High-Kingdom of Forgetides

The **Insular High-Kingdom of Forgetides** was a kingdom that established in the Misty Isles, and one of the Six Kingdoms of humanity west of the Eastern Mountains. A powerful and wealthy nation, based on trade and slavery, the nation has a long history of seatrade and slavery. Its ruling family is the Novgorsbayn family.

## History

It is unknown when humanity first came to the Misty Isles but it is supposed to have been very early in their history, and they may have originated there. It is known that early humans established first states there and had cultural domination over the great insular plains and steppes of the islands.

In 2453BF, the Human Empire was established, conquering a vast region over all of the modern Six Kingdoms. The Misty Isles were at the time split into many tribes that fought each other, although unified by a common culture. As well, the Misty Isles had a tradition of high-kings ruling over tribe chiefs. According to legend, some of Mannus' children married into tribes at the time as part of a matrimonial assimilation. It seems that the region had been ruled by locals, instead of by a prince of the Empire. Namely, a Governor of the West was chosen by each King.

As the Human Empire collapsed after the disastrous First Divine War, the Misty Isles were back at their tribal governments, fighting against each other and against the surroundings. Eventually, in 495BF, Arthur the Sailer unified his country using the grand axe of Forgetides, and founded the Lancevagues Dynasty and started to rule the city. Novgor was thus founded as a capital city, built on an old fort. Forgetides kept a strong idea of sailing and piracy.

Kings of Forgetides became very strong on sea, developping as a trading empire. Using slavery, this thalassocracy was wealthy, although it attracted them the hatred of Atheria. A few centuries before the Flood however, a man named Orod endured an assassination attempt and revolted against the Lancevagues with his mercenaries and crew following him. He managed to capture and ravage Novgor, being known as Novgor's Bane. As he slaughtered the ruling family and took the power, Orod crowned himself High-King of Forgetides and named his dynasty the Novgorsbayn.

Forgetides didn't suffer much from the Flood, seeing it as an opportunity, as more water meant more lands to explore. As such, it survived, and used more and more sea trades and slavery to get its goals. Currently, the Emperor is Ragnar II Novgorsbayn, known as "the Sea King", for his domination of the northern seas in the Known World.

## Government and Politics

### Power Structure

The Forgeborn Kingdom's government is ruled by a single absolute monarch who held most of the power within the government. Below the monarch are the advisors, tasked to advise the monarch in many subjects, although they have few to no power. It is however important to note that these advisors were selected based on merit.

Below the advisors are the kings, very powerful lords who managed the militaries and economies of their individual kingdom. These are hereditary primogenitures, with titles. Beyond kings were dukes and earls, tasked to help the kings to rule, and eventually the chieftains. These chieftains were charged with ruling a town of each provinces in the duke's stead, with them being elected by the inhabitants of each town.

As for the kings, dukes and earls were lords whose titles were inherited by their children after death. Women were allowed to be a part of government affairs and they now are able to be in positions. Unlike others, the Forgeborn Dynasties were always a cognatic succession, getting both male and female lords.

### Military

Forgeborn military was a very strong one, and the High-Kingdom of Forgetides had few countries as a superior millitary. Commanders and generals were chosen based on a mix of merit and age, and having a general as parent could help. Their military commanders were usually charismatic, studying the Arthurian Wars and the conquest of Myther the Conqueror. Forgetides used horses as rides in war. Standard Atherian footsoldiers were taught to typically wield axes in combat. The most commonly used material for weapons was steel and copper. However, the core of Forgeborn millitary was its marine, with boats able to endure many storms and commanders that allegedly could do a tour of the Known World, from the High-Kingdom of Forgetides to the Mytherid Empire.

Trained in weaponry and magic, the army is mostly used for self defense and revolts, as the Forgeborn High-Kingdom's use of slavery means there are some slave revolts.

### Economy

After its formation, the Forgeborn Kingdom adopted a feudal system, with peasants of a duke's territory required to farm the fields for the nation's agriculture. In exchange, the peasants can keep a portion of what they farmed, and the dukes and chieftains were tasked to make law and justice prevail. Among its primary crops were the Orod Grapes, used for winemaking.

Coinciding with its agricultural aspects, the kingdom's economy is very open to trade. It also allows merchants to settle and run businesses within its borders. The Kingdom's economy is also supported by slave taxing. Currency in the High-Kingdom of Forgetides is called Oroni, and is divided in gold Oroni, silver Oroni and bronze Oroni. A silver Oroni is equivalent to fifty bronze Oroni, and a golden Oroni to a hundred silver Oroni.

## Society and Culture

The people of Forgetides are a proud and independent people, fiercely pro-slavery. Forgeborn had a very good view of Eldars and often trade with them, and considered Atherians as bad people, as did many people in the Known World. They specifically never call Eldars "Elves" and prefer to use terms such as the Fair Folk.

Forgetides recognises the Church of Aym as the official religion of its lands, although this is not often treated seriously, since Forgeborn are known not to be very devout and zealous about religion, although they often use the slavery justification. However, the Archon of Forgetides does exist and has powers, being often an advisor to Forgeborn High-Kings.

Due to common contact with Eldars, most Forgeborn are at least knowledgeable in Eldarin and Common, as well as a local language known as Forgeborn, that has few links to all over talked human languages.

## Geography and Climate

The Forgeborn High-Kingdom is a country, in the Misty Isles, located directly north to Dreolia. The lands are rainy and cold fields, with some forests among the fields. However, the southern coasts were marshy, and the north was cold and somewhat steppic. The western land had more forests than the eastern land.

## Trivia

* The High-Kingdom of Forgetides is inspired by Viking Britain. Other inspirations include Celtic Britain, notably for Lancevagues Forgetides. In comparison to Warhammer, the High-Kingdom can be considered a mix of Albion and Norsca.