Brevoy

Brevoy is a nation in far northeastern Avistan on the verge of tearing itself apart. The political entity known as Brevoy was once two vastly different nations locked in a constant state of war before being conquered by a foreign despot: Choral the Conqueror. After centuries under the rule of Choral and his descendants, they suddenly all disappeared, and Brevoy must now decide its own destiny.

Brevoy is a relatively young nation, having only existed since 4499 AR. The history of Brevoy before this time is the history of two often-warring nations: Issia and Rostland. The coming of Choral the Conqueror changed all this. After securing the defeat and surrender of the two nations, Choral christened his family House Rogarvia. Choral only ruled his new land for a decade before disappearing, leaving his descendants to rule, and using the threat of the conqueror's return and his fearsome dragon allies to maintain their power. The dragons seemingly disappeared after Brevoy's creation, but they returned once to lay siege to Skywatch, an observatory-cum-fortress held by those still loyal to Rostland.The Rogarvians' rule ended with the mysterious disappearance of every member of House Rogarvia in 4699 AR (an event known as the Vanishing), leaving Brevoy's noble families to pick up the pieces and fall back into their centuries-old disagreements. Eventually House Surtova gained the upper hand and Noleski Surtova rules fragile Brevoy today.

Legend of Choral's conquest

A legend concerning the arrival and conquest of Choral is told in Brevoy that enhances the real history. It tells that Choral arrived at Needle Lake, the current Lake Reykal, with a ragged band of soldiers and knights numbering just over three hundred. After his arrival he declared the creation of a new nation called Brevoy that would encompass much of the land that was then Issia and Rostland. This declaration was almost completely ignored by both nations as neither perceived Choral as a threat.Rostland eventually had to deal with Choral when he began sending tax collectors from his settlement of New Stetven to force the citizens to support his usurping government. They sent a small army to deal with the proud warlord. Rostland's army seriously underestimated Choral's cunning, and their army walked into an ambush. They were lured into a river canyon south of New Stetven where Choral unleashed his secret red dragon allies. Their flames devastated the Rostlandic army trapped in the canyon with no way to escape and there were few survivors. After this, the dragons rampaged across much of Rostland proper, forcing its leaders to surrender within days. Seeing the devastation Choral caused in Rostland, the Issian lords surrendered immediately, declaring themselves to be a part of his new aristocracy.

Actual history of conquest

The truth is that Choral arrived in Brevoy via crossing the Lake of Mists and Veils from Iobaria. There he met with Lord Nikos Surtova of Issia, who immediately surrendered in the face of his large army. In exchange, he and the rest of House Surtova were allowed to retain their prestige and possessions and became vassals to House Rogarvia. Only then did Choral turn his attention to Rostland and the Aldori swordlords, who did fall in much the same way as the legends recount.