Barony of Wyerenelle

*"From the Bay of Wyerenelle to the Jarron, shall we carry our banners and sing the praises of our matron. Oh Wyerenelle, land of fields and of the greatest nobility of old, shall we honor your shores and your beauteous holds. Oh Wyerenelle, shall our banners muster to your defense, and from Wyerenelle shall we all march on our enemy's pretense. Oh Wyerenelle, the land we all love so, come now all, and join us for another merry go."* - Wyerenelle drinking song.

## Baron of Wyerenelle

Wyerenelle is largely considered the be the third most powerful of the baronies within Arkland. As such, the position of the Baron of Wyerenelle is a highly coveted position. However, the noble families of Wyerenelle, mostly due to long standing political expertise in maintaining their space, have been able to almost completely keep out any advances from the nobility in neighboring counties from establishing any sort of power within Wyerenelle for hundreds of years. As such, the number of noble families from which the Baron of Wyerenelle can be appointed is limited to the old families who long ago established themselves there.

Wyerenelle in the minds of Arklanders is considered the county that represents the soul of Arkland. In many ways, this is because its geography allows for a variety of lifestyles, but also because Wyerenelle is considered a cultural center of Arkland. The Baron of Wyerenelle therefore is not only considered to be a powerful person but also somewhat of a symbol of the culture of Arkland. Since the number of noble families within Wyerenelle is quite small in comparison to many other, more divided, counties, it has been easy for the nobility of Wyerenelle to maintain and project this image as the families deal with each other behind closed doors on any political matters.

To be Baron of Wyerenelle is to be the cultural soul of Arkland. It is also to be a powerful political figure, wielding the backing of fabulously rich nobility as well as holding the prestige of the commoner within your grasp.

## Places of Wyerenelle

Wyerenelle's capitol goes by the name of the county, Wyerenelle. This city is a large coastal city sitting on the Bay of Wyerenelle which is a small bay on the southern shores of the Bay of Kings. Wyerenelle city acts as a major port for the distribution of Wyerenelle's chief export, which is wine. Wyerenelle city is also the seat of power of the barony, and most of the nobility within Wyerenelle maintain their estates in the city. Wyerenelle city is also a cultural center of Arkland, and Wyerenelle thereby holds many festivals, shows, and expositions throughout the year. The theater district of the city is also home to many acting troupes which delight and entertain the nobility down to the commoner. Many within Arkland consider Wyerenelle to be the party city of sorts, and it is the biggest travel destination in Arkland.

The Bay of Wyerenelle supports many small fishing villages. It is generally a serene bay, albeit susceptible to stormy weather due to its width. This wide bay, however, allows for many ships to set anchor within it, and the port of Wyerenelle is a heavily traveled destination.

A long, wide river named the Jarron runs through Wyerenelle from the south, emptying into the delta which is actually in the Barony of King's Wald. Along this river are the fruit orchards and wine producing farms of Arkland. Most of the noble families within Wyerenelle own land along this river because the making of wine is extremely profitable as is the production of fruit, valuable for long sea voyages.

Most of Wyerenelle is covered in farm land. It is considered the bread basket of the south, and it has a great strategic importance to Arkland. Although this area is not nearly as farm productive as other parts of Arkland, because it is in the south and therefore far away from the enemies of Arkland, it serves a great strategic important. Should Arkland ever be invaded, it is through Wyerenelle's food production that they will be able to withstand a long siege.

## Geography of Wyerenelle

The climate of Wyerenelle is temperate with warm summers and very mild winters. The area also receives a lot of rain, and as a result, the land is able to easily support fruit production. This happens along the river Jarron, which is a long, wide river that runs through Wyerenelle and eventually empties into the Bay of Kings.

Most of Wyerenelle is rolling farmland. However, the Bay of Wyerenelle supports ports and many villages which exist on the water. Here, commoners establish fishing and trading villages.

## Wine and Culture

The defining traits of Wyerenelle comes from the production of wine and as a center of culture. Able to support fruit farming, Wyerenelle also then supports wine production, which is an extremely valuable resource. Due to the Bay of Wyerenelle, the city of Wyerenelle is able to provide harbor for ships which trade in agricultural products as well as wine. Some of the finest wine in Indagar is produced in Wyerenelle, and it is a sought after commodity all across the land.

Possibly because of the wine, Wyerenelle has also become a cultural center of Arkland. Here, music, arts, theater, dance, and many other cultural commodities have taken up residence. Even the commoners in Wyerenelle are aware of this status, and it is not uncommon to find many commoners who own or practice on musical instruments. Wyerenelle city supports a host of acting and dance troupes who put on shows year round in a multitude of theaters and play houses.

Because of this, Wyerenelle is also a destination for those who can afford to travel. The port of Wyerenelle is often unloading many visitors as they arrive by ship to bask in the cultural display of the city.

## Noble Families of Wyerenelle

The nobility of Wyerenelle maintain an iron grip on power within the barony. They have done so for hundreds of years through shrewd political gaming as well as through wealth and strong banners. These old families have been in control of Wyerenelle for as long as most know of history. To do this, they have formed somewhat of a cartel among themselves, able to maintain a tight relationship and network between themselves in a way that nobility do not do in other counties. Sometimes referred to as the Wine Cartel, these noble families, although somewhat at odds with each other, maintain a quiet code of conduct and respect for each other.

The Baron of Wyerenelle is also appointed in a cyclical way from the families. This is done so that the power may be equally shared between the families and so that one family does not gain too much power. Unprecedented, this level of alliance between families keeps Wyerenelle strong but more importantly keeps it in control of the original families.

Outside nobility who have tried to establish themselves in Wyerenelle have been repelled through many means ranging from simple laws to make their lives difficult all the way up to assassination. It is not uncommon for a young lord or lady to become enamored with the culture of Wyerenelle and wish to purchase or establish land within the county. However, all such attempts fail in one way or another once the Wine Cartel gets involved.

Lastly, the noble families of Wyerenelle together form a very rich and powerful block within the grand politics of Arkland. As a result, Wyerenelle is generally considered the third largest and powerful barony in Arkland. This muscle is used within the King's court to sway the political future of Arkland.

## Banners of Wyerenelle

Wyerenelle's banners are somewhat unique in their construct. Each noble family still maintains one to two Lord Commanders and small standing forces, but the Wine Cartel itself also funds a very large army which maintains its own banners. They are simply known as the Bannermen of Wyerenelle and the noble families all pay a simple tax to fund them. The Lord Commanders of the bannermen are generally considered ruthless mercenaries more than the traditional military leaders of a noble family. This reputation suits them well, and they use that notoriety often to their advantage as a way to threaten their enemies.

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--Neil (talk) 17:55, 17 October 2016 (AST)