Stormwind Civil War

Commanders| * Maxen Montclair
* Alia Beligarde
* Alexandria Williams
* Jacquelyn Reynolds
* Peregrin Ramsey
* Gonsh Hawkline
* Garion Magnus
* Jacob Brigham
* Vynlorin Shandaumath
* Wesley Northgate
* Vaerien Greyson
* Valerian Charbonneau
* Thaddeus Locke
* Falx Kazmaier
* Richard Fane
* Tim Thalas

The **Stormwind Civil War** was a civil war fought between the Loyalists (volunteer citizens and members of the Stormwind Army whom supported the House of Nobles and the regency of Lord Commander Turalyon) and the Rebellion (a tenuous alliance of convenience struck between volunteer citizens and members of the Stormwind Army whom supported crown claimant Darian Lyonesse as well as disgruntled citizen militias and the Defias Brotherhood who intended to overthrow the monarchy). The central cause of the war was a general dissatisfaction of the status quo of government due to the loss of trust in the House of Noble's ability to represent the wants and desires of the Commoner Class, as well as a lack of faith in King Anduin Wrynn's return from the Shadowlands and a desire to continue the line of succession of the monarchy.

Following a partial truce, in which the Loyalist forces incorporated the commoner element into their ranks, and essentially split Darian Lyonesse's forces by three-fourths, the scope of the war was narrowed to the provinces of Elwynn and Redridge. After a failed attack against the Duchy of Eastburg, to begin an advance towards Stormwind City, the rebel armies of Redmarch were pushed back in their entirety to the Duchy of Redmarch and Dragonwatch castle. Following a brief siege, the capture of Darian Lyonesse, and the slaughter of his war council, the rebel army unconditionally surrendered.

## Causes of Discontent

### Second Absence of a King

The reputation of the House of Noble's ability to be proper stewards of government was tarnished ever since the disappearance of King Varian Wrynn and the controversy surrounding the secret manipulation of the body by the black dragon Onyxia whom took the guise of Lady Katrana Prestor. Between the mismanagement of the Stormwind Army, as well as the historically poor treatment of the Stonemason's Guild, (which rebuilt the City of Stormwind following it's reclamation yet went uncompensated and vilified following the Death of Queen Tiffin Wrynn) the House of Nobles had a lingering image problem that has followed it to the dawning days of the civil conflict. In which painful memories were awakened of a absent throne and a sitting regent who had goals and aspirations beyond the scope of managing a Kingdom.

### The Desire for a House of Commons

This lack of faith coupled with a growing desire by the populous to have a direct hand in the management of the Kingdom at large. Throughout the late 620's and early 630's several movements rose and fell proposing alternative replacements or modifications to the governing documents of the Kingdom of Stormwind to include better representation for the commons. One of these groups was the Commoner First Party which strongly advocated for and aided in developing the conceptual image of what would be the proposed sister house of the House of Nobles, the House of Commons in the public consciousness. However such organizations struggled to get off of the ground due to internal strife. The Commoner First Party itself failing due to unshakeable image issues following the discovery that their first party leader, Adrian Engles, was secretly a lich in disguise. A lich who desired to stir discontent in the populous for the sole reason of sparking a conflict which would cause mass casualties, and fuel a undead army and his abilities. Despite his initial failure and defeat by the heroes of Stormwind, his wish for a bloody conflict would eventually come to fruition due to the lasting impression his campaigning had on the people of Stormwind.

One of the individuals left with this lasting impression would be Wesley Northgate, cousin of the third party leader of the Commoner First Party Gideon Northgate, and disciple of the second party leader Simon Whitaker. Both previous party leaders grappled with the decline of the Commoner First Party in drastically different ways. Simon Whitaker wished to not abandon the path that the party was set on by Engles. Outwardly taking a stance of denial over the rather dark motives surrounding the parties intentions. Despite his best attempts at keeping the flames of discontent alive, they were smothered by the efforts of his eventual replacement, Gideon Northgate. Whom attempted to steer the Commoner First Party towards a cooperative and reformist stance that sought to influence the House of Nobles to open up commoner suffrage from within. This approach somewhat worked, with the creation of the Stormwind City Council. A body that was created to provide the city of Stormwind with elected officials who would operate and manage the capital holding for the King, as he focused on the more outstanding conflicts and greater political climate of the Grand Alliance. Yet the constant undermining of the City Council and the lack of raw and emotional passion Gideon had in comparison to his predecessors caused the party to fall into a leaderless decline.

During the third City Council session of 633 KY the City Council suffered a great resignation crisis which left the body entirely barren following persistent meddling by the House of Nobles in the affairs and running of the City Council. Reasonings for resigning included it being a measure in which to protect themselves from litigation or undue attention, or having no faith that any measures they pass would stand up to the House's scrutiny. Mayor Calvin Quill would be forced to resign following substantial health issues, and his deputy Gideon Northgate would follow suit in resigning due to being left with no City Council to manage. This left Jie Meng as Mayor of Stormwind for a time, who held the title as a formality and used it to allow for a commoner vote to remain in the House of Nobles. However following a proclamation from the Lord High Steward, Meng would be dismissed from service, and the City Government would become effectively dead. During the course of this crisis, Wesley Northgate began a series of orations calling back to common catchphrases and language used by Adrian Engles and Simon Whitaker. Pointing out the failings he saw in the Kingdom's government in a document titled Free Thoughts, which called out several government officials by name and encouraging the people to be defiant towards the government. Calling actions done in response to government enforcement of laws he viewed as unjust as actions taken in self defense. Dedicating himself to a speaking tour following a successful speech in Stormwind City, in which caused much uproar.

### The Rise of a Crown-Claimant

During this same time the House of Nobles were feeling the rising tensions of the increasingly untenable situation of the discontent populous. Observing the struggle the House was having in keeping the peace in the absence of the King, one of their peers would step forward and present a claim for the throne of Stormwind. A bold maneuver that resulted in Duke Darian Lyonesse being acknowledged by the College of Arms as heir presumptive to the Throne of Stormwind following an examination of his family tree and various noble contracts which purported him to be the second cousin of Anduin Wrynn. However the College of Arms left formal recognition towards a vote of the House of Nobles following their statement acknowledging the Duke's claim as accurate. This acknowledgement did not proceed without controversy from the House of Nobles. With many nobles within the peerage viewing the sudden attempt at recognition for legitimacy during the Kingdom's decline as opportunistic, as well as lacking in faith in King Anduin's appointed second and Steward. Many in the peerage were also not charmed by Darian Lyonesse's presumptive attitude towards the affair, as well as the thinly veiled threats that failure to recognize his claim resulting in those nobles being considered for the crime of treason.

The Crown-Claimant would attempt to soften the initial negative pushback against his person with negotiations with fellow nobles, as well as submitting to the agenda a motion for the House of Nobles to formally assemble a committee to aid in designing a House of Commons to attempt to garner popular support from the people. However such contentious policy proposals and problematic image issues made Lyonesse a tough sell for the House of Nobles to buy.

### The Eversummer Massacre

One of many destinations undertaken by Wesley Northgate's speaking tour to argue and orate his series of 'Free Thoughts', Eversummer became host to the first conflict that is often cited as the first engagement of the Civil War. Others argue that calling it an engagement is quite erroneous, as the citizens of Eversummer can't definitely be considered belligerents in the War. Regardless, during the leadup to this event various villages in Westfall became subject to increased crackdowns and pressure from the Westfall Brigade's Third Platoon. Concerned with what was reported to them as resurgences of the Defias Brotherhood, the Third Platoon went above and beyond to try and root out the red menace. Including confiscating Harvest Golems that farmers repurposed to work their fields as well as other confiscations, and making several violent raids on hostels in order to try and discover the hiding places of the reported brigands.

When it was reported that a man with a red bandana was giving a speech in Eversummer, speaking out against the perceived oversteps of the Brigade and otherwise encouraging defiance of the government, the Brigade responded in turn. Third Platoon deployed to the town to attempt to arrest Wesley Northgate, as well as anyone that was supporting or encouraging his speech. It is reported that Wesley made a grand display in response to their arrival, encouraging the masses to 'defend themselves' from the Third Platoon. What happened next was up to debate, some categorize the situation as Wesley Northgate baiting the Third Platoon over by falsely presenting himself as Defias, and deceiving the people into attacking the Third Platoon, which forced them to defend themselves. Others tell stories of over zealous soldiers jumping the gun towards what was otherwise a normal gathering, and striking out against defenseless citizens. While the truth may lie somewhere in the middle, the statistics of the aftermath was not up to debate. Eversummer suffered six civilian casualties before the clash was disbanded by Westfall Brigade reinforcements, while Third Company retreated in the aftermath with several injured.

Dubbed the next day the 'Eversummer Massacre' by Wesley Northgate in the publication 'The Alliance Free Press', he heavily characterized the event as an attack on the people by the government authorities. Calling for the people of Westfall to defend themselves from the 'rabid dogs' that would abuse their authority over the people. This call to action would be met with a rising response, in which several settlements in Westfall would begin to break out into riots in opposition to the power of the Westfall Brigade. It was this tragedy which brought credit and credence to Northgate's Commoner Liberation Front. Which proceeded to make partnerships with influential individuals in the region to prepare a armed response to the Brigade. The uproar of the commoner voice formed in many organizations rising to prominence in Westfall. Including a resurgence in factions of the Defias Brotherhood and a noble led effort for a House of Commons under the banner of the Patriot's League.

### The Failing of Motions

1. ↑ https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VP1THoT8-yyTbJxs8uAoLpwnTUNyGquAjL1WH0MsS0A/edit?usp=sharing
2. ↑ https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lLfMnESUBGAfLMmupeUcMtgaDRQPqqHWGlPcBog1k48/edit