Fornois

The County of Fornois is an independent feudal state located in north-western Syltör. It is ruled by the Count of Fornois Yeetus Christ. It is a founding member of the Syltörean Confederacy, along with the Kingdom of Norfthorn.

History
Although it has been inhabited for many centuries by several ancient peoples, very little is known about them, and all the information we have comes from later Fornian sources. They were agrarian people, and followed a traditional pagan religion, with several sacred sites and sanctuaries, especially one on the hill of Montbégny, previously called Harberk or Herberk. These ancient people may be the ancestors of the villagers of Fornois.

The establishment of the county followed the construction of a first wooden castle on the hill of Montbégny, later rebuilt with stone, by the newly arrived Fornian people. This people, formerly known as the Sevans, migrated from the east, where they were established along the sea, and conquered the land, naming it Fornois. They destroyed most of the native sanctuaries, especially the one on the hill of Montbégny, which was replaced by a chapel to the Fornian gods. The chief of the Sevans, Yeetus Christ I, was crowned as count of Fornois, marking the beginning of the dynasty of Fornois, to which the current count Yeetus Christ IV belongs.

Count Yeetus Christ IV has contributed to a number of changes that have built current day Fornois. Along with King Haggly of Norfthorn, he established the Syltörean Confederacy, in an attempt to promote peace on the continent, thus involving the county with the larger politics of the area. The count, himself very keen on literature, also promotes writing in the county, in the hopes of creating a flourishing hub of culture, erudition and literature in Syltör.

However, count Yeetus Christ's reign hasn't only brought prosperity and peace. Indeed, king Himo of Andorn settled the town of Genvergier, now known as Volkorchard, as a means to secure his rule over the region, his capital having been settled in the nearby city of Areska. King Himo then demanded the town and the lands surrounding it to be officially ceded to Andorn. The county being a poor, underdeveloped and underpopulated nation, the count knew a war would be disastrous, and signed a treaty ceding the town and the surrounding plain. This peace is very fragile, as Himo, with his ambition and expansionist endeavors, might want to take advantage even more of the weak nation.

Culture and religion
The Fornian people speak the Sevan language. For reasons unknown, although probably due to an ancient migration, it is heavily related to the language spoken in Reyllea. Fornian culture rewards tolerance, generosity, honesty and humility. It is very oriented towards erudition, peace and art.

The official religion of Fornois is a bitheism, revolving around two gods commonly known as the Lord of Sun and Stars, sometimes referred to as the Lord, and the All Mother, that complement each other. It is believed that most other religions of Rathnir actually believe in either of these two gods or both, but only see a limited incomplete version of the truth and worshiping wrongly. For example, according to the Fornian religion, G0NF is actually an envoy (or a physical incarnation, depending on the interpretation) of the All Mother.

In server history
The county was established by yeetus_christ after he founded Montbégny, on the 10th of November 2020.