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The Bronze Isles and their customs have always been of interest to Aldorians. Written by a Brynn scholar, this book details the history of that truly fascinating country.
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...That land has many names: for elves it's al-Burunz or Burons, Nistrians know it as Bronzos, while its inhabitants call it Bronza or Bronzia. In Aldor, the most common name is the Bronze Isles.
The location of the Isles opens up vast opportunities for controlling a significant part of the Southern Sea. Most merchant ships heading West to East - or vice versa - have to enter the local ports to refill their supplies and recuperate after facing the many dangers which plague the waters in that part of the world.
Unsurprisingly, Bronza was destined to become a crossroad of cultures: it's the place where Skadian merchants trade maps with elven travelers, where Nistrian seafarers shake hands with Aldorians, while Bronzians themselves are busy counting profits and gathering useful knowledge from the world over.
All this factored into the rapid development of science, arts, and craftsmanship - the rulers of Bronza had admirable foresight and enough common sense to generously reward any inventor, sage, or sorcerer who had something to offer to the world.
For that very reason, the crowded, lively cities of Bronza are full of wonders that you can't find anywhere else, including Jacinth. For example, there's a giant, bizarre mechanism installed into the tower of the capital's city hall, which is capable of counting time without the direct involvement of people or any kind of magic.
But lamentably, even the most talented and prudent nations can fall prey to misfortune. The Duke of Bronza, the most venerable Orro Denye, had been gullible and prone to superstition since early age.
Over the years of his rule, the Duke's timid nature and indecisiveness attracted an assorted crowd of sycophants and frauds, one of which prophesied some disastrous tragedy that will arrive from across the sea and put an end to the existing order of things.
The Duke was so terrified by those words that he immediately ordered to shut down every port in the country, completely severing the Isles's connection to the rest of the world. According to rumors, there was enough discontent to fuel a rebellion against the insane ruler - however, that attempt ended in failure, costing many their lives.
So even a decade later Bronza, which was once full of life and commotion, still remains hidden from outside observers. The Coastal Guard mercilessly sinks any ship brave enough to approach the shore - only a small number of local smugglers, who know the Isles as the back of their hand, dares venturing into the sea on their flimsy vessels to sneak forbidden goods in and out of the country...
