Castle Brionne, often called the Jewel of Bretonnia (by the people of Brionne), is a Fortress-City and the ducal capital of Brionne.
History[]
Founding and Unification (976-978 IC)[]
Beginning in the late first millennium, the Bretonni tribes began to face innumerable foes. Beastmen from the Forest of Arden poured forth in savage cruelty. The Greenskins of the mountains became an unstoppable tide of orcs that started to sweep away mankind. Two provinces, Cuileux and Glanborielle were completely destroyed. Faced with this threat, Gilles le Breton united the fractured Bretonni tribes and began the Twelve Great Battles to liberate the land of evil.[1b]
During the Third Great Battle, the Grail Companions reached Castle Brionne, which was besieged by another greenskin army. Just as they attacked from the rearguard, Lord Balduin of Brionne sallied forth from his castle with the last of his knights. He smote down the largest of the enemy Warbosses, but not before his adversary's massive axe became embedded deep in his shield. Such was the strength of the blow that the weapon could not be removed, but Balduin fought on for the remainder of the day bearing the immense burden without faltering. From then on, the battle-axe would be the heraldic sigil of Brionne. Although they were greatly outnumbered, the Bretonni tore through the greenskins like a scythe through wheat in harvest, and Gilles and Balduin met in the midst of the battle. They clasped forearms as brothers, and Balduin was joined into the number of the Companions.[1b][1g]
After the final battle before the gates of Couronne, the Bretonnians agreed to unite into a formal kingdom. Gilles was proclaimed the first king, and Balduin became the first Duke of Brionne.
Skaven Invasion (1813 IC)[]
In the year 1813 IC, an outbreak of Red Pox exploded throughout Bretonnia, killing thousands upon thousands. In its wake, Ratmen emerged from beneath the ground and lay siege to Brionne and Quenelles. Mousillon suffers greatly from the plague, but Duke Merovech d'Mousillon and his knights are spared. Under the great leadership of Merovech, the skaven besieging Quenelles and Brionne are slaughtered and pushed back.[1b]
Sacking (1974 IC)[]
The Beastmaster Rakarth lead an assault on the city in 1974 IC. Using his vast complement of warbeasts, including War Hydras, Kharibdyss, and other terrible monsters, the city’s walls were breached. The Dark Elves pillaged the city and sailed away with their plunder, leaving the city ruined.[2a]
Layout[]
Castle Brionne genuinely is a remarkably beautiful city, set on a peninsula linked to the mainland by a narrow neck. The peninsula forms a hill, and the city winds up the side, built with the local white stone or, for peasant buildings, white plaster. The sand of the bay is extremely good for making glass, so virtually every window in the city is glazed, and they sparkle in the sunlight. Castle Brionne is at the centre of the city and the peak of the island. It is what other Brionnian castles want to be: the perfect merging of fanciful form and flawless functionality.[1a]
The many small turrets might appear to be haphazard, but they provide excellent fields of fire. Similarly, the tall, slender towers hold watchposts that can be defended by one man against an army and command much of the area around. The many courtyard gardens can be sealed and turned into killing rooms to dispose of invaders. The Hall of Minstrels in Brionne is the most important centre for those entertainers in the world. It stands on a small prominence in the southern quarter of the city, and is surrounded by a garden. The building itself is circular, built of white stone, and home to an auditorium with flawless acoustics. Minstrels can be found performing there at any time of the day or night.[1a]
Trivia[]
- Brionne is based on the real-life comune of Brionne, located in Normandy, northern France. Part of the commune is a ruined keep of Norman origin.
- Brionne is said to be a city which openly welcomes pirates and turns a blind eye to their dealings.