Tribes of Fontaine

The Tribes of Fontaine, also referred to by Remuria as the Northern Barbarians,^[1] were the various chiefdoms that inhabited Fontaine following the fall of Meropis and prior to the foundation of modern Fontaine under Egeria.^[2]

After the conquest of Aremorica, Erinnyes united the northern tribes under the name of the Mistress of Many Waters, leading the resistance that would ultimately bring an end to Remuria's rule.^[3][4]

Overview

The social structures of these chiefdoms varied considerably. Most remained rudimentary clan-based societies, with councils composed of clan chiefs exercising the highest authority. According to Remurian records, the term "tribe" had long ceased to accurately describe several northern peoples, who had already broken free from what the empire regarded as "primal barbarism."^[1]

Remuria collectively referred to these peoples as the "northern barbarians", viewing them as savages in need of civilization. However, several tribes possessed kings, castles, prosperous cities, and complex political systems comparable to those of Remuria, suggesting that Remuria's perception of them was heavily biased.^[1][4]

History

Following the destruction of Meropis by gigantic waves, followed by one hundred days of rain that drowned the civilization, no cities or kingdoms remained above the high waters. When the waters finally receded, the survivors no longer differed from the wildlife around them, living among the forests and rivers, having lost all the knowledge and wisdom inherited from their ancient civilization. Human life regressed to a primitive state, and over time, numerous tribes emerged throughout the lands of Fontaine.^[2]

During the reign of Remus, Remuria sought to conquer and pacify all northern chiefdoms. In its early stages, the campaign relied primarily on diplomacy. Harmost Aurelius successfully concluded his northern campaign without resorting to violence, dispatching legionnaires to announce the empire's conquest, after which numerous insular chiefdoms voluntarily submitted and were incorporated into Remurian territory.^[1] Following the conquest of Aremorica, however, such primitive societies became increasingly rare. As the Iron Legions advanced farther north, they encountered increasingly organized resistance, forcing the empire to adopt new methods of pacification.^[1][5]

Erinnyes was a singer who came from the same tribe as Cassiodor. Her tribe was eventually slaughtered by a Remurian army, leaving her and Cassiodor as the only survivors. Cassiodor met the Harmost Boethius and joined the side of Remuria, while Erinnyes, who had been hiding amidst the bones, was taken in by the chieftain of the northern border region tribe Aremorica to "guard those pure waters not yet seized by the God King."^[3][6]

After becoming the ruler of Aremorica, Erinnyes raised an army that conquered and united the various warring tribes of Fontaine under one banner. She persuaded the other tribes to acknowledge that all the gods they worshipped were, in fact, aspects of Egeria. Regardless of which deity they had originally worshipped or what names they had known them by, they all pledged their allegiance to the Mistress of Many Waters.^[1][4][5] Once the northern chiefdoms had been united, Erinnyes led her army that would later become known as the Lochknights in open rebellion against Remuria.^[4][5] Her forces went so far as to sack Cassiodor's palace in Petrocorii, present-day Petrichor.^[7]

Following the fall of Remuria, Celestia commanded Egeria to return from her primeval prison to take over Remus' position and rule Fontaine as the Hydro Archon.^[8][3] Egeria gathered the survivors, mediated between their feuds, and instructed them to establish new cities around flowing springs, thus commencing an era guided by law which has endured to the present day.^[9]

Known Tribes

Aremorica

Originally an obscure and unknown tribe, Aremorica, or just Aremori, was voluntarily submitted to Remuria by its own ruler, Cunoricus, and remained under its rule for two decades. Following Erinnyes' rise to power, Aremorica became the principal political center of the resistance and the place from which the northern tribes were united under the faith of Egeria.^[1]

Lugdunensis

A city-state that served as the principal trade hub of the northern tribes. Its ruler bore the title of Holy King and claimed that his authority derived from a sword bestowed by Egeria. The city was eventually razed by Legio V.^[1]

Astrologists' Tribe

A tribe governed by a council of astrologists who identified and trained children with elemental affinity, raising them to become warriors capable of rivaling the Remurian legions. The tribe was conquered by Harmost Boethius, who ordered its name erased from memory.^[1][10]

Erinnyes and Cassiodor's Tribe

One of the first tribes to be destroyed by Remuria. Nearly its entire population was massacred, leaving Erinnyes and Cassiodor as the only survivors.^[3][6]

Other Known Tribes

• Atrebatis^[4]
• Bellouacoi^[4]
• Gellone^[4]
• Lyonnais^[4]
• Rhenanie^[4]
• Uiromanduoi^[4]
• Dunnaer^[11]
• Uxellobrogi^[12]

Uncertain Classification

It's unclear whether the following settlements belonged to the tribes or were part of Remuria.

• Peiregord^[4]
• Aisias^[4]

Trivia

Etymology

• Aremorica, the name of Erinnyes' tribe,^[3] is derived from Gaulish aremori and is a toponym meaning "in front of the sea." The real Aremorica, known as Armorique in French, was a region of Gaul, and a center of resistance against the Romans during Caesar's Gallic Wars. Today, it mainly refers to the peninsula in northwestern France where the Celtic region of Brittany is located.
  • Aremorica's importance could also be a reference to the French comic series Asterix, in which the tribe of Armorica, during the Roman Republic's time, was the home village of the main character Asterix and his friends.
• Guillaume of Gellone's historical namesake is William of Gellone, a French saint who became a popular hero and has an entire literary cycle dedicated to him.
• Lyonnaise, is the French name for Gallia Lugdunensis, another Roman Province mainly populated by the Gauls. So it's possible that the Lyonnais and Lugdunensis were the same trib
• Rhenanie is the French name of the Rhineland.
• Bellouacoi, Atrebatis, and Uiromanduoi are all Gaulish names for Belgic tribes which were defeated and conquered by Julius Caesar.
• Peiregòrd, or Périgord, was a region and province of France. It came under the control of Rome after the Gallic Wars.
  • Las Aisiás, or Les Eyzies in French, is a commune within the Périgord area.
• The tribe name Uxellobrogi appears to be derived from Gaulish elements: Uxello- means "high," as in Uxellodunum, and -brogi means "land" or "territory," as in Allobroges.

Change History

References