Furyondy musings

 Date unknown, probably 1997/98.

Author unknown, but probably Pierre Couture

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What's going on now in Furyondy?

I read interesting postings related to « what if the Prince is not dead »

WGR4 mentions that« The Prince was abducted shortly before the wars began. ( ... ) Magical scrying has suggested to Belvor that his son is dead» - I assume that the Prince is really dead.

Now here are the alternatives:

n Marriage: Belvor III (quaffing other potions of longevity) marries with Kataryna, countess of Walworth, leader of the Shield Lands - That's a way to expand the kingdom to the North (If Furyondy is ever able to reconquer those lands, but that's another story)

n New dynasty: Have you ever heard of Artur I of Furyondy? Belvor is now working for the future of the Kingdom. He knows that Artur is the Chosen of Heironeous and he already arranged to give him some political weight. (Note to Qsamantha : Why not a Kataryna I of Furyondy ?)

(Note: They are all Paladin ofHeironeous)

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How the other gods view the « Holy Pact » ?

I have not read the rules of Birthright, but I assume that rulers receive special powers either from a god, or a group of gods or the land itself. I play « devotional power » so gods are interested in the quantity of worshippers they can align and gaining support from a ruler is good for a god.

The « Holy Pact » is tolerated because it states that the King of Furyondy will authorize religious freedom and that the Prince keeps freedom of action and thought (The Prince is not an avatar of Heironeous). Traditionally, evil cults are excluded from that rule but the other Gods are vigilant.

Fate of lstus Page 84 : « Unlike such cities as Wintershiven, Chendl is religiously very tolerant. Temple dedicated to most of the non-evil deities can be found somewhere in the city, and all are treated with respect by the city administration. Some faiths have two temples, one in the inner City, one elsewhere. Others have only one, outside the Inner City. Worshipers of almost any deity can profess their faith in public, confident of living through the experience unlynched. There is a small evil subculture, and services dedicated to certain evil deities are conducted under conditions of deepest secrecy »

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Furyondy and the Cult of Heironeous

Before the wars the cult of Heironeous was declining. Furyondy was a Kingdom at peace and Belvor II had demonstrated that a« mortal» king was as good and even better than other Kings. In fact, only the first King of a Dynasty is truly a chosen of Heironeous, the others are just heirs of a Chosen. They are good but not the best and Myro's story is the example of the difference between good and best.

In my own campaign (my campaign started in 545 CY), the clerics of Heironeous had recovered one part of the Theopart (Rod of three parts) and the high clergy had been nearly destroyed ( or perverted) by evil emanations. In the ensuing chaos, many priests were killed by disciples of Hextor and the only surviving representatives of the cult were Paladins.

In 580 CY, Heironeous was a lesser god (WoG-Guide), after the wars he was back to intermediate status (the difference is that lesser gods only grant spells up to the sixth level while intermediate gods grant spells up to the seventh level).

The Shield Lands were lost ( a country traditionally venerating Heironeous) but many commoners turned to Heironeous during the wars and the aspiring priests had the opportunity to rise quickly.

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The good conspiracy

We always speak of the deviousness of the evil cults, but good cults are also exceedingly full of intrigues.

The Pholtus case has been long debated (on AOL) and I read with delight the history(ies) of St. Cuthbert. As I understand the whole operation Pholtus was a god of law and goodness, he made concurrence to Rao, Pel or and Heironeous. Rao took the first opportunity to control Saint Cuthbert and to cut Pholtus from his Lawful good aspect. Deprived from his lawful good wing, Pholtus naturally switched to neutrality and justifies the Theocracy of the Pale. Rao successfully removed Pholtus from the group of Lawful good gods.

Pelor tried (tries) to do the same with Heironeous. As Heironeous recovered quickly from long years of peace, Pel or « imported » his own warlike deity : Mayaheine. I call that a backstab and nothing else.

Finally, the reunification of Furyondy and Veluna was not only territorial. The new kingdom was to be spiritually lead by the Canon of Veluna - A high priest of Rao. If the reunification had succeeded the « Holy Pact » was over. Some whispers that the death of Prince A vras arranged the clergy of Heironeous and some even say that they are responsible for his death ...

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Translation team needed for the following Chonology, mail (details 2 gives some explanation about the hows and whys)

Puine is the second born

-10 Conquest of the territories ofFuryon and Voll by the before-troops of Aerdy.

80 Annexation of the Steps Septentionales (northern Bank of the lake Whyestil).

100 Creation of the Viceroyalty of Ferrond: of Clatspurs Mts in Nyr-Dyv, and Lortmils Mts until beyond of Whyestil Lake: Voll, Fury on... The territory is divided into protectorates held by "Knight-Guards", supervised by the viceroy of Ferrond.

208 STINVRI (176: 208-253: 253) Stinvri is named Vice-Roi ofFerrond. It is the beginning of the decline of Aeri lmperiale and the Knight-Guards are not replaced any more when they die or are recalled to Rauxes. The Viceroy then decides to be based on the lords and local forces in order to ensure the protection of Ferrond.

210 Creation of the school of Magic of Falk.

229 vacant protectorates are allotted to the noble buildings more deserving. - Five protectorates in Furyon; - Two protectorates in Voll and others through the viceroyalty.

240 Creation of the Command of Knights of the Binder.

the 241 Guards claim the heredity of their functions in preoccupations with a stability. With the death of the first Guard, the noble ones claim the hereditary attribution of the grounds to the son of this honourably died knight. Stinvri grants to him, thus creating a precedent. The heredity of the load, the title and the ground will be allowed definitively in the years which follow.

247 Stinvri makes the function of Viceroy hereditary. It refuses to present its homages to the Emperor.

253 Great Kingdom sends a task force in Furyon. The troops are moved using a powerful fate of teleportation. The imperial troops move towards the Dyvers capital, but are stopped by the united forces of Ferrond, and by the magic support of the Stinvri Viceroy and the members of the Academy of Falk. Death of Stinvri

254 THROMMEL I (210: 254-264: 264) Starting of the Kingdom ofFuryondy. THROMMEL I, is made crown in released Dyvers. Set fire to of Dyvers allotted to the imprudence of certain Knights of the Hart: This kingdom ofFuryondy takes again the limits of Ferrond, but the royal capacity concentrates mainly on protectorates of Voll and Fury on: The territory of" Perrenland " is not managed any more, and Tenh takes again its autonomy.

264 THROMMEL II (233: 264-279: 279) 275 War of succession, this episode has war only the name, because there no was versed blood. Indeed, the branches juniors which were isolated heredity with the profit of the elder branches, claim a right on the grounds pursuant to an old law oeridienne enacting a rule 2/3 (Elder) and 1/3 (P"Uine) as regards succession. Tensions inter -family increased until a critical threshold. Thrommel II seeks a solution which does not harm the security of the Kingdom. It finally decides to create the Council made up of the Guards (7), itself and the seven representatives of the branches juniors. The consulting is intended quickly to apply the law by which the juniors prevail themselves, then to reform the rules of succession.

The Council Decision is based on a redistribution of the grounds:

=>Creation of the Kingdom ofFuryondy. 7 Provinces will be granted to the ainees branches.

The seven houses of Furyondy are the following ones:

Current holder

- House Halpen (Count): Crystalreach (Deceased) (Count Artur Jakartai) - House Rhavelle (Count): Gold County (Countess Kyaren Rhavelle) - House Kalinstren (Baron): Kalinstren (Baron Kalinstren) - House Jemian (Baron): Littleberg (Baron Jemian) - House Derwent (Viscount): March (Viscount Luther Derwent) - House Tyneman (Duke): Reach (Duke Benel Tyneman) - House Butrain (Baron): Willip (Baron Xanthan Butrain) (Nb: The title does not have any practical value. They are the titles held by the noble ones which had been selected like guards into 229. All these lords have a row equivalent to that of Duke All the other noble ones are either of the Barons, or of noble without title)

= > Creation of the Principality of Veluna 7 Provinces will be granted to the branches juniors.

Thrommel II reserving the use of the titles of Prince de Veluna and Provost of Veluna for his heir.

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