Difference between revisions of "Wesnoth"

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In 350YW, King Haldric IV died, triggering what came to be known as the First Dark Age.<ref name="rooting">{{Cite|rooting}}</ref> In the years that came, a Wesnothian civil war took place,<ref name="terror">{{Cite|terror}}</ref> all the while amongst the regular bombardment of orcs along the eastern borders of Wesnoth. To make matters worse, in 363YW, an terrorist undead presence made its way into the western plains of Wesnoth. This problem was short lived, however, and was followed by peace in the west.<ref name="rooting"/><ref name="guarded">{{Cite|guarded}}</ref>
 
In 350YW, King Haldric IV died, triggering what came to be known as the First Dark Age.<ref name="rooting">{{Cite|rooting}}</ref> In the years that came, a Wesnothian civil war took place,<ref name="terror">{{Cite|terror}}</ref> all the while amongst the regular bombardment of orcs along the eastern borders of Wesnoth. To make matters worse, in 363YW, an terrorist undead presence made its way into the western plains of Wesnoth. This problem was short lived, however, and was followed by peace in the west.<ref name="rooting"/><ref name="guarded">{{Cite|guarded}}</ref>
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From 389YW to 390YW, an aspiring necromancer, Malin, attempted to resist orcish invasions on his hometown of Parthyn.<ref name="saving">{{Cite|saving parthyn}}</ref> He met with another necromancer, Darken Volk, and together they retaliated against the orcs.<ref name="peaceful">{{Cite|peaceful}}</ref><ref name="orc">{{Cite|orc}}</ref> When Malin attempted to pass through Parthyn in pursuit of the orcs, he was accused of being allied with the orcs by the captain of the guard, suspicious of necromancy in general. Malin killed the captain, but quickly found himself at odds with the rest of the town.<ref name="return to parthyn">{{Cite|return to parthyn}}</ref> Resentful of Wesnoth at large, he helped Darken Volk steal a valuable artifact from a wizard in Tath.<ref name="favor">{{Cite|favor}}</ref> After killing Darken Volk in a dispute,<ref name="alone">{{Cite|alone}}</ref> he transformed himself into a lich,<ref name="descent">{{Cite|descent}}</ref> terrorizing the orcs until he was slain some years after.<ref name="endless">{{Cite|endless}}</ref>
  
 
== Notes ==
 
== Notes ==

Revision as of 19:51, 8 September 2019

Kingdom of Wesnoth

titlescreen.png new-journey.png

The capital of Wesnoth, Weldyn, on a map of the Great Continent.
Races Humans


The Kingdom of Wesnoth was a human kingdom on the Great Continent. It was founded by King Haldric I, and suffered numerous invasions by orcs and undead over the course of its existence, as well as a civil war. After a failed attempt to raise a third sun into the sky, the capital was destroyed and the kingdom was torn apart by civil conflict.

History

Founding

summer.jpg
A Wesnothian fortress in the summer.
The word 'Wesfolk' is from your old tongue. It means 'People of the West'. The elves call us the people of the west-north. Under the same old tongue that would be 'Wes Noth'. So I suggest that the new kingdom be called 'Wesnoth', in honor of our old home.
Lady Jessene suggests the name of the Kingdom of Wesnoth.

The Kingdom of Wesnoth consisted of plains to the north and south of the Great River, as well as the hills to the south of the Great River. The land originally belonged to the elves, but during negotations, it was given to Prince Haldric from the Green Isle for his refugees to settle in.[1] After engaging in subterfuge against the elves,[2] routing orcish and undead forces belonging to the Lich-Lord Jevyan, and scattering the orcish forces,[3] Prince Haldric brought his most loyal followers together and discussed their new homeland. Realizing that now owning land, Prince Haldric became King Haldric I, and pondered over what to name his kingdom. Lady Jessene, his companion, suggested that they draw on the etymology of the words 'Wesfolk' and 'Wes Noth' to create the name 'Wesnoth'. It was thus that the kingdom was named, populated by Haldric's people and the Wesfolk.[4]

After Haldric I and Jessene married, their miscegenation inspired their people to do likewise, resulting in their two ethnic groups merging.[4] The subterfuge that Haldric I had engaged in meant that the orcs on the Green Isle believed that the elves now possessed the Ruby of Fire, a valuable and coveted artifact.[2] Despite this, Wesnoth initially upheld its agreement with the elves by helping defeat the last of the orcs on the island. He also planned to build towns throughout the land, and to establish the capital itself inland.[4] He also forbade the practice of necromancy throughout Wesnoth.[5]

Early history

Friends, today we have won a great victory, though it lost us good men. Let this be the beginning of a new alliance between our people.
—King Haldric II congratulates the elves on their combined victory at Tath.

The first notable invasion of Wesnoth came when one of its earliest settlements, the coastal city of Elensefar, was attacked by a swarm of drakes from Morogor. The drakes killed and ate the people of Elensefar, but chose to migrate elsewhere and avoid further provoking the humans.[6] In due course, Wesnoth later reclaimed the city.[7]

When orcs began to harass the elves,[8] Haldric I repudiated the Pact of Mutual Aid and sent back the elves' emissaries.[9][a] This may have been in part due to his neglect of his military during this time.[10] By breaking the pact, Haldric I soured relations between the humans and elves,[9]

In 15YW, Haldric I passed away, and King Haldric II ascended to the throne. At this time, the human settlement of Tath was surrounded by the orcs, and Haldric II attempted to renew the treaty.[11] A number of elves and mercenary dwarves hastened to the battlefield and prevented Tath from being overrun.[12] Haldric II arrived shortly thereafter and signed a new treaty with the elves, although denied High Lord Kalenz's request to launch an offensive against the orcs.[10] Kalenz's decision to form a treaty with Wesnoth was not supported by the Ka'lian.[13]

Though the Isle of Alduin was not of the lands given by the elves,[1] it was there that the Academy of Magic was built.[14] During the tenure of headmaster Aimucasur, Ardonna escaped the academy to pursue the necromantic arts.[5] She collaborated with the sorcerer Ras-Tabahn, combining their knowledge.[15] After Ras-Tabahn raised the town of Carcyn and recruited followers,[16] the two discovered the art of becoming a Lich, sought to share this knowledge with Wesnoth.[17] Ras-Tabahn planned even to conquer Elensefar and turn it into an undead empire, although Ardonna wished to take a more diplomatic approach in Dan'Tonk and Weldyn.[7] After crossing the Ford of Abez south into the lands of Wesnoth, however, they were confronted and found guilty of necromancy by paladins. A large battle ensued, and despite the paladins' defeat,[18] Ardonna was still unable to persuade the people of Wesnoth to follow her necromantic ways.[19]

In its unprotected state, the Ruby of Fire could have averse effects on those who wielded it, as happened to Haldric I.[10] In 25YW, Haldric II brought the ruby to Rugnur, paying him ten thousand pieces of silver to forge it into a sceptre, thus containing its power.[20] Haldric II's bodyguard Alanin remained with the dwarves for ten years, then was sent back to Haldric II to report the status of the Sceptre of Fire.[21] The sceptre was lost in the Heart Mountains during an erruption,[22] which Alanin saw from a distance. After Alanin eventually reported back to Haldric II in 40YW, the king decided that searching for the sceptre was hopeless, but its existence was written down in the history books.[23]

Power struggles

This sentinel of the western plains stood watch as Wesnoth prospered for many centuries under its protection. No war has overcome it, and its walls have never been overrun. The blood of invaders stains its parapets and the bones of the defeated crumble at the base of Halstead’s frozen waves of stone.
—Lore describes Wesnoth's Stronghold of Halstead.

Prior to 161YW, Elensefar and the coastal settlements had since gained a certain level of independence from Wesnoth. In 161YW, a new King of Wesnoth was crowned. He sought to cleanse the wildlands separating their lands of enemies. After rallying an army, led by the High Council of Archmagi, he scoured the land and united the two areas into a single kingdom under his rule. With this finished, the Stronghold of Halstead was constructed to safeguard Wesnoth's western plains. In the years to come, many settlements were established across the area.[24]

In 350YW, King Haldric IV died, triggering what came to be known as the First Dark Age.[25] In the years that came, a Wesnothian civil war took place,[26] all the while amongst the regular bombardment of orcs along the eastern borders of Wesnoth. To make matters worse, in 363YW, an terrorist undead presence made its way into the western plains of Wesnoth. This problem was short lived, however, and was followed by peace in the west.[25][27]

From 389YW to 390YW, an aspiring necromancer, Malin, attempted to resist orcish invasions on his hometown of Parthyn.[28] He met with another necromancer, Darken Volk, and together they retaliated against the orcs.[29][30] When Malin attempted to pass through Parthyn in pursuit of the orcs, he was accused of being allied with the orcs by the captain of the guard, suspicious of necromancy in general. Malin killed the captain, but quickly found himself at odds with the rest of the town.[31] Resentful of Wesnoth at large, he helped Darken Volk steal a valuable artifact from a wizard in Tath.[32] After killing Darken Volk in a dispute,[33] he transformed himself into a lich,[34] terrorizing the orcs until he was slain some years after.[35]

Notes

  1. ^ In approximately 15YW,[36] Lord El'Isomithir described Haldric's betrayal as having taken place six years prior, around 9YW.[9] This is when the first orcish incursion occurred.[37]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 The Ka'lian, The Rise of Wesnoth
  2. 2.0 2.1 The Plan, The Rise of Wesnoth
  3. The Rise of Wesnoth, The Rise of Wesnoth
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 Epilogue, The Rise of Wesnoth
  5. 5.0 5.1 Slipping Away, Secrets of the Ancients
  6. Elensefar, Wings of Victory
  7. 7.0 7.1 Lava and Stone, Secrets of the Ancients
  8. Defend the Forest, An Orcish Incursion
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 Council of Hard Choices, Legend of Wesmere
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 The Treaty, Legend of Wesmere
  11. News from the Front, Legend of Wesmere
  12. Human Alliance, Legend of Wesmere
  13. Council Ruling, Legend of Wesmere
  14. Overture, Delfador's Memoirs
  15. Meeting of the Minds, Secrets of the Ancients
  16. Carcyn, Secrets of the Ancients
  17. Abandoned Outpost, Secrets of the Ancients
  18. Against the World, Secrets of the Ancients
  19. Epilogue, Secrets of the Ancients
  20. A Bargain is Struck, Scepter of Fire
  21. Towards the Caves, Scepter of Fire
  22. Caverns of Flame, Scepter of Fire
  23. Epilogue, Scepter of Fire
  24. Glory, Liberty
  25. 25.0 25.1 Rooting out a Mage, A Tale of Two Brothers
  26. Terror at the Ford of Parthyn, Delfador's Memoirs
  27. Guarded Castle, A Tale of Two Brothers
  28. Saving Parthyn, Descent Into Darkness
  29. Peaceful Valley, Descent Into Darkness
  30. Orc War, Descent Into Darkness
  31. Return to Parthyn, Descent Into Darkness
  32. Citation error: favor
  33. Alone at Last, Descent Into Darkness
  34. Descent into Darkness, Descent Into Darkness
  35. Endless Night, Descent Into Darkness
  36. Legend of Wesmere (main)
  37. An Orcish Incursion (main)