisan remained loyal to Dameria. This later led to conflict with their fellow Wexonards and other neighbours, who changed sides to support the Rose party instead. From Bisanese perspective, they were fighting against traitors, but their righteousness did not bring them victory. Countsbridge and Gnollsgate were lost to the enemy. Even though Dameria was gone, revanchism was high, and the Bisanese were determined to strike back and win, no matter the cost.

### Harold IV Gnollcutter

The hills south of Bisan had long been infested with gnolls who had often launched raids to capture slaves. In 1403 AA, Count Harold the Fourth gathered the army to seize Gnollsgate and bring an end the gnollish menace. The hill gnolls were beaten in several decisive battles and Gnollsgate was secured under Bisanese rule. Thus Harold IV earned the title of "Gnollcutter", becoming one of the most famed military leaders of Bisan's history. His bold tactics continued to influence the Bisanese army for many centuries to come.

### The Lansday Massacre

Many Bisanese were quick to adopt the Corinite faith, as Corin exemplified many traits which were held in high regard in Bisan: Martial ability, courage and willingness to sacrifice oneself for a greater cause. However, many remained loyal to Adean, and soon religious tensions erupted between the two groups like they did elsewhere in Cannor. The Bisanese solved the problem like how they usually did, with violence. In the night of 7th of Nerament 1576, the eve of Lansday, the Corinite faithful struck at the Adeanic nobility. The outbreak of assassinations and mob violence resulted in thousands of deaths and crippled the power of the Adeanics, securing Corinite control of Bisan.

## Geography

### The Bisanese Corridor

As the Wexhills were difficult to navigate, most overland travel between the Borders and the eastern Dameshead went across the plains between the Khenak and the Wexhills. This vital trade route was known as the Bisanese Corridor. Control of this route allowed Bisan to collect plentiful tolls from merchants passing through or visiting the nearby free cities of Magdalaire and Indlebury.

### Aelthíl Glassweavers

As the War of the Sorcerer-King raged, Magda of Magdalaire, a Wexonard warlord, allowed elves to settle in what later became known as Aelthíl. While many of the elves assimilated into the human populace, their descendants becoming half-elves, a small enclave of urban elves remained in the heart of Aelthíl. They were called Glassweavers due to their skill of using magic to create elaborate items from glass, so beautiful and intricate that they were famed well beyond Bisan itself. While the Wexonards do show a colder reception to the elven race, the Counts of Bisan have generally allowed them great autonomy and benefits - either due to Bisan's pro-Damerian leanings, or perhaps coin that fills their coffers.

### Corpses And Corsets

The halfling minority in Corseton became well known for their eponymous corsets. Their small hands were helpful with the intricacies and allowed corsets to have much smaller lacings. Corsets were fashionable among noblewomen and the demand for high-quality Corseton corsets brought considerable wealth into Bisan. However, there is also a more morbid origin to the city's name. Many know of The Necropolis that dominates the city, which was, for a longest time, the largest temple of Nerat's faith until the Bone Citadel in Aelantir, but only historians know that Nerat was not a god of a pre-Elikhet Kheterata, but was in fact an death god imported by Milcorissian slaves. This fact became widely spread in the 16th century when adventurers uncovered ancient Milcorissian burial grounds in Corseton, containing corpses posed with corsets, leading to the curiously macabre realization that the name for corsets came from corse, an archaic word for corpse.