Aquitain
Aquitain (pronounced: ah-kwi-tain) is a landlocked townsland region in northwestern Dwilight, to the west of Ygg d'Razhuul, and to the north of the city and suburbs of Gelene. Aquitain is an extremely affluent town, and provides an extremely important service to the realm it serves. Aquitain has a marketplace, making it a popular spot with traders, lords, and stewards from the surrounding regions. The soldiers who call this town home are extremely intelligent (though slightly less rough than their rural brethren from the neighboring regions), and excellent commanders. Aquitain is a valuable target, and as such it is under constant threat from Dwilight Monsters.
Contents
Climate
Aquitain is a townsland found in the midland prairies land-locked between Gelene Outskirts, Sabadell, Ygg d'Razhuul and Zereth. The climate of the region is generally temperate and mild, and the local peasants seem to enjoy the climate more than some of the extremes experience on the coastal regions, or further south.
Early Records show that Aquitain used to be susceptible to Droughts and Brush fires with record hot temperatures on summers with extreme heat waves. Aquitain's winters are less harsh, due to it's rather close proximity to the coasts. Temperature have generally fallen just below Freezing, while summers can sometime go as high as 97 degrees.
Precipitation has increased in comparison to local records. Raging storms now often pass through the region, even with some accounts of tornadoes from time to time. However with the increased precipitation, Aquitain has flourished to be the agricultural hub of it's neighbors.
Native Plants and Animals
Aquitain is also popularly known for it's diverse wild life. With long rolling prairie fields, the wild horses of Aquitain run wild and free, considered by many to be one of the strongest and most graceful creatures of the land. One of the more unique oddities of the land are the many kinds of small creatures that make Aquitain home, such as prairie dogs, which have found this region to be quite hospitable, much to the disdain of the local farmers.
The plant life of Aquitain mostly consists of fields of produce from the native farmers. However, Aquitain also provides perfect conditions for the growth of herbal remedies and it's grown to be a very profitable and useful business for the locals.
Trees are not in over abundance, rather the rolling hills and prairies rule the landscape, offering a visual delight to those who reside there. The peasants of the land especially love the soil of Aquitain, which is perfect for the cultivation of wheat, barley and several other crops which feed the people of the realm.
Military Culture
Aquitain was captured, and immediately became a frontier region - often seeing invasions of monsters coming through their borders to attack the surrounding rural regions. As a result, the townspeople have become battle hardened and strong, and provide some of the strongest forces in the kingdom.
When the first lord was named, a fortress was built in the centre of the region as a main base of operations in the defence of the region, as well as several smaller fortifications around the land in order for the people to have a place to flee to and seek shelter for food, water and protection, should any monsters or undead return. New recruitment centers were founded and men have poured into them to take up arms and defend the kingdom.
Fortifications
On the 9th of December in the year 1008 the palisade that once surrounded Aquitain has been rebuild. It should provide light protection for the villagers of Aquitain against the undead and monsters that are currently roaming around. However, it is badly damaged.
Religion
Aquitain was shortly taken after the founding of Torenism. It was at that moment, that then-lord Henk Van Hoensbroeck travelled to Ygg d'Razhuul to become part of the faith called Torenism. After his return from Ygg d'Rhazuul, Henk instructed the workers to construct a small shrine of Torenism. Thus was the second temple of Torenism was built here. The Torenist temples were later torn down by the followers of Sanguis Astroism during their holy war against Torenism, and new temples to the Bloodstars erected on the foundations.
Politics
Aquitain was first conquered by Everguard. The locals were persuaded in a matter of days of Evergaurd's intent and purpose, and happily turned themselves over to the kingdom to become subjects of the High King. Those graced with High King Fisc Arylon's presence felt extremely honored, as he personally lead the force of arms that claimed the region.
Knowing Aquitain was a crossroads and therefore a bridge to the rest of the neighboring regions, The Queen Consort Luna Dawnstar remained to continue to learn of the locals and the lands. Quickly, Evergaurd gained unanimous acceptance. The locals themselves offered Luna if she would accept the honor of being the overlord of the townsland.
After a great deal of time in command of the region, Marchioness Luna was kidnapped from Dwilight, and forcibly taken overseas. At that time, the High King granted nobility to Marquis Inagon II Gamgon to command the region in her absence. Following a long series of brutal attacks by hordes of monsters undead, Everguard eventually lost control of the townsland. It now resides as a bountiful region under the Rule of Astrum.
Lords who have ruled Aquitain
- Marchioness Luna Dawnstar of Everguard - Ruled April 1, 2008 - May 3, 2008
- Marquis Inagon II Gamgon of Everguard - Ruled May 4, 2008 - June 20, 2008
- Anarchy - Peasant revolt and control - Ruled June 21, 2008 - September 24, 2008
- Marquis Henk Van Hoensbroeck of Everguard - Ruled September 25, 2008 - December 22, 2008
- Anarchy - Brutal take over by undead horde - Ruled December 22, 2008 - July 19, 2010
- Marquis Adrian Solostus of Astrum Ruled July 19, 2010 - Great Monster Invasion
- Margravine Selena Chénier of Westgard Ruled June 19, 2017 - July 20, 2017
- Senator Jakoth Zahnbalotia of Westgard Ruled December 16, 2022 - April 12, 2023
- Anarchy - When Westgard does not appoint a new Senator, the region declares independence. - Ruled May 6, 2023 - present
