Westermere

### LEADER

HRH the Grand Duke of Westermere, former Minister of Culture and Chairman of the Espaerian Heritage Board

### CAPITAL

Westleigh

**Westermere**, officially the **Grand Duchy of Westermere**, is a Grand Ducal state in the country of Espaeria. Throughout the years, it has maintained its status as a prosperous and extraordinarily wealthy state, withstanding the forces of globalisation and pressures of international competition to remain a leading manufacturer and industrial powerhouse. The state has also diversified, transforming into a tourist hotspot, owing to it's rich culture and history, and a hub of financial activity - the capital city, Westleigh, being home to several notable companies including the pharmaceutical giant HUSH Corporation and banking titan Blaithwhites, as well as important cultural institutions like the Espaerian Heritage Board.

## History

The genesis of Westermere begins in 142 BC, when several dozen traders and merchants washed up on the shores of the **Bay of Westermere** following a severe storm in the **Mare Magnum** which resulted in multiple ships capsizing. They established a small trading outpost which grew into a successful community and over the next century, was transformed into a bustling democratic city known as **Oestin**. Artefacts from this period can be viewed in the Royal Museum in Westleigh.

45 BC saw rapid expansion of territory to accommodate a growing population and the land became known as the **Oesian Empire**, led by an elected emperor voted in by the Senate, who in turn acted on behalf of the people.

In 26 BC, the Empire was embroiled in chaos following the coup d'état by House Tirana, one of the most powerful merchant families. The patriarch, Clemens Resales Tirana, proclaimed himself Emperor by divine right and swiftly enacted changes to the constitution that gave him and a select few supreme power - dissolving the democratic systems of the Senate and People's Assembly and establishing a system of noble houses whom he gifted land and power to rule under him in order to keep control of the region.

They ruled for over 200 years before excessive spending and a prolonged period of neglecting the proper exercison of authority meant they lost the respect of the major noble houses. Finally, in 234 AD, House Regenta and House Hastina led a battalion of 5,000 infantry into the Royal Palace where Emperor Thannius Grentos Tirana was arrested and later executed - his body hung from the City Gates. For 5 days and 5 nights, citizens partied in the streets to celebrate the end of tyrannical rule.

Under a new, revised constitution, Harald Deltana Regenta, now a hero-of-the-people, became the first constitutional monarch of the Empire and re-instated the Senate and People's Assembly. It is from House Regenta that the Grand Ducal family claims their derivation and right to rule.

In 892 AD, on the 30th anniversary of the marriage between King Certis and Queen Licentia, celebrations took an unexpected turn. Although nobody is entirely sure what happened, it is thought stray fireworks newly acquired from the Orient struck a warehouse of highly flammable cloth material, leading to a major fire. As depicted on a tapestry in the Royal Collection from 1013 AD, thousands rushed to put out the blaze but the great walled city of Oestin soon became engulfed in flames - the damage irreversible. With many left homeless and without possessions, the population became dispersed throughout the region but the majority moved to **Montine**, the White City, which became the new capital.

House Regenta ruled without much trouble until 1326 AD when the two eldest children of the deceased King Willias Hartona-Regenta, Princess Katarina and Prince Frederick, fought over the throne. What followed was the bloody **War of Succession**, lasting 7 years and costing the lives of an estimated 240,000 men, women and children both in battle and caught in the crossfire. Although Frederick was the rightful heir, the support behind Katarina was immense and he was defeated and exiled from the Empire in 1333. Katarina, wanting to distance herself from the family, took on the surname of her husband, Sir Patrick Villiers. Around the same time, the name of the kingdom was changed to 'Westermere', along with the capital which was renamed 'Montpellier'. These names were considered more modern and symbolic of advancement towards a brighter future.

After the war, many people lost their faith in God. Religion only started to return to Westermere 200 years later in 1542, when **Font Magma Abbey** was established by Cistercian monks. The Royal Family adopted Christianity and, in 1556, it became the national religion under the **Church of Westermere**, of which the incumbent monarch was head and this tradition continues to the present day.

In the 1690s, the **Royal Navy of Westermere** was established under the control of the **Admiralty**. King Reginald III came to the realisation that a strong naval presence was necessary in order to deter a surprise invasion from the increasingly unpredictable and erratic Supreme Leader Richard. Ironically, his demise came not from external sources, but from his own nephew - Prince Emmanuel Beauchamp-Villiers. He utilised recent crop failures and the threat of famine to rally the population against the King and to seize power. Under his rule, Westermere became a Grand Duchy, Emmanuel I choosing to use the title of Grand Duke as sovereign rather than King.

The Emerald Coast became synonymous with class and fine architecture after the construction of the 'Spice House' - built in 1805 in the Neo-Mughal style with some Georgian re-interpretations as a summer retreat for Sir Henry Baines, an executive of the Royal Orient Company.

This led to a chain reaction of aristocrats demolishing and rebuilding their grand villas across the coastline in new styles. Hotels were also built to accommodate tourists partaking in the popular pastime of sea bathing; many of them arrived via the recently constructed Great Westermere Railroad. 1818 saw the building of the Montpellier Promenade, a tree-lined Regency-style street, historically with mostly private residences and some commercial premises but now primarily a luxury shopping destination with grand hotels and fine-dining restaurants. The capital Westleigh came later in 1825, originally constructed to house workers for the vast factories and workhouses built by the nouveau-riche industrialists who had recently discovered deposits of rare ores and minerals in the region.

## The Grand Ducal family

Westermere is currently ruled by **House Beauchamp-Villiers**, a dynastic royal family - the head of which is the incumbent Grand Duke of Westermere, HRH Arthur Compton De Vere Beauchamp-Villiers II. Tradition dictates their lineage to trace back to House Regenta, the founders of Westermere.

Succession follows the concept of absolute primogeniture by law and heir apparent to the throne is Princess Marie Francis Boulange Beauchamp-Villiers.

Their main residence is the **Grand Ducal Palace** in Westleigh but other residences include Font Magma Abbey and Beauchamp House.

## The Emerald Coast

The **Emerald Coast** is a stretch of picturesque coastline generally thought to be one of the most exclusive areas not only in Espaeria, but in the entire world.

Much of it is off limits to the general public, with only major towns like Montpellier accessible, meaning it has become somewhat of an enigma and is subject to many a rumour throughout the state. It has also been the focal point of discussions on privilege and social class as property cannot be placed on the open market but residents are instead selected by a Council who ensure only the 'crème de la crème' of society are allowed to make offers.

## Westleigh

**Westleigh** is the modern metropolis capital of Westermere that meets the Bay of Westermere on one coastline and the **Mare Parvum** on the other. It is home to the headquarters of many iconic Westermere brands, one of the most important being the DeGrey Chemical Company which employs 26,000 people across the state.

The **Port of Westleigh** forms the largest part of the Westleigh Docklands and is the only major port in Espaeria. It has also historically been the base of the Royal Navy of Westermere, which still operates from here at a smaller capacity and the site often hosts important military parades and other major events.

Due to the lack of an airport, tourists and visitors arrive in the state via the railway, road or by one of two cruise terminals located in the greater port area however, this may change in the future as the parliament has shown some interest in establishing an international airport to serve the region. Different parts of the city are connected by a rapid transit system, **WestLink**.