The Free Gilneas Movement

The logo of the movement

**The Free Gilneas Movement** was a terrorist organization founded in December 2021 and abolished in June 2022 that consisted of radical Gilnean nationals who sought to pressure the Kingdom of Stormwind into investing military resources in reclaiming the territory of the Kingdom of Gilneas or granting Gilneans autonomous territory within Stormwind wherein they are free from following Stormwind law. The movement released a list of demands, though the Kingdom of Stormwind only issued arrest warrants for their members in response. The movement was led by Anna Kitche.

## Demands

The demands released by the movement in December 2021 read as follows:

"Your Gilnean allies have suffered too long under your unnecessary take over of our lives.  Though we may live on your land, Stormwindians have no right to regulate the free people of Gilneas.  Not only do we denounce your leadership, but we also reject the claims of that failed king Genn Greymane as the rightful ruler of Gilneas.  The Gilnean people demand a new start, a fresh democratic start.

Your Kingdom of Stormwind will, therefore, dedicate every resource available to it to reclaim the lost lands of Gilneas currently infected by rabid feral worgens, Forsaken Horde invaders, and other threats or you will secede the township of Darkshire to Gilnean nationals and allow us to establish our new home there.   Those Stormwindians in Darkshire have one week to vacate the township before our movement takes control of it unless your kingdom makes noticeable progress in freeing the historic Gilnean lands.

These are our demands.  Failure to comply with our demands will result in further turmoil for your government.  The bombing of the symbol of the kingdom, the Stormwind Keep, was not even the beginning of the pain our movement is capable of inflicting.  Be wise.  Pay retribution to your Gilnean “allies” after you forced us to live alongside disgusting races in your kingdom such as snake people, blood elves, and other monstrosities that have no place in a human kingdom.

To the people of Stormwind, remember your history.  You are a human kingdom.  Yet, one of your top government officials is a mutated goat from space.  Her goat friends fill the halls of your Assembly alongside elves who have betrayed the Light and been corrupted by the Void and vile snake people.  The “government” you elected must be held accountable.  If they do not meet our demands, it is you, the people, who will suffer.   Make your representatives do the right thing and comply with our demands."

## History

### Bombing of the Stormwind Keep

At a Stormwind Assembly of Representatives meeting in the Stormwind Keep on December 03, 2021, the movement made its first strike against the Kingdom of Stormwind and bombed the keep. Anna Kitche, the leader of the meeting, bombed the Assembly’s meeting place and the capital of the Crown in the kingdom just as Lady Rose, the Crown Administrator was concluding the meeting.  A massive explosion occurred and smoke began billowing out of the Keep.   The smoke could be seen throughout Old Town and all the way to Cathedral Square.  Every window within the meeting chambers of the Assembly within the Keep were blown out as glass shattered everywhere.  The roof above the representatives’ table began to crumble and started falling, hitting and injuring several representatives and civilian spectators.  Representative Eleyna Nightshade of Goldshire and Representative Relun of Stormwind City (Mage Quarter) received the worst injuries, though Lady Rose, Representative Shaliana Lunanna of Stormwind City (Cathedral Square), Representative Zaraisona Emberspirit of Unincorporated Duskwood, Representative Roxxane Jackson of Stormwind City (Dwarven District), and Representative Kainala of Darkshire were injured as well.  Immediately after the explosion, Captain Elaenor Stratford, who was serving as part of the Stormwind City Guard’s security detail, evacuated Lady Rose, who was then put into the custody of the Stormwind Royal Guard.  Regent king of Stormwind Lord Turalyon was present in the Keep during the time of the explosion.  Both Turalyon and Lady Rose were taken to a secure location alongside select senior members of the Stormwind House of Nobles while the Stormwind City Guard worked with the Stormwind Royal Guard to secure the Keep.  Turaylon was not harmed during the explosion or the aftermath.

Stratford returned to the scene, where she worked with Sergeant First Class Gasleak, Sergeant Leolis Darksky, Corporal Nysti Goldfury, and Guard Selja of the Stormwind City Guard on evacuating the remaining representatives and government officials, which included Merchant’s League Foreign Ambassador Avril Wulfgang and Cenarion Circle Foreign Ambassador Isalyne Ashweald, while the Stormwind Royal Guard worked to extinguish the fire.  Like many representatives, Ambassador Wulfgang was injured in the explosion.  There were no civilian injuries. It remained unclear at the time how Kitche managed to infiltrate the Keep with bombs, though the Stormwind City Guard’s investigations division worked with the Stormwind Royal Guard, who are tasked with security on all royal property, in determining the culprit and their means.  The injured parties were healed on site at the Stormwind Keep and then escorted to Cathedral Square Clinic for additional healing by the medics of the Stormwind City Guard and members of the Stormwind Ministry of Education’s Public Health Commission. Following the explosions and during the evacuation, Kitche was heard shouting somewhere outside of the Keep and then in Cathedral Square, demanding that the Kingdom of Stormwind dedicate more resources to reclaiming Gilneas or giving Gilnean nationals a piece of autonomous territory within Stormwind wherein only Gilnean laws apply.   Goldfury attempted to pursue Kitche, though she could not be located.  The Guard issued an arrest warrant for Kitche following the bombing.

### Attack on Darkshire

Members of the movement launched an attack on Darkshire on December 18, 2021.  Kitche dispatched Michael McArthur, William Fitzgerald, Michelle Toliver, Leah Porter, and Jason Stratholm, all members of the movement, to lay siege to Darkshire and attempt to occupy it under the movement’s control.  The terrorist began their siege by setting fire to Darkshire Town Hall while shouting propaganda at fleeing residents.  The sheriff of Duskwood, Zariasona Emberspirit, was alerted to the arson and called for assistance from the Stormwind City Guard as well as Darkshire civilians in defending the town against the terrorists.  Detective Tymar Swiftbrook and Guard Mesina Nightshade arrived as back-up while Darkshire civilians Nath’alis Felshadow and Kera Lightwind helped aid Sheriff Emberspirit. A battle ensued between the guards, civilians, and terrorists.  The terrorists attempted to expand their damage to the town by fanning flames at Darkshire City Hall.   This caused additional structural damage to several buildings in Darkshire, though, fortunately, no civilians other than those participating in the battle were injured.  Under Sheriff Emberspirit’s leadership, the guards and civilians were able to arrest each of the terrorists.  After the fighting, members of the Stormwind Ministry of Services’ Public Construction Commission arrived to begin repairs to Darkshire Town Hall and other buildings damaged in the conflict.

Almost immediately following their arrest, the Stormwind Ministry of Administration’s Crown Tribunal convened to hear a case on each criminal.   Given the terrorists sought to overthrow the government of the Kingdom of Stormwind, each was charged with high treason and the Guard sought for them each to be executed.   Crown Judge Kalren Geroux presided over the cases, Cosette Havisham served as the Crown prosecutor, and each criminal opted to represent themself, claiming they did not recognize the legitimacy of Stormwind’s courts.  In each case, each of the terrorists stated that they refused to recognize Geroux’s authority and pledged to continue seeking their movement’s goals.  Outraged by their responses to serious charges, Geroux sentenced each criminal to death.   McArthur, Fitzgerald, Porter, Tolliver, and Stratholm were each executed by Lieutenant Commander Kehaulani Svehla following their trial.

### Capture of Yanny Fletcher

On December 30, 2021, members of Stormwind Intelligence (SI:7) gathered intelligence from evidence leftover from the bombing of the Stormwind Keep which linked explosives used in the explosion to a manufacturer in the Kingdom of Gilneas. With consent from the Foreign Ambassador from the Kingdom of Gilneas William Madison, SI:7 director Caeriah Crimsonwing proceeded to Gilneas in order to investigate the manufacturer. It was determined that the factory which produced the explosives was owned by Yanny Fletcher. Crimsonwing arrested Fletcher with consent from Madison and extradited him from Stormwind. After being interrogated, Fletcher confessed to manufacturing the explosions utilized during the bombing of the Keep. Fletcher was held until further notice in the Stockades in Stormwind City (Mage Quarter) for further questioning on the movement.

### Kidnapping Representatives

On January 20, 2022, some representatives of the Stormwind Assembly of Representatives found themselves ambushed, kidnapped, and then tortured by members of the movement. Stormwind Minister of Servies Zariasona Emberspirit, Representative Shaliana Lunanna of Stormwind City (Cathedral Square), Representative Relun of Stormwind City (Mage Quarter), and Representative Angelina of Unincorporated Redridge were the victims of the kidnapping.   The members of the movement which kidnapped the representatives were identified as Kitche, Susan Fletcher, Mason Williamson, and Miranda Beasley.  The representatives were gathered at the Stormwind Keep to discuss items on the follow days’ docket for the Assembly meeting when the group broke through windows and swiftly tied up and stole away the representatives.  Stormwind Royal Guards were quickly altered to the break in and notified the Stormwind City Guard.

The Guard dispatched Deputy Chief Detective Tymar Swiftbrook to investigate the whereabouts of the missing representatives; however, before Swiftbrook could make progress in locating them, the terrorists returned the representatives to the Keep, tied up.  The three draenei representatives, Lunanna, Relun, and Angelina, reported that the members injected them with a liquid form of the Worgen Curse in an attempt to “make them suffer as the people of Gilneas have suffered”; however, the curse generally proves fatal to draenei.   Emberspirit, a ren’dorei, was not injected with the Worgen Curse, but nevertheless suffered significant bruising from the terrorists rough handling of her.  Members of the Public Health Commission were called to help save the lives of the draenei representatives.  Dr. Eleyna Nightshade, the Public Health Commissioner, was joined by Dr. Valmena and Patricia Eschaneuer in the Cathedral Square Clinic, where the representatives were taken for healing.  Upon the advice of Cyni Mistfang, the chairman of the Druidic Affairs Committee, the doctors and Eschenauer worked to flush the curse from the draeneis’ bloodstream.  Nightshade and Valmena were successful in fully ridding Lunanna, Relun, and Angelina of the course.  Eschenauer tended to Emberspirit’s minor injuries.

### Blasted Lands Warehouse Raid

Acting upon intelligence gathered by Stormwind Intelligence (SI:7) and the Ministry of the Guard’s regional administration division for the Stormwind Territories, which includes the Blasted Lands, the Stormwind City Guard responded to a call for assistance from Sheriff of the Stormwind Territories Krystal Inigo on January 27, 2022 upon discovering that Inigo located what she suspected to be The Free Gilneas Movement’s Stormwind headquarters.  The location of the warehouse in the Blasted Lands was offered by Yanny Fletcher, a member of the movement who was in SI:7 custody for questioning.  Director of SI:7 Caeriah Crimsonwing accompanied Deputy Chief Detective Tymar Swiftbrook of the Stormwind City Guard’s investigations division to the Blasted Lands in order to meet Inigo and several members of the Ardent Aegis, who volunteered to aid in raiding the warehouse.  Aegis volunteers included Lilycress Jambag, Chun-L33, and Cain’thil Dewpsell.  The group scouted the warehouse for some time before determining that it was, indeed, the base of operations for the movement.  As the group prepared to enter the warehouse, Phillip Blackmoore began shooting at Sheriff Inigo.  Crimsonwing was able to disarm Blackmoore, rescuing Inigo while Swiftbrook placed Blackmoore under arrest.  Seraphine Tomlinson, Martin Hawkford, Macy Whitefur, and Annita Juniper were each located within the warehouse and each confessed to membership in the movement.  Tomlinson, Hawkford, Whitefur, and Juniper all resisted their arrest and managed to injure the guards, Crimsonwing, and the Aegis members.   Once all individuals found within the warehouse were arrested and transported out of the warehouse, and following the evacuation of the guards and Aegis members, Inigo reported the location of the warehouse to the Military of the Kingdom of Stormwind, who opened fire on the warehouse with an airship, completely annihilating the warehouse.

Blackmoore, Tomlinson, Hawkford, Whitefur, and Juniper were all transported to the Stockades in Stormwind City.   The Stormwind Ministry of Administration’s Crown Tribunal convened for a session that evening in order to decide the fate of each of the prisoners. Crown Judge Kalren Geroux presided over the case and Cosette Havisham represented the Crown for prosecution.  Rather than the previous terrorists who had been arrested, Juniper led an effort to have the group arrested only serve standard Stockades time rather than face execution as had their colleagues.  Juniper argued before Geroux that her group had not committed any violations of the law and their charges related to petty treason and assault were only brought up due to what Juniper referred to as the Guard and SI:7’s illegal raid on their property.   Havisham, however, argued that Juniper and her colleagues were clearly in violation of the law by virtue of their membership in The Free Gilneas Movement, which advocates for high treason against the Kingdom of Stormwind.  Though it appeared that Geroux considered Juniper’s argument, he ultimately ruled in favor of the Crown and sentenced the execution of Blackmoore, Tomlinson, Hawkford, Whitefur, and Juniper.   The terrorists were then escorted back to the Stockades, where their executions were performed by Captain Delyllene Seasky and Lieutenant Annasera Bladecloud.  The Kingdom of Gilneas’ ambassador to Stormwind, Lord William Madison, was supportive of the court’s ruling.

### Explosives Shipment in Stormwind Harbor

On February 06, 2022, the Port Authority reported to the Stormwind City Guard that a ship was illegally docked in Stormwind Harbor.  Lieutenant Annasera Bladecloud, Master Sergeant Nysti Goldfury, and Sergeant First Class Relun were dispatched to investigate the ship.  Through the guards’ investigation and intelligence gathered from the raid on the movement's warehouse in the Blasted Lands on January 27, it was determined that the ship belonged to Kitche. While the guards were investigating the ship and the many explosives aboard, Kitche and members of the movement, including Susan Fletcher, Sheldon Greatmane, Jinya Fulton, Chester Burlington, and Christopher Grimsby, ambushed the guards while Kitche fled.  Thankfully, a Blackwater Company ship was legally docked nearby and overheard the commotion.  Under the leadership of Jerard DeSirrus and Persefani DeSirrus, several brave Blackwater members came to the guards’ aid and assisted them in arresting the terrorists. All terrorists except for Kitche were arrested following a prolonged battle between the guards, the Blackwater crew, and the terrorists. Following their arrests, Fletcher, Greatmane, Fulton, Burlington, and Grimsby were each sentenced to death by Crown Judge Kalren Geroux of the Stormwind Ministry of Administration’s Crown Tribunal for conspiring to commit high treason by aiding Kitche in her efforts to overthrow the government of the Kingdom of Stormwind.  Kitche’s ship was dismantled and the explosives on board were safely disarmed and destroyed thanks to the work of the guards and the Blackwater crew.

### Trial of Yanny Fletcher

The Stormwind Ministry of Administration’s Crown Tribunal went into session on February 19, 2022 in order to hear the case of the Kingdom of Gilneas v. Yanny Fletcher, though the trial was interrupted by a bomb detonated by members of the movement who were seeking to free Fletcher.  William Madison, the Kingdom of Gilneas’ ambassador to the Kingdom of Stormwind, helped Stormwind Intelligence (SI:7) agents capture Fletcher in Gilneas in December following Fletcher providing financial aid to the movement to bomb the Stormwind Keep, which left several government officials injured.  Madison then authorized Fletcher’s extradition to Stormwind and asked that Gilneas initiate a lawsuit against Fletcher in the Stormwind courts given the Gilnean courts are defunct while they are in exile.  Crown Judge Kalren Geroux agreed to hear the with Madison serving as the prosecutor.

During the trial’s opening statements, a bomb was detected and then detonated in the courtroom.  Lieutenant Wexley Morgan of the Stormwind City Guard, who was working security at the meeting, died during the explosion.  Geroux was injured during the explosion, though the damage caused to him was mitigated by Morgan’s decision to jump on top of the bomb.  Director of SI:7 Caeriah Crimsonwing quickly helped Geroux out of the court and rushed him to the Cathedral Square Clinic, where he received medical attention from Dr. Valmena of the Public Health Commission.   Captain Delyllene Seasky and Captain Tyr Orindale arrived at the scene to secure Fletcher, who was attempting to escape. Kitche appeared following the bombing and demanded that Fletcher be released into her custody.  Kitche went on to explain that she bombed the trial in retaliation for Geroux sentencing Jenkins to death.  A battle between Kitche and her supporters, Martin Chamberlain and Laurence Joansburg, and Captain Seasky and Captain Orindale ensued.   Madison lent what aid he could to the guards in trying to help prevent Fletcher from escaping.  Despite the efforts of the guards and Madison, the terrorists managed to escape with Fletcher in tow.

### Bombing of Northshire Abbey

Members of movement bombed Northshire Abbey on March 11, 2022.  Kitche coordinated the bombing with assistance from Featherington and Fletcher.  Investigation by the Stormwind City Guard’s investigations division revealed that Kitche and her followers placed several bombs around the outside of the bombing.  Once detonated, the bombs destroyed much of the abbey’s structural integrity and caused two outer walls to collapse inside as well as sparked a large fire.  Several injuries were reported inside the abbey, including Stormwind Minister of Services Zariasona Emberspirit, Jovas Cannem, Leuxia Myrah, and Ambassador Selena Ashfeather, who represented Telogrus Rift to the Kingdom of Stormwind.  Dr. Valmena of the Public Health Commission was called to the scene to heal the wounded. Lieutenant Annasera Bladecloud and Sergeant Romeo Deither were dispatched to the abbey to help the rescue response.  Whereas Kitche and Fletcher managed to flee, Bladecloud and Deither were able to arrest Featherington.  Featherington subsequently appeared in the Stormwind Ministry of Administration’s Crown Tribunal, where Crown Judge Tyr Orindale sentenced her to death as a result of her engaging in high treason in an attempt to overthrow the government of the Kingdom of Stormwind and her participation in the bombing.

Given Northshire Abbey is the property of the Church of the Holy Light, the Kingdom of Stormwind was not responsible for its repair; however, Representative Nan’lii of Northshire and Representative Caede Heartbeacon of Sentinel Hill introduced a motion to amend the Trade Deals of the Kingdom of Stormwind Act which would have the Stormwind Ministry of Services’ Public Construction Commission pay for the repairs to the abbey given it was attacked due to the political position of the Kingdom of Stormwind.

### Second Attack on Darkshire

Emboldened by their successful bombing of Northshire Abbey after several foiled attacks, Kitche led Fletcher, Chamberlain, Joansburg, Monica Hawthorne, and Percy Flinshire, all members of the movement, to Darkshire on April 03, 2022. The terrorists loudly announced their presence and stated that they had come to assume control over the town and make is sovereign Gilnean territory.  Kitche stated that since the Kingdom of Stormwind failed to provide resources to reclaiming the Kingdom of Gilneas, she would take matters into her own hands and find new lands for Gilneas. Darkshire residents had learned about the movement’s violence the last time they attacked.  Several residents immediately fled town, fleeing into Duskwood’s forests, while others chose to stand their ground and readied what weapons they could find in order to defend their homes.  Sheriff of Duskwood Zariasona Emberspirit was alerted to the terrorists’ presence and swiftly made her way to Darkshire while calling for back-up from the Stormwind City Guard.  Captain Delyllene Seasky, Captain Eleyna Nightshade, Master Sergeant Nysti Goldfury, Sergeant First Class Nikolai Vorota, and Sergeant First Class Relun arrived to back-up Emberspirit, but, by the time the guards had arrived, the terrorists had already set fire to the Darkshire Clinic and wounded Emberspirit and several townspeople.

The guards wasted no time engaging the terrorists in battle.  Hawthorne, being a skilled druid, was able to entangle Seasky and Relun in vines, though local lumberjack Willow Birch managed to cut them free before long.  Meanwhile, Nightshade, Goldfury, and Vorota engaged in battle with Kitche, Chamberlain, Joansburg, and Flintshire.  The guards called for additional back-up, and Lieutenant Annasera Bladecloud, Lt. Serra Tyralen, and Lt. Tickittina Gearspindle also arrived to ensure Stormwind’s victory.   Through a combined effort, the guards were able to overcome and arrest the terrorists.   While Kitche was in handcuffs and being escorted by Nightshade, however, Chamberlain bashed his head into Nightshade and knocked her over.  This allowed an opening for Kitche to flee.  Emberspirit pursued Kitche, though she lost her in the forests of Duskwood.   Shortly thereafter, the Stormwind Ministry of Services’ Public Construction Commission arrived to repair the burn damage to the Darkshire Clinic.

Fletcher, Chamberlain, Joansburg, Hawthorne, and Flintshire were all escorted back to the Stockades in Stormwind City. The Stormwind Ministry of Administration’s Crown Tribunal convened earlier this evening to hear a case on each terrorist.  Crown Judge Tyr Orindale presided over the case given Fletcher and Chamberlain were involved in a bombing which nearly killed Judge Kalren Geroux.  Orindale showed no remorse to the terrorists, who were unapologetic with the exception of Fletcher.  Fletcher pleaded for his life and explained that his involvement in the movement exceeded his initial intentions.  Orindale, however, remained steadfast in his opinion that Fletcher should be made to pay the ultimate price for his actions.  Fletcher, Chamberlain, Joansburg, Hawthorne, and Flintshire were each sentenced to death for conspiring to commit high treason and their involvement in other attacks against the kingdom.   Their execution was performed later that evening by Lieutenant Commander Kehaulani Svehla.

### Kitche's Last Stand

On June 13, 2022, Kitche arrived at City Hall in Stormwind City and attempted to take Captain Seasky hostage.  Kitche explained that her forces had been entirely depleted and she was unable to continue her fight.  Kitche, however, refused to surrender without first murdering Judge Geroux for sentencing her conspirators to death.  Kitche offered to spare Seasky’s life in exchange for Geroux’s life, though Relun came to Seasky’s defense and the pair was able to disarm and finally arrest Kitche, bringing an end to her six months’ long reign of terror. That same evening, Kitche appeared before the Stormwind Ministry of Administration’s Crown Tribunal, where Crown Judge Gu Mistpaw presided over her case. Cosette Havisham represented the Crown and Kitche chose to represent herself.   Havisham opened the case by reviewing Kitche’s extensive criminal record.   When Kitche was permitted to speak, she only expressed outrage that Geroux was not the one hearing her case and demanded to see him.  Mistpaw quickly rejected Kitche’s request, though Kitche refused to move on from the point.  The case proceeded despite Kitche’s objections.   When asked whether or not she wished to express remorse for her actions, Kitche refused, stating that all she did was for the benefit of Gilneas, even though her actions have been denounced by nearly every Gilnean government official.

Kitche was formally charged with two counts of conspiring to commit high treason, one count of high treason, four counts of murder, one count of conspiring to commit murder, thirty counts of petty treason, sixteen counts of conspiring to commit petty treason, eight counts of assault with a deadly weapon, ten counts of kidnapping, two counts of obstruction of justice, one count of bombing, four counts of vandalism, five counts of arson, two counts of contempt, one count of breaking and entering, one count of docking illegally, five counts of possession of illegal goods, nine counts of disturbing the peace, and nine counts of resisting arrest.  Due to her extensive criminal history and the treasonous nature of her crimes, Mistpaw sentenced Kitche to death. Kitche was then escorted back to the Stockades, where her execution was performed by Relun. The Free Gilneas Movement, and any remnants thereof, was officially considered toppled and disbanded with Kitche's execution.