Rebels (War of The Bears)

**The Rebels** were a military faction that supported Prince Kaegan in his war against the Tyranny of King Dannis "The Cruel". They were formed by Prince Kaegan, Lord Wyllam Rocke and Lord Dayron Durham after they escaped Newcastle and the executions being conducted by King Dannis out of fear that Kaegan would attempt to overthrow him.

They opposed and fought The Royalists.

## History

### Background

Initial rebellious sentiments took root when King Dannis I Boyce became King in 300 AF. He was 30 at the time of his coronation and even from childhood, displayed psychopathic and sadistic traits. He would repeatedly commit horrendous acts against the commonfolk of Newcastle while also threatening the Lords of the Kingdom, even torturing them or sometimes outright executing them. The oppressed Lords were unable to take action against the King as many Lords, especially in the Southlands and the Borderlands, supported the King.

Prince Kaegan, a year old when Dannis sat the throne, became a realm celebrity by his teens. Lords and commonfolk loved him and he was a stern opposite to Dannis. This infuriated Dannis and grew to despise his younger brother. In spite, he ordered Prince Cayle Boyce, the youngest of the three brothers and close friend to Kaegan, to join the Bronze Cloaks. In 318 AF, Dannis then demanded the young Prince Kaegan marry to Mariya Rocke, daughter of Lord Wyllam Rooke. Kaegan was sent to Ravenglass, becoming a ward to the Lord, and actually formed a loving bond with his betrothed. Here, Prince Kaegan would form alliances with House Rocke and the Lakeland Houses.

In 336 AF, he would return to the capital. The commonfolk applauded and celebrated the return of the "Prince of the People" which infuriated the King. Several Lords also celebrated the return of Prince Kaegan and in retaliation, King Dannis executed hundreds of commonfolk and the Lords who celebrated the return of Kaegan, paranoia in of fear of rebellion. He ordered his Bronze Cloaks to take the unborn child from Kaegan's wife and wanted Kaegan's head. Lord Wyllam Rocke escaped the executions and rescued the Prince's family, fleeing to Ravenglass and assembling the Lords of the Lake. He called his banners in rebellion against the Tyranny of King Dannis the Cruel and pledged fealty to Prince Kaegan Boyce as the rightful King of The North. House Durham also was present and joined the cause. Lord Godrick Knigh of Seawatch sent a letter to Prince Kaegan and informed him the House Knigh would stand against the Tyrant King and Seawatch would not fall.

### The War of The Bears

The Rebel cause would suffer an initial defeat with the extinction of House Pinewood, a prominent Rebel House, at the Ambush at Eskdale and Slaughter at Eden's Rest by House Pyke. However, this would turn into a victory as King Dannis launches the Massacre of Newcastle where he would execute several thousand commonfolk as well as Lord Ethon Carlisle and Lord Olivar Lanser for refusing to commit to the massacre. This would turn the Northern Houses against the Royalists (exception of House Blacksword), causing a route of the Slait-led Bordermen Army to either Newcastle or back into the Borderlands. The Northern Army and the Lakelander Army would trap the Pyke's at the Battle of the Fields, with Lord Hugar being killed and House Pyke surrendering.

After the victory at the Fields, the Rebel Forces would split into three separate fronts; Half of the Lakelanders under Prince Kaegan heading toward Newcastle, the other Half of the Lakelanders under Lord Wyllam heading to relieve the Siege of Durham , and the Northern Army under Lord Daltas Carlisle heading into the Borderlands to subjugate them. Prince Kaegan would perform a stunning victory at the Battle of The Tyne where he defeated both the remaining Slait Army under Sir Harald Slait to then defeat the Royalist Forces under Lord Commander, Prince Cayle Boyce. He had a force of 25,000 to the Royalist 35,000 but defeated the army and a majority of the Boycemen defected to the Rebels.

In the North, the Carlisle Army was stuck fighting the Bordermen who refused to surrender. Lord Rocke's forces were able to relieve Lord Durham's and break the Siege. The Ross-led Southlands Army soon turned around and retreated to assist in the defence of Newcastle from the approaching Army led by Kaegan.

The Ross and Tarbor Army was able to reach the capital and join the newly formed Royal Conscripts. Over 50,000 men were ready to defend Newcastle from 25,000 men led by the Prince from the west and 20,000 men led by Lord Wyllam Rocke and Lord Dayron Durham. The Armies laid siege to Newcastle, causing widespread commonfolk revolts and weakening the defence. The Rebel Army decided on an all-out attack on the walls, this was largely successful and the Rebels took control of several portions of the city wall but it was not enough to defeat the remaining Royalists. In the last hour of the Siege, before the Royalists were about to crush the incursion, the Carlisle Army, having left the Lanser Army with the newly aligned forces of House Cherman to garrison the borderlands, rushed South to the capital and swept through the lightly defended North and broke the defenders out at Seawatch, alongside Prince Byrron's elite relief force, and crossed the River Tyne. The Boyce, Carlisle and Knigh's then marched south onto the Winter Keep and stormed it. King Dannis was killed during the fighting alongside the Bronze Cloaks and House Guards who had not defected. Soon after the Royalist Army surrendered.

With Dannis dead and the surrender of Newcastle, Prince Kaegan made his way to the Winter Keep and assembled the surrendered Royalist Lords. He sat on the Bear Throne and granted them a pardon. The Lords named him as King Kaegan III Boyce, ending The War of The Bears. The Rebel Faction disbanded and became sworn allies of the new King, with most of the leading rebels serving in the council. Lord Wyllam became Adviser to The King.

## Rebel Houses

### Lakelands

The Lakelands unanimously (except for House Pyke) declared for Prince Kaegan and the Rebels at the return of Lord Wyllam Rocke.

* House Rocke of Ravenglass
* House Pinewood of Eden's Rest
* House Blackford of Rivermouth
* House Selter of Arrowpoint
* House Ulbridger of Whitehaven
* House Alder of Rockshore
* House Foral of Bridgerock
* House Phyre of Shadebeach
* House Lash of Stagbarrow
* House Purell of Fellrun
* House Lormer of Selsmire
* House Ravyne of Adwick

### Southlands

* House Durham of Durham
* House Perle of Highgrove
* House Aerin of Goldscar

### Defected from the Royalists

* House Carlisle of Carlisle (After Massacre at Newcastle)
* House Lanser of Oakenhill (After Massacre at Newcastle)
* House Marver of Heartsgrasp (After Massacre at Newcastle)
* House Brask of Burnt Hill (Before the Battle of The Tyne)
* House Deeroft of Windspell (During the Carlisle Borderlands Offensive)
* House Cherman of Duns (During the Carlisle Borderlands Offensive)
* House Collinner of Hillhold (defected to the Rebels prior to Siege of Newcastle)