Wintersong's Republic

"Shoot to kill, or don't shoot at all."

***“**Will you kneel before a boy-king that sees you as his subhuman servant? Will you make yourself a slave to a kingdom that spat you out and left you to rot? Will you kneel and live as a slave, or fight and die as a free man?**”***
— Liam Ashfrey

**Wintersong's Republic** is a republican nation located in Wintersong's Wasteland. They border the Frozen Horde to the north and the Frozen Ocean to the south.

## History

### Creation

Wintersong's Republic was born out of hatred and neglect. Previously known as the Wyrsian Wintersong Colony, the nation served as a place for the outcast and the downtrodden. The frozen colony served as the last safe haven for those the Kingdom of Wyrsia saw as "unfit." Naturally, this left relations between Woodhall and Starport as cold as the continent itself.

At one point, the Kingdom began to neglect the colony altogether, as Frozen Horde attacks increased in frequency and scale; the Kingdom refused or ignored all requests for reinforcements and left the colony to fend for themselves. Unsurprisingly, when the Republican-Wyrsian War broke out, the colony didn't send a single soldier to the Wyrsian mainland to aid the defense.

After the Fühlgartians conquered Woodhall in 1212 AW, the colony became the last large landmass controlled by the Kingdom of Wyrsia. The new king, Frederick – who was still very young and inexperienced – took control over the colony, gently couping the governor, Liam Ashfrey. However, the already unpopular monarch began antagonizing the locals with constant demands and punishments for their disobedience.

Liam Ashfrey, aware of the hatred festering inside his people, began to contact the Republic of Fühlgart in secret. Negotiations were relatively swift, and the two parties came to an agreement. Liam Ashfrey's forces would attack the Wyrsian ground troops, while the Fühlgartian navy would take care of the ships docked in the harbor. Then, once the fighting was over, the colony would become an independent republic which would become allied to Fühlgart.

The plan came into effect near the end of the year as Republican ships appeared on the horizon. Frederick tried to rally a defense, yet the local garrisons didn't move a muscle. He had Ashfrey summoned for answers and was promptly shot in the head by the governor. Local troops began attacking the continental Wyrsian troops, who tried to flee but had nowhere to go. In the ensuing chaos, the Wyrsian navy was largely annihilated while most Wyrsian generals and their king lay dead. Only a handful of Monarchists managed to escape the continent; however – critically – Cecilia Mitthel escaped with her life, which meant the Wyrsians still had a monarch to rally behind.

Wintersong's Republic was founded a few days after the dust settled with the blessing of the Republic of Fühlgart. The Fühlgartians took their leave, and suddenly the colony had become an independent republic.

### The Great War and Present Day

For most pro-Fühlgartian republics born from chaos and bloodshed, everything deteriorates in time. However, for Wintersong's Republic, this was never the case. The Wyrsian crown found no love in the area, with only a handful of trapped soldiers beginning an ineffective guerilla war in the country's mostly empty northwest.

Wintersong's Republic was tasked with keeping the Frozen Ocean clear and ensuring it didn't collapse in on itself. It succeeded in both of these tasks. The Republic of Fühlgart secured funding for new fortifications to defend against the Frozen Horde as Wintersong's Republic began to arm its soldiers with modern rifles.

Liam Ashfrey died in 1219 AW, yet his death had no dramatic consequences. His son, Otto Ashfrey, was simply elected to be the next president. However, Wintersong's Republic would run into two rough patches. Firstly, the death of Jan Luftschwert in 1227 AW destabilized the entire Republican alliance. Wyrsian Monarchists captured Serpent Island – which had been granted to Wintersong's Republic – before the end of the year. Finally, in 1229 AW, the guerillas that had been trapped and fighting a futile war since 1212 AW declared themselves as the Loyalist State of New Wyrsia.

However, New Wyrsia changes little as the frozen nation remains relatively stable and heavily pro-Republican. The ongoing Wyrsian Civil War gives them breathing room. However, many expect that if the Kingdom of Wyrsia were to win, an invasion of Wintersong's Republic is to follow in due time.

Ultimately, the fate of their nation rests hangs by a thread. They are well prepared for internal threats, of which there are few. However, there are countless external threats, and the Republic is rather small and geographically isolated. The coin toss of fate will decide whether Wintersong's Republic will go down in the history books as a nation that broke free from their shackles or an upstart band of opportunistic rebels that forgot their place.

## Politics

While Liam Ashfrey's position as President being inherited by his son Otto might suggest nepotism, in fact, Wintersong's Republic has a free democracy, where every citizen gets a vote. While some have criticised the position of President having a lifelong term, what little know is that his powers are kept in check by the Senate of Starport, who can remove the President from office with a 2/3rds majority vote. If anything, Wintersong's Republic is perhaps one of the most democratic Republican states there is.

## Relations

* **Republic of Fühlgart** - The Fühlgartians are our only allies in the world. However, our geographic distance limits our relations somewhat. While they are our ally, their ongoing civil war and countless other proxy wars leave them unable to defend us in the case of an attack. We are on our own, as usual.

* **Kingdom of Wyrsia** - The Wyrsians are like cockroaches. No matter how many you kill, they always find a way to come back. Now, they have retaken Woodhall and are attacking our ships! We will do everything in our power to make their lives hell. As long as someone claims the Wyrsian throne, our work is not yet done.
* **The Frozen Horde** - The Frozen Horde is seemingly endless. They attack us over and over and over for no apparent reason. They slaughter our civilians and soldiers alike, and for what? They don't loot anything, they don't take over our territory, they just kill. While the new fortifications have stifled their attacks somewhat, they are still an undeniable threat to our existence.
* **Loyalist State of New Wyrsia** - New Wyrsia: a disgusting name for a bunch of bootlickers. One would think they would simply give up after freezing to death in the wilds for almost two decades, yet here we are. They fight as guerillas because they know they're no match in a fair fight. Cowards.

## Military

### Land

* **First Army of the Republic** - The First Army guards the borders against the Frozen Horde. They also serve as city guards and patrols. They are the lifeblood of the Republic.
* **Second Army of the Republic** - The Second Army is tasked with hunting down New Wyrsia's soldiers and organizing expeditions against the Frozen Horde.

### Sea

* **Navy of the Republic** - The Navy of the Republic is currently deployed all over the Frozen Ocean to find Monarchist ships and send them to the depths.

### Air

Wintersong's Republic lacks an organized air force.

## Characters of Wintersong's Republic

*For a full list, see Category:Characters (Wintersong's Republic)*

* Otto Ashfrey - President of Wintersong's Republic

## Settlements of Wintersong's Republic

*For a full list that includes buildings, see Category:Locations (Wintersong's Republic)*

* Starport - Capital of Wintersong's Republic