Perecornae (Hol: provincial settlement outside of the Eastern Empires bounds)

Lacarna (Hol: horseshoe, settlement on the western shore of the Agalien peninsula, so named after the shape of the bay in which it was built)


Brugansa (Sar: Shattered place)

Much criticism was made of the first Holorian settlers of the Agalien peninsula – there was never a dearth of such critics in Holorian society. As the often caustic Methesa wrote in one of his self titled wits "A visitor with such mettle as the Holorian race is undoubtely alloted, would most certainly ponder upon the expanse of wilderness that teases the eye beyond the walls of any of our western Perecornae*, for it is both profitable and attainable. What are swords for in the west? The cutting of hams? or is there something of the soil and the water that renders a man who resides there less valient than the woman of the east that bore him?" An unfair representation? Certainly, and more so that Methesa never so much as left sight of the coast of the Eastern Empire. His reasoning was popular amongst his peers, including those who had visited the west , for there did seem to be a lack of drive amongst the westerners to go much further inland than was strictly necessary. And why should merchants risk anything to do so? Within a days ride of the perecornae of Lacarna was a wilderness of just such profitable renown and yet no effort was extended in annexing it. Brugansa was known to both the indiginous Coritani and to the Sarach, indeed the name itself is of Sarach origin, identifying the place as having at one time been settled to some extent by the Sarach tribes. By the time of the Holorian incursions the Sarach had long since moved northeast though their trade with the region had not ceased entirely and there were a few Sarach settlements along the coast and rivers. It seems more than likely then that the Brugansic people had arrived in the area sometime after the Sarach and there is no doubt that the hostile nature and more advanced marshal abilities of these latter Brugansians expelled the Sarach entirely. The Brugansians of the Holorian period were therefore likely not advanced much in weapon making and warfare since their first arrival, yet the fear of them had not diminished. The land itself was difficult and treacherous, thickly wooded and strewn with great boulders that formed narrow channels through which any invading force would have to squeeze with the attendant risks that would bring. It was rich in flora, many species of which were useful medicinally and culinary, with several species of poisonous growths though the Brugansians did not deem their use fair in warfare, though they frequently tortured captives. The land rose from the west bank of the Efail quite sharply, then descending melted into the Iskan plain. There were few identifiable paths and no roads until the Holorians drove the Long Causeway through its midst, though the Brugansians rarely tired of haranguing those Imperial travellers who were not adequately protected. What of the Brugansians themselves? They spoke an ancient dialect of the Agalien and fought not dissimilarly to the Skatha to whom theu were closely related. They maintained a tribal form of society grouped about permanent settlements that they were not slow to abandon if need took them. They had no direct chieftain or lord, annually choosing from amongst their number between three and five male elders to sit in government, a position limited to overseeing disputes and chairing any gathering called to decide the response to crisis. Though they were a hardy people, accustomed to eking out a living from a difficult land and accomplished warriors they had no concept of war beyond ambushing those found within the bounds of their lands or within a comfortable nights assault of their borders. That a number of Sarach settlements remained within a few hours of Brugansa long after the Sarach had been expelled from it says much. Their existence can only be explained in part by continued trade. Whereas one Brugansian tribe might be happy to trade, another would most certainly have seen opportunity and ripped apart the palisade walls. As later Holorian military commanders discovered, the Brugansians were a force indeed when within their borders but bring them to battle at a less favourable place and the fight would be weighted against them heavily. Nevertheless Brugansa remained a name to haunt the ears of civilised men and no few merchants would find themselves cursing, or worse still, ruined by the destruction of a caravan that had dared the Long Causeway and entered Brugansa without sufficient sword hands to keep the natives at bay.