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Overview
Furyondy, is one of the successor states of the Viceroyalty of Ferrond, once the proudest jewel in the crown of Aerdy. Its modern holdings span the land between the mighty Velverdyva and Veng Rivers, from the Nyr Dyv in the south to the southern shore of Lake Whyestil in the north. The nation abuts the grand Vesve Forest, but claims only a small part of that expanse. The two great lakes moderate the weather throughout most of the year. Rain is more common in the north, making a depressing land even more miserable. Winter brings a great deal of snow, but is not particularly harsh.
Furyondy both profits and suffers from the disposition of its neighbors. The alliance with friendly one-time satellite nations like Highfolk and Veluna balances the depredation suffered at the hands of Iuz and the Horned Society. The heartlands of Furyondy are governed by the king and by the Seven Families, each of whom control a single province within the kingdom. These nobles live to the fullest of their grand titles. The courts of dukes, barons, and earls rival that of the king himself.
The nationwide road system is Furyondy’s pride, supported by the wealth of both the crown and of the various provinces' local lords. This expansive project's effect upon the nation’s economy is instrumental, allowing Furyondy to boast one of the most impressive standing armies in all the Flanaess. Augmented by war-hungry mercenaries and adventurers from distant lands, the full force of infantry and cavalry stand at about twenty thousand soldiers, with roughly the same number of warriors provided by local lords. The Furyondian Royal Navy, based in Willip, patrols the Nyr Dyv, keeping the coasts (mostly) free of pirates and dangerous monsters. The Willip Arsenal, the largest dockyard in the Flanaess, has grown considerably in the last few decades as the nation's influence grows.
The Viceroyalty of Ferrond — Crown Jewel of the Kingdom of Aerdy
As stated previously, the lands now known as Furyondy began nearly five hundred years ago as an Aerdi province known as the Viceroyalty of Ferrond. In those distant days Ferrond consisted of modern-day Furyondy (Furyon), Veluna (Voll), Highfolk, the Shield Lands, the Quaglands, and the hilly regions northeast of the massive Vesve Forest, then known as part of the Northern Reaches. The viceroy ruled fairly from Dyvers, where he was attended by scores of noble families culled from the Great Kingdom, as well as ennobled Flan who served Aerdy.
Ferrond followed Aerdy’s feudalistic model, resulting in considerable profit for Rauxes though creating extremely difficult lives for the majority of Ferrondians. As the Aerdy empire faltered under incompetent overkings, the nobles of Ferrond withheld their imperial tithes, ruling by their own writ more than by the commands of their distant liege.
Fall of Ferrond — Independence from Aerdy & the Rise of Iuz
The death of the aged Viceroy Stinvri in 254 CY signaled a change in Ferrondian politics. No longer would the nobles of Ferrond bow to the “dangerous incompetence” of Rauxes. Instead, they installed Stinvri’s heir as Thrommel I, king of Furyondy. The coronation was the cause of much celebrating in Dyvers, and considerable anguish in Aerdy. Immediately, half-hearted skirmishing in the lands north of the Nyr Dyv exploded into conflict bordering on all-out war. Unrest from the northern barbarians and military incompetence cost Aerdy any chance at checking the Ferrondian movement. Though it took the Court of Essences more than a century to acknowledge it, Furyondy’s independence suffered no serious opposition after 260 CY.
Eventually, the excess of Furyondy’s nobles and the pride of growing Furyondian nationalism triggered an expansionist phase that saw the annexation of Bissel in 438 CY. Only the secession of Voll (later Veluna) and the strength of Keoland to the south halted Furyondy’s aggressive growth.
The year 479 CY saw the appearance of Iuz in the north, and in the following years much of the Northern Reaches was lost to him. Furyondy’s new preoccupation would not be with internal politics or foreign treaties, but with a demon-spawned tyrant.
Furyondy — A War-Weary Nation
King Belvor IV, the realm’s current monarch, came to the throne in 537 CY. The tensions of the last past few years have weighed heavily on his heart, and he has turned from a kindly if forceful gentleman to a bitter, aged warrior. He remains devoted to the teachings of Heironeous, but many believe that Belvor goes through the motions of leadership without spirit, exhausted by war.
Belvor’s lesser nobles hold the king in check; their representatives form the basis of a Noble Council convened in the current capital, Chendl. Before the king makes important decrees, he must first garner the support of this body, which often holds its own interests above that of the nation as a whole. Below the king and the Noble Council is an array of minor nobles known as the Knightly Conclave, a parliamentary group that considers any issue it wishes, then offers its opinions to Belvor.