Union of O'Lear

1906

O'Lear in 1929

The **Union of O'Lear** was a monarchical nation of eastern Helinskan Clans. It was founded by Clan Aastersen — fief lords of Jern and Lear — who annexed the petty states of Onnfrey, Oerth, Courienta, Dullen, and Heliogatenberg during the O'Leary Unification War from 1906 to 1908. The Aastersen dynasty then occupied the O'Leary Throne for several decades, controlling numerous island possessions and some continental Helinskan territories in a personal union. A high degree of autonomy was delegated to the constituent Great Clans of O'Lear, who also had governmental authority through a legislature known as the College of Clans.

The official religion of O'Lear was Graolism, "devotion to the Spirits Graol."

O'Lear was a colonial power made up of islands and possessions spread far and wide across Helinska. It entered world politics in 1926, initially a founding member of the Helinska Security Pact before defecting to its rival, the Polmaria-led Aquilon-Askalis-Jabeyrack Concordance. O'Leary troops fought on the front lines of the SRJ Reunification War in the brutal campaign known as the Battle of the Neck. Political divisions between the various Great Clans of O'Lear were inflamed during and after the Battle of the Neck, instigating a civil war known as the War of Changing. This resulted in the fall of Clan Aastersen and Clan Sorrel, and the rise of Clan Baxter, who sat the Augustine Throne from 1930 onward.

Remnants of Clan Aastersen remained in hiding in Vasport, secretly supported by Clan Cambrino-Vasport and other loyalists.

## History

### Pre-Unification (1700s-1906)

Prior to the O'Leary Unification War, numerous independent "lordships" (a type of petty kingdom) existed on the islands of eastern Helinska, all with a shared cultural background. These lordships were dominated by a single Clan: for example the Lordship of Jern, in the northern fringes of Ironhorn Island, was exclusively controlled by Clan Aastersen.

Lear-Festning Island was the largest and richest island off eastern Helinska. It was bitterly contested by Clan Dunne, Clan Hagen, and Clan Ullor, in a series of petty conflicts called the Riverine Wars.

Clan Sorrel is the oldest Great Clan in the traditional sense. Bertraimius Sorrel founded the Lordship of Heliogatenberg sometime in the early 1700s, peacefully absorbing multiple small families into his sphere of influence. The state's naval and economic power allowed it to accrue vast wealth over the centuries.

Clan Aastersen and its ancestral fief the Lordship of Jern were founded on Ironhorn Island by Aaster I in 1780. He modeled his familial structure after Clan Sorrel, of the Lordship of Heliogatenberg. During his reign, the Aastersens partially colonized Lear-Festning Island, which put them at odds with the southern families of Clan Hagen and Clan Dunne. After initial defeats at the Battle of Cashford, both clans quickly entered into a state of vassalhood to the Aastersens and began intermarrying.

Clan Frederiksen and Clan Larsen established lordships at Onnfrey and Oerth respectively, and began a bitter feud.

The Aastersen colonization of Lear-Festning Island also disrupted the trade and colonial ambitions of Clan Olney of Corazza. A severe feud emerged between the two families. Upon the death of Aaster I in 1820, he was suceeded as Clan Head and Lord of Jern by his first-born child: Aaster II. During his reign, Aastersen control of Ironhorn Island was consolidated through alliances with Clan Algotsen, Clan Lanter, and Clan Caupus. They also largely subdued Aaster II also intensified colonization efforts on Lear-Festning Island, forming an alliance with Clan Ullor — which empowered him to escalate the feud with the Olneys. His Land Counsellor (chief advisor) and younger brother Alfred Aastersen also married into the Dunne family, eventually becoming the Lord of the great city of Lear. This was a huge strategic boon for the Aastersens. Aaster II's reign was regarded as a "golden age" for the family.

Aaster II Aastersen died in 1840. His brother Alfred was laid low by disease and would die a year later. The next Head of Clan Aastersen and Lord of Jern and Lear was Felix I, "the Kind," first son of Aaster II. Felix was regarded as the most benevolent Aastersen leader thus born, improving relations with his vassal Clans and making peace with the Olneys of Corazza. However, he is most known for the Aastersen Succession Crisis that emerged upon his death. Multiple factions, led by his older sister Asta, daughter Esther, and cousin Valdemar sought to place themselves in control of the family. Ultimately Asta emerged victorious, becoming the fifth Clan Head and Lady Regnant of Jern. During her reign, she controversially moved the capital of the Aastersen fiefdom to Lear and renamed her domain to the *Lordship of Jern and Lear*. Asta also began the Spirit Vow tradition.

Asta I was gifted with unusual longevity, outliving most of the people who had challenged her rule in its early days. When she died in 1882, the Lordship of Jern and Lear passed to her only son, Victor.

Around this time, Clan Baxter landed on the Isle of Corazza, supplanting the weakened Clan Olney as its overlord. They built the city of Courienta from the ground up, and established the eponymous lordship.

Lord Victor Aastersen oversaw a great raft of changes to the Lordship of Jern and Lear. Most famously, he ordered the extinction of Clan Caupus — the family of his late father, Conrad Caupus — for treason committed during the Aastersen Succession Crisis. He was viewed as a cold and serious ruler, a trait he is believed to have inherited from his mother. Under Victor's leadership, contact was established with the fledgling Baxter-led Lordship of Courienta. The two states strengthened ties and increasingly cooperated in matters of trade.

Victor's reign saw the internationalization of Clan Aastersen and its territories. They increasingly interacted with the Sorrels, Baxters, Skulders of Dullen, and Larsens. Upon Victor's death, his son Alvar I became the Lord of Jern and Lear. Under the leadership of Lord Alvar I, the O'Leary Unification War was launched.

### Unification of the Islands (1906-1908)

*Main article: O'Leary Unification War*

A multitude of petty kingdoms and families had sprung up in the east, creating a crowded, tense, and discordant community. Alvar I, inspired by the Steam Wars of 1906, began making plans to consolidate and modernize the clans under a single powerful banner. To this end, he formed a war-pact with the Lordship of Courienta and their Baxter overlords, before calling all the heads of his vassal clans to Lear. In the great city, they declared their allegiance to the newfound Union of O'Lear and set about preparing their armies for a brutal unification campaign. Despite the new monarch already controlling Lear-Festning Island, Ironhorn Island, and the Isle of Courienta, numerous proud clans refused to submit to his rule.

A series of ferocious naval attacks against Aastersen towns along the coast of Lear-Festning Island, spearheaded by Godha Skulder and his vassals, ensured the war would not be short. Clan Sorrel under Balthasar and Clan Larsen under Ulrich also declared their defiance, along with their own vassals. Clan Frederiksen, far to the south, remained notably silent on the issue. Despite their loose alignment against the O'Leary throne, the Skulders, Sorrels, and Larsens rarely fought together on the battlefield. Their division was to be their greatest weakness.

At the Battle of the Spinebelt, an Aastersen flotilla paved the way for the O'Leary royalists to blockade Einar Island, ancestral home of the Skulders. However, they had to be immediately reinforced by a Baxter fleet to fend off a Sorrel counterattack. Fighting at sea gradually made its way closer and closer to Heliogatenberg, where Sorrel family leadership was growing increasingly displeased with the war. Meanwhile, Baxter ground forces captured the Isle of Tanberg from Clan Farsvarr. However, they were heavily assaulted by a Larsen fleet and forced to withdraw to Corazza.

Meanwhile, the home fleet of Clan Sorrel was crumbling under the weight of the battle-tested ships of the new O'Leary monarchy. After a week of fighting around the Bay of Heliogos, the Sorrels opted to bow out of the war and accept the position of a Great Clan in the new government, replete with full rights and privileges. This left only Clan Larsen of Oerth and its vassals in the south still openly fighting against Alvar I. Unable to force a surrender, Aastersen and Baxter ships attempted numerous times to encircle Gran-Caulberg Island and bombard the Larsens into submission. However, they failed to gain a decisive victory. Thus, Alvar I turned to Kristian Frederiksen, head of Clan Frederiksen, and asked for help against their mutual opponent. Up until this point, Kristian had been hedging his bets, finding it unlikely that the O'Leary monarchy would last very long. The Frederiksens finally relented after learning of Alvar's success at Heliogatenberg, however. They contributed a flotilla of battleships to the O'Leary fleets and successfully bombed the Larsens into submission — an event later known as the Siege of Oerth. The Isle of Tanberg was also recovered during this period.

With the mightiest Clans brought together by force and the petty lordships disbanded, a general assembly called the College of Clans was established:

* **Clan Aastersen**
* **Clan Sorrel**
* **Clan Baxter**
* **Clan Frederiksen**
* **Clan Larsen**
* **Clan Skulder**
* **Clan Farsvarr** was de-vassalized from the Larsens per the peace agreement of the war and elevated to the rank of Great Clan.

## Culture

> The O'Leary people are a formidable warrior culture, built on concepts of nobility and honor which each Great Clan slightly
> modifies to suit their own ends. They are a superstitious people, superstitious enough to believe that if you build a boat without the proper runes or arcane symbols, it will fall apart in the middle of the sea. A culture like this is outmoded and rapidly becoming moribund; in desperate need of a leader who can inspire their people with their ideas of dignity, honor, and strength of character to bring them into the modern age. The rise of Alvar and unification of the Clans would seem to have done this.
>
> Cyran Virwenys, noted elf historian

O'Leary culture varies wildly from Clan to Clan. However, most families share certain commonalities that stem from their shared cultural backgrounds and experience.

### Family

Children are raised as housecarls, raised in the Keep or local lands of their parents until adulthood, at which point they are compelled to assume a military or political office in service of the family. It is a rare Clan that keeps track of children born outside the official lineage. If they do, the children usually become ostracized, "exiled" from the family's ancestral traditions and obligations.

Political marriages are common between Clans.

### Magic

> When the Time comes, the state of O'Lear will become a distant memory.
>
> All the world will be at the mercy of their godly vision.
>
> We do our part, willing pawns all.
>
> Augustus Baxter

In general, O'Leary spiritualists tend to be interested in the interactions between form and spirit, and the laws of magic. In general they distrust spells as a source of manipulation, preferring to work directly with the mysteries of Nature, as a realm ruled by pure, crystal clarity under the jurisdiction of the Spirits Graol. They find more of the outside world difficult and confusing, often regarding it with a sort of grudging disdain, and would rather steer clear from intrigue and avoid thinking too much about politics. The exact history and traits of the Spirits Graol are shrouded in secrecy.

## Diplomatic relations

### Era of the Lordships

The First Kingdom of Polmaria, the later Triumvirate, and the Lemetiate of Airolia were generally neutral to the affairs of the O'Leary, referring to them as the various clans and lordships of the east as the "Brigand Nations."

### The Black Iron Throne

O'Lear under King Alvar I was largely isolationist from 1908 to 1926, with the notable exception of Clan Sorrel, who began engaging heavily in trade with the Republic of Volaysia, and Clan Farsvarr, who traded with Ospalar. In 1926, the Union of O'Lear entered the Helinska Security Pact as a founding member, before being persuaded to join the Aquilon-Askalis-Jabeyrack Concordance instead. Its commitment to the Concordance was tested by the SRJ Reunification War, which marked the first time O'Leary troops fought on behalf of another country. King Alvar II Aastersen organized a massive invasion of the Treaty of Tradition known as the Battle of the Neck, which failed to achieve its ground objectives.

The Battle of the Neck signified greatly improved relations with the Free State of Katavia, which committed its own troops to help the O'Leary. After the Fall of Katavia and its replacement by the Yangxi Empire, O'Lear harbored the ethnic Katavian Clansteel Brigade and helped it reclaim parts of Katavia in the 1930s.

The Union of O'Lear under Aastersen rule maintained close relations with the Second Kingdom (later the Holy Empire) of Polmaria. At one point, the Polmarian government donated a flotilla of ten combat ships to supplement the O'Leary Armed Forces. It also maintained official relations with the constituent states of Polmaria, especially the Di'Aamascene Accords. O'Leary agents from Clan Baxter were involved in defeating or reconciling the various factions of the Di'Aamascene Civil War.

### During the War of Changing

The Silver Throne of Clan Sorrel was largely pro-Dynastic Pact and made efforts at elevating O'Lear to a full member of the alliance during the middle and later phases of the War of Changing. It was particularly close to the Yangxi Empire and the Vestrax Machine Imperium, both of which had arranged a lend-lease program to the Silver Throne's military in 1930. This program encompassed financial aid, munitions, military equipment and blueprints, including for mechs. Despite being part of the Dynastic Pact, the Treaty of Tradition offered only token diplomatic support to Clan Sorrel, since it had lost many men fighting Sorrel troops during the Battle of the Neck. The Republic of Volaysia and Jabeyrack initially supported the Silver Throne, with Volaysia committing ground troops to suppress the Second Faithful Rising of Esket. However, both nations eventually switched to support the Augustine Throne, along with the rest of Polmaria. Other elements of the Aquilon-Askalis-Jabeyrack Concordance, including the Valeronian Federation and Republic of Gresia, also donated heavy equipment and vehicles to the Silver Throne.

The Augustine Throne of Clan Baxter

## Notable cities

There are 48 notable cities and towns in the Union of O'Lear, not counting small villages or hamlets.

## List of Great Clans

*Main article: List of O'Leary Clans*

A Great Clan is defined as a family with independent representation in the College of Clans (not "bench representation"). They are the largest and most powerful dynasties in the country.

### Current Great Clans

* **Clan Baxter of Courienta**: The most devoutly religious Clan, the Baxters dedicate themselves to the Spirits Graol and to the practice of "sanctioned" magic, which includes the Sight. However, they are also the "youngest" Great Clan, having only been elevated to such by the Aastersens in 1920. Consequently, they are often scorned as up-jumped nobodies. However, this is an underestimation of the Baxter sphere. The family has its roots in a group of Di'Aamascene magnates who sailed eastward to the Isle of Corazza (Largest city: Courienta) and made it their home. The modern Clan controls Corazza, in addition to two islands purchased from the Di'Aamascene Accords: the Isle of Aiternach (Largest city: Aiternach) and Lyscommun Islet (Largest city: Lendefoi). The Baxters also jointly administer the County of Thurman (Largest city: Courolojord) alongside the Aastersens. Clan Baxter maintains an alliance with Clan Aastersen and Clan Skulder in the College of Clans, though their relationship with the latter is often strained. The Baxters are heavily favored by most non-government political forces within the Di'Aamascene Accords (the Khilseith Ascendancy, Reyquinal Dynasty, Lemetiate of Lyrinae, and Di’Aamascene Imperial Surveyors) for their shared history, sympathy towards magic and elves, and geographic closeness. Clan Olney, Clan Taverly, and Clan Sussang are vassals of the Baxters.
* **Clan Frederiksen of Onnfrey**: The Frederiksens are the preeminent ship-builders and naval commanders of O'Lear. Based out of the Warmwater Chain (Largest city: Onnfrey), a collection of southern islands with access to many coastal nations, they were a feared raiding force in their heyday. Nowadays, they serve as the brains behind the O'Leary war machine, often receiving choice positions in the O'Leary Armed Forces — especially in naval command roles. In 1929, they also purchased a collection of islands called the Blackrock Chain (Largest city: Sondretta) from the Sultanate of Kherfiyyah. These islands now serve as a distant colony and naval base for the O'Leary fleets of the south. They made a deal with the Aastersens during the O'Leary Unification War which saw the two families work together in crushing Clan Larsen. Since that time, however, the Frederiksens have drifted further from the Aastersens and closer to the Larsens, with the two families maintaining a political alliance in the College of Clans. Collectively they represent the O'Leary military-industrial complex and work to ensure the warlike spirit of the country never fades. Clan Frederiksen is supported by the Yangxi Empire in an effort to build support for the Dynastic Pact in the College of Clans. Clan Koett are vassals of the Frederiksens.
* **Clan Larsen of Oerth**: If the Frederiksens are the naval arm of O'Lear, the proud Larsens are their ground counterpart. Having built and operated the Clan School of Infantry Warfare for over a hundred years, they serve as the perfect rank-and-file troops of the new monarchy. Though they have long dominated the military arena, the Larsens are diminished in the political one. They violently resisted the Aastersen takeover of the East, and were only subdued after a months-long bombing campaign against their home island. This resistance caused a subtle grudge that has influenced the Aastersen attitude towards the Larsens. For example, they were snubbed from administering the County of Thurman despite being ideal candidates for the job. Regardless of their political failures, the Larsens still dominate most components of the O'Leary Armed Forces, especially its 13th Naval Legion. They control Gran-Caulberg Island (Largest city: Oerth) and the Isle of Bergen (Largest city: Baumo). The Larsen family maintains a close political alliance with Clan Frederiksen in the College of Clans. Both of them are backed by the Yangxi Empire in an attempt to build foreign support for the Dynastic Pact. Clan Birger and Clan Ofgrod are vassals of the Larsens. They reside on the Isle of Bergen and Gran-Caulberg Island, respectively.
* **Clan O'Malley of Deserhal**:
* **Clan Aastersen-Lasberg** **of** **Lasberg**:

### Former Great Clans

* **Clan Aastersen of Jern and Lear**: This prestigious family has been the occupant of the O'Leary monarchy since its inception. Alvar I Aastersen ("the Great") spearheaded the O'Leary Unification War in 1906 and became the first King of O'Lear. After his death, Alvar II ("the Wrought-Iron") ascended to the throne. The Aastersens administer a wide network of territories. Lear-Festning Island (Largest city: Lear), the O'Leary seat of government; the Isle of Fengsel (Largest city: Blodport), a prison rock; Ironhorn Island (Largest city: Jern), their original birthplace; and the County of Thurman (Largest city: Courolojord), lands annexed from the Midnight Flower Legion and jointly administered by Clan Baxter. The Aastersens walk a fine line in attempting to please and pacify the squabbling College of Clans, to assert their royal authority and dissuade rebellion while simultaneously delegating enough autonomy to the Clans to prevent overreach. It is an unenviable task. In the College of Clans, the Aastersens maintain a political alliance with Clan Skulder and Clan Baxter, the latter of which they personally elevated to Great Clan status in 1920. Their monarchy is also backed by international forces such as the Hersockian Abarona and Di'Aamascene Reyquinal Dynasty. A multitude of O'Leary families have borne vassalship to Clan Aastersen at some point in history, including Clan Hagen, Clan Ullor, Clan Dunne, Clan Lanter (all of Lear-Festning Island), Clan Algotsen, Clan Tyrus, Clan Lykke, Clan Karlsen and the now-extinct Clan Caupus (all of of Ironhorn Island).
* **Clan Sorrel of Heliogatenberg**: The richest Clan and the one with the most global influence, Clan Sorrel built their wealth from the spice and commodities industries. They only control one piece of territory: the County of Esket (Largest city: Heliogatenberg), but it has the highest standard of living in O'Lear and is utterly flush with cash. They briefly controlled the County of Nordport (Largest city: Nordport) in former Dersochia, before selling it to the Bryne International Security and Defense Affiliation in exchange for "a favor." In 1911, the Artosi Kingdom — a belligerent of the Volaysian Unification War — attempted to invade the Sorrels' homeland but were quickly repulsed. Clan Head Balthasar Sorrel sought permission from the Aastersens to launch a counterattack against Artos, which did much to validate the still-new royal government under King Alvar I. The attack was also successful, slightly expanding the borders of the County of Esket. In exchange for the Sorrels going through official channels and legitimizing their government, the Aastersens conceded a vast spate of economic freedoms to Clan Sorrel during the first full meeting of the College of Clans. These freedoms allowed the Sorrels to exponentially increase their wealth. With this money they conducted extensive dealings with the Republic of Volaysia and BISDA, sometimes officially on behalf of the O'Leary government. Clan Sorrel has no official political alliances in the College of Clans; however, it is among the most influential voices there. Foreign powers such as the Yangxi Empire, Vestrax Combine, Republic of Volaysia, and Di'Aamascene Federal Government have attempted to curry favor with the Sorrels to support their interests. Notably, the Sorrels possess Vestraxi mech blueprints given to them as an inducement for backing the Dynastic Pact. Clan Vandreis, Clan Wayland, Clan Burne, and Clan Selby are vassals of Clan Sorrel. They are also closely tied to the Elf Shriner community.
* **Clan Skulder of Dullen**: A tough family hailing from the frigid rock of Einar Island (Largest city: Dullen). The Skulders train wintertime soldiers, Red Roaches, and other assorted shock troops for the O'Leary Armed Forces. They are stubborn, hard-headed, and scrappy. The Skulders maintain a political alliance with Clan Aastersen and Clan Baxter in the College of Clans. However, their relationship with the Baxters is often strained. They often have dealings with, and receive support from, the nations of Jabeyrack and Valeron. Clan Geilar and Clan Czego are minor vassals of the Skulders.
* **Clan Farsvarr of Ensomi**: The Farsvarrs are a minor family of little significance to either the military or political structure of O'Lear. They were only elevated to the College of Clans due to their homeland, the Isle of Tanberg (Largest city: Ensomi), possessing the largest shrine to the Spirits Graol in the country. Tanberg being a holy site, it was decided they could have a voice in the College of Clans. However, in practice, the Farsvarrs are rarely religious. In fact, they are some of the most cantankerous O'Leary in the entire nation. The Farsvarrs often caucus with the majority or with Clan Larsen, but do not hold any formal political alliances. They have no vassals. They are also supported by the Sultanate of Kherfiyyah for unknown reasons.