The Founding Myth of Vestria

Long ago, a great deluge swallowed the Ancient Empire. All would be swept away save for the apostles, the followers and the one who lead them from Heavenswrath, the Great Nui. A divine decended from Heaven with a prophecy for all who would listen... and listen people would, for the creature, once seen, would live in the beholder's memory forever.

There are no primary sources with a complete depiction of the prophet, the Great Nui. It's said to be a lithe form that bent as if without bones and was twice the height of an ordinary man. It had a pair of goat's horns, large leathery wings, like a bat's and four snake eyes - one red, one white, one green and one gold. A forked tongue. Two sets of breasts, both genitals, a lizard's tail and had hooves for feet. When it spoke, the voices of both a man and a woman overlapping would be heard. It spoke every language perfectly and could see in the dark.

The prophecy of the Deluge was spoken by the prophet Nui. Those who heard it first became apostles and then spread the word to those who would listen. Those who heard the sixteen apostles became believers. Follow Nui. Follow Nui. Then they left their homes and livelihoods in the centre of the world, high-born and lowborn both. They braved the wilderness and never strayed from the path walked by the prophet. They ventured beyond the northern reaches of the Ancient Empire's tributary domains for six days but rested on the seventh, for they had reached their new homeland, far from Heavenswrath.

Some stayed on the steppe they arrived at, but most moved further north to find more habitable lands. These lands would later become organised into the Duchy of Sutherland and the Duchy of Kourland. The lands were settled, the people were safe but the prophet was gone.

The survivors of the Ancient Empire concluded that Heavenswrath happened because the emperor lost the Mandate of Heaven. Never again should it happen. The apostles became organised and formalised their order. With the teachings of the prophet, the new Lunatics would read the night sky and divine prophecies of interest to the realm. They would council the king and evaluate to see if his rule was heavenly. It was the Lunatics who chose the new ruler and Vestria had its first king. His majesty, Judas I, King of Vestria, Son of Heaven and Protector of the Realm. Naturally all the lands of Vestria belong to the King, but his majesty wisely concluded that he could not rule all his subjects adequately. He turned to friends, family and Ancient Empire nobles and bestowed upon them landed titles. They would rule those lands in his stead and they would satisfy their obligations to the crown.