Ruler: His Prominent Grace, Grand Duke Hendrick Strongbow of Westorlin, Marshall of Priam (NG male human [Aldari], Ftr 8/Warmaster 6)
Government: Independent feudal monarchy with hereditary rulership; head of state is a grand duke who is advised from a military council of warlords
Rule of Law: Lawful Neutral. Strongly ordered and regimented society with many written laws. Traditions and organization are greatly valued often with strict interpretation of the "letter" of the law. The value of order often outweighs morality.
Coat of Arms: Gules and Argent Saltire, a Lion Rampant-Guardant, or
Capital: Priam (pop. 36,100)
Major Towns: Shadowfall (pop. 14,600), Warwall (pop. 27,000)
Population: 400,000- Human 87% (AZ), halfling 5% (fleetfoot 79%, greenthumb 21%), gnome 4% (tinker), elf 3% (coast), other 1%
Major Religions: Oldred, Endorie, Galadine, Galdor, Vestra, Auralia, Johvi, Trinian, Halfling pantheon, Gnome pantheon, Elf pantheon
Major Resources: Iron, gold, copper, weapons, armor
Military: 20,000 (includes light and medium infantry, light and medium cavalry and a navy of 14 warships)
Allies: Faridune, Paragon, Sutherlin
Enemies: Cyndane, Glathion, Helacar, Meridia
Coinage: Platinum bull, gold crown, silver axe, copper raven
Westorlin is a powerful military province and former vassal state to the Empire of Meridia. During the Sundering War, the Grand Duchy joined a rebel alliance together with Sutherlin, Paragon and Faridune to secede from the crumbling empire and form an independent land. The Grand Dukes from the House of Strongbow have always had a knack for strategy and played a great part in the success of the rebellion. They also took part in the creation of the Valorous League, the military alliance between the former rebel states. These actions have of course branded the Grand Duke a traitor in the eyes of the emperor and an even greater animosity between the two lands.
During the Grand Duchy's long and prominent history, the lords of the lands were responsible for many wars of aggression and expansion in order to increase the holdings of the empire. Now they turn their attention to the East toward the Imperial Capital out of concern for possible retaliation from their former liege. The Grand Duke has great antipathy toward the Prince of Glathion as well whom he views as a scoundrel and one not to be trusted. Hendrick has recently begun an ambitious castle building program along the Greatwater River as well as sending military support to its ally Paragon as a first line of defense.
Rumors: Despite its apparent change of heart in terms of foreign policy, there are those within the elven lands of Gwythenia to the west that will never forgive this powerful human duchy for its past attempts at annexation. A number of wood elven paramilitary outfits from the Heathersage Forest have been plaguing the forces of the Grand Duchy. It is also rumored that the Prince of Glathion has a number of spies hidden throughout Priam gathering information for a possible invasion. Fear, suspicion and paranoia seem to be the rule in the capital city.