Worde
Jun 13, 2017 3:47:40 GMT -6
Post by Nayru Al-Saiduq on Jun 13, 2017 3:47:40 GMT -6
Overview
Long considered one of the more stable western Lycian territories, Worde could well have dominated the region if not for the might of Ostia - large, with a good spread of natural resources, a high population, and a fairly solid line of royal stability. However, they were never able to come close to Ostia's supremacy and spent much of their time quibbling with Ryerde, their small but irksome neighbors. Known as much for its sprawling forests as its friendly populace, Worde maintained good relations with most of its surrounding territories but as with much of western Lycia, never interacted heavily with the far more politically charged marches in eastern Lycia.
All of that changed when Ostia fell and the risen dead began to spill over, the maw of Hell itself opening upon Lycia. First struck by the Ostian menace, Worde was forced to burn her lands to save them - destroying large swathes of their western forests in order to allow their cavalry free roam and ranged units better firing solutions. With the ambitious and charismatic young marquess Caelan struck down by unfortunate illness a few years ago, almost coincidentally at nearly the same time as the tide of undead spilling from Ostia began to intensify and multiply. Between that and rising Ryerden instability, the joint task force the two marches had grudgingly created nearly falling apart in the process, Worde was faced with among the greatest danger of its long existence - as well as possibility.
The wife of the fiery young marquess barely held the crumbling march together as its new marquise, no legendary orator or mighty general, but a stalwart patriot and citizen of Worde who did her part to the best of her abilities. Help soon came from an unexpected source - the new marquess of Ryerde, the sallow Lucius Geraint, not even true nobility, but carefully composed and incisively intelligent. Exactly what happened beyond closed doors is unknown, but the two marches reached some manner of agreement and redoubled their efforts to work together.
The last few years have been rough, growing ever more dire as Ostia's overflow went from dangerous to overwhelming, but so too did the bond between the two marches and their joint military strength. As Ryerde rose like a phoenix from the ashes of its former failure, providing ever more mages and advisers to go with the aid and food they offered, Worde in turn stood fast where it could easily have fallen. Today, Worde has finally become the stalwart defender of the West that they always dreamed of - beset eternally by the endless tides of the dead and the damned, with a plague of banditry spreading through its lands, the people of Worde persevere nonetheless, embracing their destiny or fighting their fate depending on one's perspective. It is no longer as kind a place as it once was, but the people of Worde finally have hope, and that is a thing worth a little danger.
Military
Worde's military has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years despite major losses early on. Equally adept in open plains and forest warfare with a strong contingent of Ryerden magi and rangers to call on in conjunction with their own rangers and cavalry, Worde specializes in mobile warfare and combined arms tactics, both blitzkrieg offense and scorched earth defense, prizing mobility and terrain manipulation with mobile armed forces rather than heavy fortifications. While they definitely lack the raw numbers or elite power of the truly dominant Lycian territories, Worde is one of the most versatile and battle tested armies in Lycia currently and if they weren't so busy fighting Ostia's horrors they could potentially make a power play.
Unfortunately, the dangers sweeping Worde require the full attention of that otherwise impressive army. Ostia spews forth an unending tide of the damned that ever threatens to overwhelm Worde, a mix of undead, revenants, bonewalkers, and of late even larger undead. And as Worde's law and order dissipates, almost the entirety of its armed forces forced to fight in the west, bandits descend upon much of its heartland, looting and pillaging what they can. Unliek the relative peace of its Eastern neighbors, Worde simply does not have the ability to bring its sizable military to bear on them and relies heavily on mercenaries, adventurers, and do-gooders to help defend themselves.
Relationships
Long considered one of the more stable western Lycian territories, Worde could well have dominated the region if not for the might of Ostia - large, with a good spread of natural resources, a high population, and a fairly solid line of royal stability. However, they were never able to come close to Ostia's supremacy and spent much of their time quibbling with Ryerde, their small but irksome neighbors. Known as much for its sprawling forests as its friendly populace, Worde maintained good relations with most of its surrounding territories but as with much of western Lycia, never interacted heavily with the far more politically charged marches in eastern Lycia.
All of that changed when Ostia fell and the risen dead began to spill over, the maw of Hell itself opening upon Lycia. First struck by the Ostian menace, Worde was forced to burn her lands to save them - destroying large swathes of their western forests in order to allow their cavalry free roam and ranged units better firing solutions. With the ambitious and charismatic young marquess Caelan struck down by unfortunate illness a few years ago, almost coincidentally at nearly the same time as the tide of undead spilling from Ostia began to intensify and multiply. Between that and rising Ryerden instability, the joint task force the two marches had grudgingly created nearly falling apart in the process, Worde was faced with among the greatest danger of its long existence - as well as possibility.
The wife of the fiery young marquess barely held the crumbling march together as its new marquise, no legendary orator or mighty general, but a stalwart patriot and citizen of Worde who did her part to the best of her abilities. Help soon came from an unexpected source - the new marquess of Ryerde, the sallow Lucius Geraint, not even true nobility, but carefully composed and incisively intelligent. Exactly what happened beyond closed doors is unknown, but the two marches reached some manner of agreement and redoubled their efforts to work together.
The last few years have been rough, growing ever more dire as Ostia's overflow went from dangerous to overwhelming, but so too did the bond between the two marches and their joint military strength. As Ryerde rose like a phoenix from the ashes of its former failure, providing ever more mages and advisers to go with the aid and food they offered, Worde in turn stood fast where it could easily have fallen. Today, Worde has finally become the stalwart defender of the West that they always dreamed of - beset eternally by the endless tides of the dead and the damned, with a plague of banditry spreading through its lands, the people of Worde persevere nonetheless, embracing their destiny or fighting their fate depending on one's perspective. It is no longer as kind a place as it once was, but the people of Worde finally have hope, and that is a thing worth a little danger.
Military
Worde's military has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years despite major losses early on. Equally adept in open plains and forest warfare with a strong contingent of Ryerden magi and rangers to call on in conjunction with their own rangers and cavalry, Worde specializes in mobile warfare and combined arms tactics, both blitzkrieg offense and scorched earth defense, prizing mobility and terrain manipulation with mobile armed forces rather than heavy fortifications. While they definitely lack the raw numbers or elite power of the truly dominant Lycian territories, Worde is one of the most versatile and battle tested armies in Lycia currently and if they weren't so busy fighting Ostia's horrors they could potentially make a power play.
Unfortunately, the dangers sweeping Worde require the full attention of that otherwise impressive army. Ostia spews forth an unending tide of the damned that ever threatens to overwhelm Worde, a mix of undead, revenants, bonewalkers, and of late even larger undead. And as Worde's law and order dissipates, almost the entirety of its armed forces forced to fight in the west, bandits descend upon much of its heartland, looting and pillaging what they can. Unliek the relative peace of its Eastern neighbors, Worde simply does not have the ability to bring its sizable military to bear on them and relies heavily on mercenaries, adventurers, and do-gooders to help defend themselves.
Relationships
- Despite their unfriendly past, politics and necessity make for strange bedfellows, Ryerde and Worde are now among the closest allies in modern Lycia. They trade extremely extensively and each are responsible for keeping the other afloat - Ryerde's burgeoning economy, quality mages, and medical aid keeps Worde solvent even as Worde's much larger contributions to the joint task force keep them both relatively safe from the eternal tides of undead and heavy bandit presence.; Some say that there is more to the relationship between the marquesses of each territory than meet the eye, as well, but close allies do by necessity meet often to discuss policy.
- Thria and Worde are also kinda stuck together given that they ARE the entire frontline against Ostia. They don't actually like each other, but they work together when needed and Worde regularly sweeps open Thrian territory or sends forces to aid against larger swells of undead.
- Mostly ignores Laus's existence but trades a bit with them out of necessity.