County of Coutaine
North of the Star Sea, the County of Coutaine is in the heart of old Foere and, to this day, a loyal domain of the Court at Courghais. The western boundary of the county is the Elderwood (which itself is within the overking’s lands), and the eastern boundary is the Mons Terminus and the Great Amrin River. On the north, it shares a border with the Duchy of Ysser, and on the south it abuts the royal domain of Foere. The only wilderness is near the Elderwood and the Mons Terminus, with the rest of the county being primarily rich fields, farmlands, and vineyards.
History and People
Early in Macobert’s conquest of central Akados, the future overking set his eyes upon the petty kingdom of Cantel north of the Star Sea. As Macobert’s army approached, the king of Cantel went to the Cathedral of St. Oerson in Cantelburgh to seek the blessing of the archdeacon on the eve of battle. According to legend, while praying at the high altar, the king had a vision from Muir of a great empire that would be founded by Foere. Heeding the god’s message, the king rode forth to Macobert’s army and, holding high a flag of truce, came before Macobert and swore allegiance to him. Macobert accepted the king of Cantel as his first vassal and named him Count of Coutaine (a Gasquen word that roughly translates to “first land”).
Since that time, the rulership of Coutaine has passed through various families of the original house of the kings of Cantel, which for the last 700 years has been the le-Gaunt family. The current Count, Eggar, is a robust man in his 50s and one of the few great nobles of Foere who did not follow Ovar on his campaign against the Huun. He walks with a noticeable limp, a reminder of a near-fatal injury he suffered in his youth.
Situated as it is in the heartland of Foere, the vast majority of folk in the county are of Foerdewaith extraction.
Religion
With the Cathedral-City of Cantelburgh as its capital, the County of Coutaine is heavily influenced by the traditions and worship of the old gods of Hyperborea, in particular Muir and Thyr. The le-Gaunt family has long been faithful adherents of Muir, and Count Eggar, no exception, is always happy to expound on the tenets of his faith to anyone who so much as makes a minor inquiry.
Religion
Coutaine is in a most enviable location in the domains of Foere. Its lands are rich and provide good soil for farming and cattle. The county maintains iron mines along the southwestern slopes of the Mons Terminus. And its location astride the routes between the port cities of the Star Sea to the south and the duchies of Ysser and Waymarch to the north provides it a critical role in trade among some of the most populated areas of Akados. Cantelburgh is recognized for mapmaking (as it hosts the headquarters of the famed Guild of Cartographers and Explorers), casting bronze, and the manufacture of clocks.
The western reaches of the county are known for their vineyards, including the Le Chateau Gluant, a winery of repute near the edge of the Elderwood on the lower slopes of the Broken Mountains.
Loyalties and Diplomacy
Coutaine is entirely surrounded by the royal lands and other domains of the Kingdom of Foere, to which it remains loyal. Count Eggar is troubled by the disappearance of Overking Ovar and, though he would not say so publicly, does not trust Duke Othon Passur of Ysser. But the count’s main focus is on ruling his county, and he tries not to worry too much about other nations and their troubles.
Government
Count Eggar rules the county from his seat in Cité Coutain on the eastern edge of Cantelburgh. Outside the city, his authority is enforced by his various vassals, as well as by sheriffs and judges he appoints to towns throughout the countryside. He is advised by a small council that consists of his most important vassals and the archdeacon.
Within Cantelburgh, however, which is a cathedral city, authority is held by the archdeacon and, to the extent royal matters are implicated, the mayor of the palace (except within Cité Coutain itself). In other circumstances, this division of power might result in a great deal of political strife. However, Eggar le-Gaunt, a sincere devotee of Muir, and Archdeacon Artes Monfrier have for many years been good friends and always manage to reach mutual agreement in governance.
Military
The count maintains a modest force of soldiers loyal to him and can call up a levy from his vassals. A goodly number of the county’s professional soldiery went off with King Ovar to chase the Huun, though the lack of any substantial current threat to the county means they haven’t been missed greatly. The count does keep a close watch on his northern border, however. His spies tell him that the duke of Ysser is looking to expand the lands of his duchy. While these aims at the moment seem likely focused on Waymarch, Eggar recognizes the wealth of his own lands and remains vigilant in case his northern neighbor decides to take advantage of the overking’s absence and expand at the expense of Coutaine.
Major Threats
Bandits, humanoids, and other threats can be found along the eaves of the Elderwood and on the slopes of Mon Terminus. Few of these venture far into the lands of the county, however, which remains quite safe and peaceful. The greatest threat to Coutaine may in fact be its northern neighbor, the Duchy of Ysser, should the overking not return to Courghais and re-establish normal order. |Major Threats
[/spoiler] [/container] Region
County of Coutaine
Parent Organization
Controlled Territories
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