Duchy of Sugamber

### Ethnic Groups

Wexonard and Arannese Human with Elf, Gnoll, and Half-Elf minorities, with Gnollsgate housing only Hill Gnolls

### Religion(s)

Regent Court

The **Duchy of Sugamber** was a country located in The Borders. It was part of the Empire of Anbennar.

Sugamber was known as "the Shield of the Empire", defending the southern borderlands against any incursions by Hill Gnolls and the Busilari. The Sugamber people not only know times of war and hardship, but also times of peace and prosperity. Sugamber was known for its travelling merchants and carnivals, this not only distracted the population from their grievances but also brought in tax money. Sugamber borders almost doubled in size with the end of the Lilac Wars and the conquest of Countsbridge, Gnollsgate, Irmathmus, and Hawkshot. The Lilac Wars and erratic succession preferences of Ewald II left Sugamber lacking in clear succession.

## Sugambrian Succession Crisis

Following the Lilac Wars, Sugamber found itself facing intense internal turmoil over the succession to the duchy. Both of the sons of the reigning duke, Ewald II síl Rhinmond, had died in battle during the Lilac Wars, as had his wife from disease. This left the duke's cousin, Ethelbert of Rupellion, as the apparent rightful heir.

However, Ewald and Ethelbert bitterly despised each other and had been lifelong rivals. Ewald instead legitimized his bastard daughter Lisolette, the result of an affair with a kitchen maid, and named her as his heir. This cut Ethelbert out of succession, and set the stage for crisis. The various nobles began to take sides, with Ewald's loyalists and enemies of Ethelbert on one, and on the other Ethelbert's allies and other nobles affronted by a bastard being made heir rather than one of legitimate noble blood.

### The Palace Coup

On the 1st of Bloomsdawn 1455, at the age of 60, Duke Ewald died. Per his will Lisolette ascended to the throne. Discussions of her hypothetical legitimacy as heir turned to discontent over her actual legitimacy as ruler. Seeing their opportunity, Ethelbert's supporters began to plot to usurp power.

The conspirators contacted the captain and members of the Ducal Guard who were angered by the late duke's treatment of his cousin, and recruited them to the plot. On the 4th of Esmarment 1458, aided by the collaborators within the guard, the conspirators stormed the palace, killing Lisolette and her family, and seized control for Ethelbert, who himself entered the city at the head of his army a few days later.

### Civil War

Despite Ethelbert's hopes, nobles loyal to Lisolette and others outraged by the coup rose up in revolt, coalescing behind Ewald and Ethelbert's other cousin - Baldwin of Lockcastle - whom in light of Lisolette's death and Ethelbert's usurpation they proclaimed as the rightful duke. Across the duchy, battle lines were drawn as local nobles and even individual towns and villages declared for one side or the other.

Meanwhile, the surrounding countries took notice. Having no stake nor interest in either claimant winning over the other, the Grand Duchy of Wex, Kingdom of Busilar, and Marquisate of Arannen declined to intervene. However, the County of Bisan and County of Celliande, Moon Party members who had lost land to Sugamber in the recent Lilac Wars, saw an opportunity to regain their lost territory, and offered their support to Baldwin. Celliande-supplied troops in the east moved to support Baldwin's forces directly, while Bisan-supplied troops arrived in the west and marched to besiege the fortress of Escandar. Unable to decisively break through the elven fortress' legendary defenses, they would remain stalled here for the majority of the conflict.

As the duchy fell into disorder, the recently conquered gnolls of Gnollsgate began to agitate for rebellion, aiming to reunite with the Hill Gnolls to the south. Attempting to forestall a revolt, Ethelbert instead recruited the gnolls as a mercenary force to fight against Baldwin.

Large-scale battles began to take place, with Ethelbert and Baldwin's forces clashing across the north and east of Sugamber, devastating the local agriculture and causing a minor famine. Ethelbert responded by seizing reserves from local nobles and merchants, provoking significant protest and resentment.

After a minor victory against Baldwin's forces, the leader, Henric of Butchersfield, was executed and all his lands seized and looted, Ethelbert again hoping that aggressive, violent action would cow his enemies. But the news of this only galvanized Baldwin's supporters and made them resolute that Ethelbert was a tyrant to be overthrown. Shortly afterwards, nobles of Escandar defected to Baldwin, sabotaging its defenses. Escandar fell not long after.

Suffering from increasing desertion and with the Bisan-supplied troops now free to reinforce Baldwin directly, Ethelbert was decisively defeated and his army routed in a battle near Rhinmond. Ethelbert fled to the capital with what remained of his ducal guard, intending to hold out for a siege. However, at the direction of the local burghers, the city watch opened the gates and allowed Baldwin to enter unopposed. Ethelbert was captured and executed, and Baldwin formally declared duke.

### Aftermath

Following his victory, Baldwin's supporters were rewarded with generous shares of land confiscated from Ethelbert and his allies. Bisanese and Celliander support had been crucial in the outcome, and in gratitude Baldwin returned the provinces of Countsbridge and Gnollsgate to Bisan, and Hawkshot and Irmathmas to Celliande. This act created strong bonds of friendship between the three countries, in an almost complete reversal of their previous relationship.

At Baldwin's direction, the bodies of Lisolette and her family were retrieved and reburied with full honours in the ducal vault.