Westmoor (Realm)
This article outlines the realm of Westmoor. For the region of Westmoor, see Westmoor.| Westmoor (Realm) | |||||||||||||
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Thomas Foxglove
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Ravier Nebehn Edward Antony Mercer | ||||||||||||
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Westmoor |
Maedros Hergoevik Benedictus Armstrong Edward Anthony Antonious Corwin Merewyn Maliki Feoran | ||||||||||||
Westmoor is a mid sized Kingdom on the East Continent founded by friendly secession from Perdan. Its crest is recognisable by the sword and rose, the red rose signifying passion and the sword is the will to enforce it.
The realm motto, 'Causarum Amicitia et Memoria' , means simply, for the cause of friendship and memories, and reminds the knights of Westmoor of the reason for the realms founding and the history of lost allies on the East Continent.
History
See Also: Monarchs of Westmoor
The idea of Westmoor's creation began with King Nightmare of Perdan, who desired to see the rebirth of his long lost ally, Oligarch. His successor King Sangue reinforced the idea and brought Perdan a step closer by leading the realm in a successful campaign against Fontan, capturing the city of Westmoor. Lady Evangeline, former Queen and General of Perdan, was chosen for appointment to lead the idea. However, since decades have come and gone since the falling of Oligarch the idea became a new realm, with it own identity and the opportunity to create its own position within the continent. The idea became Westmoor.
Immediately after its establishment, Westmoor found itself at war with Fontan. The reason given was because of Perdan's war on Fontan and the capture of the Westmoor duchy. Chancellor Mikhail of Fontan stated he wished to see Westmoor destroyed, but would not encroach on Perdanese lands: Chancellor Mikhail's address explaining war declaration. Despite Fontan's superior size and wealth, Westmoor had prevailed with aid from Perdan. The war was ended when Fontan sued for peace and surrendered, and Westmoor's allies were needed elsewhere.
At the time Fontan was also engaged in war with the northern neighbours, Sirion. In response to the peace negotiations Sirion offered to ally with Fontan and assist them in destroying Westmoor in exchange for territorial concessions. The suggested treachery was refused by Fontan and Westmoor responded by joining them in the long running war against Sirion. Despite the efforts of no less than five realms, the war descended into a stalemate, with the coalition of Fontan, Asena, Obsidian Islands, Perdan and Westmoor unable to break the fixed defences of Sirion.
Meanwhile, tensions between Perdan and Caligus erupted into fullscale war between the the former close allies. With the agreement of all parties, Queen Micna of Westmoor reduced relations from alliance to peace with both Caligus and Perdan, to the ire of those in Westmoor who wished to help their mother realm. To near universal surprise the war went badly for Perdan, who eventually called for aid from Westmoor and the Obsidian Islands. The armies of Westmoor suffered badly against the veteran Caligan troops and Perdan continued to crumble. A cabal of younger nobles under the leadership of Scheckyos Achillien seized the throne whilst most knights were absent from the capital, bringing to an end the long reign of Micna and beginning a period of instability.
A counter rebellion was swiftly organised, and with Duke Corwin of Oligarch at the helm, the usurpers were easily overthrown. The actions of the cabal had awakened the ambitions of numerous nobles though and King Corwin found his position precarious. While Perdan surrendered to Caligus and Ibladesh, Westmoor choose to continue the war alone, hoping that their natural defences could make up for deficiencies in organisation and number. Unrest amongst the nobility continued, with some openly criticising King Corwin not seeking confirmation of his right to rule. Facing an uncertain military situation, Corwin stepped down to allow a new monarch to take the throne.
The ensuing contest was decided by the narrowest of possible margins, with Count Jor defeating Duke Flaylen by a single vote. From the very beginning the reign of King Jor was controversial, with accusations of tyranny and defeats on the battlefield. Ultimately he was protested from the throne after following Perdan into alliance with Sirion and Caligus and breaking the existing federation with Asena, Fontan and Ibladesh.
Duke Flaylen comfortably took the throne this time and immediately reversed the diplomatic movements of Jor; unfortunately the series of volte-faces left a mark on Westmoor’s reputation. Initially Westmoor focused its attention on Viseu, fighting a series of battles with Sirion and Caligus; despite some tactical successes little lasting damage was done despite heavy losses. At the same time, the realization of just how bad Fontan’s situation was began to sink in. During Westmoor's near year long absence from the north eastern front, Sirion had secured a decisive advantage.
With Sirion’s armies on the doorstep of Fontan’s capital city and less than a day away from Westmoor’s lands, the focus shifted northwards. Insufficient in number to face the invaders in open battle, they could do little but pick off stragglers. Krimml was stormed by Sirion while Westmoor’s troops remained pinned down in Oligarch. After being sacked, the city turned to Westmoor for protection. With the result of the war in little doubt, Westmoor resisted returning Krimml to Fontan, believing it would merely be conquered again by Sirion.
Having restored some order to Krimml, King Flaylen ordered an ambitious raid against the city of Fontan (controlled by Caligus). The offensive floundered on bad roads and despite managing to breach the walls of Fontan city, they found their route home blocked by two enemy armies. Few soldiers made it back and soon after Fontan made peace with Sirion. As Fontan redoubled their demands for the return of Krimml, Caligus launched a fresh offensive on Evora. Westmoor’s brave counter attack had little chance of success because its armies had still not recovered from the ill fated attack on the city of Fontan, and almost the entire military leadership was wounded or captured. Simultaneously, Fontan declared war on Westmoor and marched on Krimml supported by armies from their former enemy Sirion (to the utter astonishment of Westmoor). Shortly afterwards Sirion bribed Krimml’s city official to change their allegiance. King Flaylen was believed to have survived the battle in Evora, but was never heard from again; protests removed him from the throne.
Promising to make peace with Westmoor’s neighbours, Lord Treasurer Maedros was crowned King. The diplomacy that followed proved to be long and difficult. The first breakthrough came when a truce was negotiated with Caligus, but the low-intensity war with Fontan rumbled on. Sirion, concerned about its own territorial interests, sought to place limits on Westmoor's military activities in the Fontan war. Eventually, this complicated diplomatic situation led to a misunderstanding involving a Westmoorian assault on the Fontanese capital of Krimml. In a major setback, this caused Sirion to declare war on Westmoor.
Nearing the end of the wars with Sirion and Fontan, Westmoor went through what is now known as the “October Crisis.” Westmoor eagerly crowned King Maedros with the hope that he would improve the realm after the detrimental reigns of King Jor and King Flaylen. As time went on a small group of Lords grew dissatisfied and disappointed with the King’s lack of performance and gathered to discuss the issues of the realm. At the end of a short time of brainstorming and discussing they decided that the best solution to many of the realm’s issues was to install a constitution. The idea behind the constitution was to create a system of standards and measures to judge the King by and to organize the Monarchy more efficiently. When Count Armstrong Ironsides and the Reformers introduced the realm to the constitution it was met with quick tempered criticism.
A long and large argument broke out which led one of the more radical members of the reform group, Lady Arica Maldives, to launch an ill-fated rebellion against the King. After the rebellion further dissatisfaction arose against the King leading to another round of debate and argument. To solve the issue as peaceably as possible Count Armstrong launched a referendum. The vote of no confidence was defeated and the King was reaffirmed to his Crown. This event and the documents pertaining to it are all recorded in the archives of the New Westmoor newspaper.
Although border skirmishes between Westmoor and Fontan continued, Westmoor took the decision to prove its peaceful intent towards Fontan by switching to a defensive position and making no further attacks against Fontanese lands. Also, in a bold diplomatic move, Westmoor chose to allow Fontan to retake the contested regions of Oberndorf and Commonyr without a fight. Initial peace terms were presented, and truces with both Fontan and Sirion ensued. Within days more good diplomatic news followed when a peace treaty was signed between Westmoor and Perdan.
As the days after the truce with Fontan drew on, Lords became concerned with the lack of progress with the negotiations. It became clear the burden of the Crown had worn down King Maedros. When pressure was put on him in the House of Lords, he chose to abdicate the Throne. Though he had faded as his time on the Throne came to an end, his legacy would be that he safely guided Westmoor through one of the most dangerous times in its history.
And so Jor Tanos became the next King of Westmoor. Taking the Throne for his second time, the age of the Restoration began. His second reign saw further improvements to Westmoor's diplomatic state, with peace treaties being formally signed with Caligus and Sirion. The traditional alliance with the Obsidian Islands was also reestablished and Westmoor briefly administered Gadlock and Kazahk on behalf of the islanders. Despite this, negotiations with Fontan remained deadlocked.
Some five months after taking the throne, King Jor announced his intention to end the ceasefire with Fontan (the full letter may be read here). In his address, King Jor accused Fontan of drawing out peace talks in order to launch a suprise attack on Westmoor, pointing to their heavy military build up. War was declared on the 24th of March 1012.
It soon became apparant however that Fontan's growing strength was far more dangerous than could even have been thought possible. It was revealed through Westmoorian and foreign intelligence that the small realm of Fontan had been taken over during the peace period by the group of money frauders known as the Saxons who were using large quantities of gold stolen from families across the world to bolster Fontan's army to sizes that by the end of the war were larger than the armiy of Sirion (one report indicating a Combat strength of over 20,000 CS - this being from a realm only a handful of regions in size). By halfway through April Westmoor was facing a situation of breakdown throughout the realm as the unnatural armies of Fontan ripped through Westmoorian regions until the point where Oligarch itself although unbreached was facing starvation.
On the 25th of April a great stroke of luck for Westmoor resulted when the kingdom of Caligus declared war on Fontan for the harboring of Ibladeshi nobles who had migrated there after the destruction of Ibladesh in the south. It was also around this time that a strange sickness ,some say from the gods, caused the Saxon nobles to be divided in their goal so that many travelled across the sea to other lands. Perdan's declaration of war soon followed, realising Fontan's need to be stopped and also in defense of it's long time ally Westmoor whom it had no intention of allowing to be destroyed by Fontan.
By May facing combined armies of Caligus, Westmoor and Perdan Fontan was reduced to the city of Krimml. It was during this time that Westmoor aquired the realm of Braga which to complicate matters further caused Sirion to take advantage of the situation and declare war on Westmoor stating that they did not wish to see Westmoor expand. Westmoor already almost bankrupt from the war with Fontan did surprisingly well when faced with the army of Sirion. Faced with the long travel times from Sirion city along with an army that was not as organized as the now dying Fontan and Westmoorian nobles fresh from a war facing their very destruction, Westmoor faired much better than anyone would have expected dragging the Sirion Westmoor war out for over two months until a peace was worked out (as Perdanese armies were moving into Westmoor to make sure the peace went as planned). Westmoor agreed to relinquish the region of Braga and not expand into Fontanese territories when peace was signed on the 11th of August 1012. Historians in Westmoor and elsewhere have been coming to document this as the War of the Jesters.
Fontan's destruction led to the creation and subsequent destruction of the realm of Dunnera which has been reasonably well documented elsewhere. The regions of Dunnera were absorbed by Caligus and Sirion after their failed attempt at creating a joint colony in the region due to various different conflicts between Caligus and Dunnera. After this time a long period of peace and prosperity began in the north of the continent. After a short time Dunnera was destroyed by its founding realms.
Not too long after this period of peace and prosperity war began between the Kingdoms of Perdan, Westmoor, Obsidian Isles against Nivemus and Sirion. During the conflict, King Jor was cowardly assaulted by a notorious Sirion infiltrator, who was also responsible for attacking several priests and another key member of the Westmoorian government. Due to serious wounds, King Jor was vacated from the throne. The Westmoorians chose Lord General Thomas Foxglove to replace King Jor in an election. King Thomas resigned from his title of General and appointed Lord Cross Thunder Strike in his stead.
The Geography
| Map of Westmoor | |
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Westmoor located near the centre of the continent, largely made up of fertile plains. To the north is the Kazakh peninsula, presently home to the Obsidian Islanders. Directly north is the Kingdom of Nivemus. The eastern border is shared with Sirion and marked by a shift from farming to woodlands. In the south, beyond the highlands of Evora is the Kingdom of Caligus. Finally rivers seperate Westmoor from its parent realm, Perdan, which lies to the west.
The Military
The Westmoorian Bulwark
Marshal: Ravier Nebehn
Second-in-Command: Cross Thunderstrike
This army replaced the Westmoor Column as the Kingdom's main army and is based in Westmoor City. Founded and sponsored by Ravier Nebehn.
The Knights of the Rose
Marshal: Mathros Hagakure
Second-in-Command: Maliki Nautilus
The Knights of the Rose was the long series of incarnations of dreams for Westmoor to have it's own functioning elite army similar to the Red Dragons of Sirion or the PMW of Perdan. Mathros Hagakure founded and currently sponsors this army and created it to replace the Royal Guard of Westmoor. Comprised of a small number of hardened Westmoorians this army is capable of doing more complicated movements without assistance of Westmoor's main army.
Armies no longer in use can be found below:
Defunct Armies
Diplomacy & Treaties
Diplomatic Relations
Westmoor is currently at war with Sirion.
Traditionally Westmoor has enjoyed close alliances with the Obsidian Islands and Perdan; however these were broken during the reign of King Flaylen. Since then the alliance with the Obsidian Islands has been restored as well as recently the alliance with Perdan. Both Kingdoms acknowledge the bonds of kinship and have since forgiven Westmoor for it's controversial betrayal under the reign of Flaylen (see history above for more details). Cordial relations exist with all other realms on the East Continent, although there is little contact with Eponllyn or Nivemus.
Friendly Neighbours
Westmoor currently enjoys an alliance with both Perdan and the Obsidian Islands.
Westmoor used to have an alliance with Fontan and the Sultanate of Asena as well as Ibladesh. The alliance with Fontan ended early when Fontan declared war on Westmoor for reasons relating to the city of Krimml. The alliance with Ibladesh was ended some time later while the alliance with the Sultanate was maintained until a few weeks prior to it's destruction although this alliance had little relevance diplomatically towards the end as we didn't have the strength or desire to support them from being destroyed by Sirion. The Sultanate treaty is listed below for record purposes.
Newspaper
New Westmoor
Editor Mathros
The Westmoor Times (Defunct) - The voice of truth in all things newsworthy from Westmoor
Chief Editor & Writer in Charge Hiddukel Kiri-Jolith