Brevoy is a relative recently created kingdom having been forged by conquest from two smaller realms, Issia
and Rostland, just over two hundred years ago.
Issia was the older and the more northerly realm having been ruled for over a thousand years by the family Surtova
from their stroghold at Port Ice on the Lake of Mists. The typical northerner is dour and resilient, shaped bythe
harsh climate of the uplands. The Surtovas, pirates and cutthroats before they were kings, were always more
mercurial, imaginative and calculating than their countrymen and when Churl the Conqueror crossed the Icerime Mountains with an army of barbarians and 'several' red dragons they surrendered as soon as their spies reported
on its size and composition.
Rostland was settled by people wishing to escape from the wars and warlords to the south. They found the soils
of the plains fertile and became farmers and craftsmen. They are more welcoming to strangers than the Issians as long as you don't offend their concept of honour which is a significant part of their culture. This
stems from their first ruler Baron Aldori, an exceptional swordsman, who founded the Aldori dueling schools and
the rituals that grew up around the practice of dueling.
When Churl moved south to Rostland the Rostlanders could not contemplate surrender with a result than most
of their finest swordsmen, fiercesome foes for a more conventional army, were slaughtered by the dragons in battle.
Churl founded House Rogarvia which ruled the new kingdom without challenge for two hundred years. Then suddenly,
just over twenty years ago, every member of the Rogarvia clan vanished without a trace in what is now agreed to
be some sort of supernatural event. After a brief period of turmoil in the kingdom House Surtova, which had
spent the period of Rogarvian rule quietly consolidating its influence, claimed power and has held it ever since.
Although all the other five surviving major noble houses have sworn fealty to the Surtovas their leader Lord Noleski
was only able to take the crown with the title 'King-Regent' and there are many who still question the
legitimacy of his rule particularly in the southern city of Restov.
For most of the citizens of Brevoy, however, life goes on as normal. The dour Issians complain about the weather
and make preparations for the winter. The Rostlanders, who have a thriving export trade in food and crafts,
spend their spare gold in the city markets on such goods as Numerian skymetal or art objects from as far away as
Osirian.