Foglands

Overview
Formerly the nation of Gentaria, "the Foglands" refers to a region between the Odnt and Byulkan rivers, bordered by Gobland to the south and Durheim to the north. Once a wealthy and powerful nation, for the past 3 decades undead have rampaged this land and left it fragmented with destitute survivors struggling to fight back.

Government and Politics
Currently under martial law by the Ember Sentinels, for much of its history Gentaria existed as a feudal monarchy. The king ruled a collection of counts and earls, who in turn possessed the ability to divide their lands into baronies under their own control.

Dukes
There are five Dukes of Gentaria at any one time, one residing in and ruling from Tadriel, Dimsdale, Lakevale, Mochabara, and Kren. Each reports directly to the King (who is the duke of Caelenor) and each commands several counts and earls beneath them. They were direct administrators spending much of their time in the Caelenor capital and addressing major issues that were as-yet unworthy of the king's attention.

Counts and Earls
Under the great dukes, counts controlled large sections of land from their own castles and manors. While unable to break royal law, these counts could rule their counties with relatively little interference, though mistreatment of peasants severe enough to reach the king's attention warranted official response, typically in the form of taxes raised from the count's personal wealth.

Barons
The lowest landowning nobility, the barons nevertheless wielded absolutely enormous power. Their direct control over cities and larger towns, often bolstered by their local presence, provided them the practical power to override a count or earl should the need arise. The most powerful ones could directly contradict the royal family and hope to come away unscathed, though such an act of defiance was still an enormous gamble.

Knights
The elite of Gentaria's military, now largely forgotten in the face of the active military force where merit exceeds birth in value. A select few knights in past decades took on the role of Torchbearers, great warriors of fame and prestige with the power to command troops and ordinary men on the king's personal business.

Education
Education in Gentaria is poor. Few were literate, and the death of most of the nobility had reduced that number further. The few business owners in Lakevale and roughly one third of the stewards in the Ember Sentinels form the remaining literate class, and a few others teach their even fewer children letters and numbers.