Atlas

Imarel Travel Guide - by T.A. Saunders ©2010 v1.2

Kingdom of Moonfall
(Formerly the Grand Duchy of Brookshire)

Brookshire (Divashi Capital) Brookshire in many respects is the twin city to Sundown as the latter was meant to reflect the former in terms of layout and architecture. Brookshire is also the ruling seat for the Grand Duchy, where Grand Duke Armando DeBellicose holds court during the colder months. During the warmer seasons, the Grand Duke travels to Moonfall to avoid the sweltering temperatures Brookshire suffers. Like Sundown, Brookshire is home to its own vampire population, fostered by the legendary Ko`rashae Ri and her favored childe, Nevi`sasha Stormwillow.

Before the War of the Eternals, Ko and Nevi worked tirelessly to establish a foothold in Brookshire. Lord Mason Grieg, Venywn Saul, and Alora Windchaser were all turned at this time and comprised the power-base of Elders that were originally intended to infiltrate Brookshire's cabinet and take control of the Grand Duke himself. However, what Ko did not count on was the interference of the Kal`aire. With their stronghold of Shadowcove so close, it became evident that even if she had succeeded in subtly taking over the Duchy, that there would always be a looming threat from the Children of Vengeance.

With the conclusion of the War of the Eternals and the huge population boom Brookshire gained from Elvish refugees, Ko found herself in a position to act as a colonial emissary for the Grand Duchy of Brookshire. It was entrusted to her to negotiate with the founding members of the Windsong Accord a place for the new colony of Sundown, that would be sponsored by the Grand Duchy but then turned over to the new Republic once it was established. Grand Duke Lorendar DeBellicose (Armando's ancestor) had no real designs to gain territory on a continent so far, but had a serious overpopulation problem in his Duchy. Trusting Ko's advice (through either charmed faith or vampiric coercion), the whole matter was placed in her care by royal appointment. The rest as they say is history.

The Brookshire of today still suffers the legacy of Ko's taint, with its own coven of Khavosian vampires. Largely removed from the toils of Sundown and the issues revolving around the coven there, the vampires of Brookshire are under the control of a vampire by the name of Lady Ariadne Amarys. Strict with maintaining secrecy, the Brookshire coven remains low key, organized and only takes what it needs from Brookshire's populous to survive. With the Kal`aire so close, this policy is increasingly wise, less they put the eye of Vengeance directly upon them. This does not mean that the vampires don't have their fingers into everything; they do, though only to the point to sway their interests within the city, rather than take control of the Grand Duke entirely. It has proven a delicate balance that has made the vampires a small problem, rather than one that requires extermination.

Brookshire is also known for its excellent porter, famous bread pudding and its well-crafted sea-faring vessels. The city is also home to the Grand Duke's naval fleet which boasts over seventy warships strong, equipped with magically reinforced hulls and big twelve pound guns that fire a special grapeshot known as Fireseed. This special grapeshot explodes on impact, giving it a cluster bomb effect that's been effective enough in the past to take out Shalzaarian Dragons that ventured too close.