Foxcourt
 | |
| Location | Northeast Bowcourt |
| Government | County of Bowcourt, Count Richard |
| Population | |
| Languages –Common |
50% |
| Taxes – Property Tax: |
% per annum |
| Imports | |
| Exports | Sheep, Wool, Warpstone and Treachery. |
The County of Foxcourt is a large area within Bowcourt.
Prior to 805 WK it encompassed the regions of Newcourt and Faircourt and was Bowcourt's largest vassal, but in more recent times these lands became direct vassals of Bowcourt. The Barony of Maumains was returned to the County in 817 WK.
Its lands are primarily cultivated farmlands and the formerly forested land now imports wood. The northern borders reach into the hills and mountains, from there is discrete access to the secretive Warpstone mines.
Foxcourt is a very old county that has been civilised for 1000 years or more which is 200 years prior to the establishment of the Western Kingdom - the area was an elven march at the time.
The lands are rich and fertile having benefited from informed and planned cultivation, pasturing and retention of numerous woodland areas and there are windmills, lots of towers, millponds, manmade lakes of water reserves, good sized towns, roads, several castles and the well-built city of Foxcourt.
Places
Towns and Cities
- Foxcourt, City of
- Population ~19,000.
- Fulken's Rest - Castle of the de Foxcourt family.
- Raze
- Fort and Village on the border with Sylvanwold.
- The placement of Raze led to a land dispute with the Barony.
- Sylvanwold still officially claims the area.
- Garde-sur-Loup
- Strongly walled town on the edge of the Lupine Wood.
- The woods have a very poor reputation and are known to be home to many shapechangers.
- Chateaufort
- Fortress and town on the border with Chagny
- The exact border is disputed between the rulers of Chagny and Foxcourt.
- Chateauvillain
- Fortress and town on the border with Chagny
- Trade disputes have arisen as a result of Foxcourt's intermittent attempts to tax the river traffic between Bastion and Marsan in Chagny.
- Lafauche
- Large trade town
- Montresor
- Fortress on the border with Faircourt
- Perched on a hill the fortress provides a considerable strong point overlooking the town of Choux.
- Deaux
- Castle and town on the border with Newcourt
- Several small castles are found in this area - the result of ongoing disputes over borders.
Barony of Maumains
- Alençon, Town of
- Population 6,500
- On the border of Tuscana and Waterford.
- The exact border remains in dispute with Waterford.
- Montbazon
- Strongly fortified town in the ??? hills
- Port-sur-Aube
- Town on the ??? river south of Coeur-de-Fer
Other Places of Interest
- Ruins of town on the border with Waterford. Result of border clashes in the 760s and never rebuilt.
- Two ruined fortress in the foothills of the Dragonspine Mountains.
- Warpstone mines. These are near the ancient dwarven mines where the demon emperor Ahriman was entombed and where his dark dwarves are believed to still live.
- The Foxcourt mines skirt the edge of the dwarven area attempting to extract warpstone without upsetting the dwarves, which would be bad.
Governance
- Prior to 805WK
- The county was ruled by the de Foxcourt family who held the position of Count.
- Vassals of Bowcourt but with a long and complicated history.
- 805 - 817 WK
- The county is administered by William Fortbrass, a cousin of the Marquessa of Bowcourt, on her behalf.
- Summer 817wk
- Richard is exonerated and rule of Foxcourt is officially restored to Richard de Foxcourt as Count of Foxcourt.
- William Fortbrass is thanked for his service at a grand ball before his return to Bowcourt.
- Shortly after this, Count Richard is named Marquess of the Eastern Marches, honouring his service and loyalty to the New Western Kingdom, technically making him equal in rank to the Marquessa of Bowcourt.
- Foxcourt however remains a County within Bowcourt making the politics and relationships even more complicated.
- Foxcourt's title is rendered as Marquis in Lalange for ancient legal reasons.
- Mauamains, a one time possession of Foxcourt is returned to him.
- Note: Several would be master Courtiers are taking notes and planning their masterwork dissertations...
People of Note/Importance
- Count Richard "Tricky Dicky" Foxcourt.
- Formerly in exile for conspiracy in the murder of the Duke of Aquila, exonerated after 13 years.
- Reported to have been reduced to ashes during the Middle Duchies War.
Military
Foxcourt has always had a proud history of military competence, providing many skilled officers to the war colleges and combined armies of the Western Kingdom.
The army of Foxcourt was deliberately scattered and diminished during the time of Richard's exile, while it is being regathered and rebuilt, it is not expected to reach its prior size and capabilities until new generations can be trained.
Elite Guard
During his time in exile, Richard built an elite guard of specialist troops that were deployed to gather information and unofficially protect his people from threats external (Monsters from the mountains, Drow Invasion and bandit remnants) and internal (those looking to take advantage of the absence of de Foxcourt rule). In another time these troops might be referred to as Black Ops or Special Ops. While not generally known, the Seagate guild is reasonably certain that most of this troop are Warpstone enhanced Shape Shifters skilled in Spycraft, Politics, pointed diplomacy and conventional Warfare. Exact numbers are not known as they blend into the conventional troops when not covertly deployed.
Historical Counts of Foxcourt
- Fulk, Count of Foxcourt
- Damien, Count of Foxcourt
- Richard, Count of Foxcourt
