Frank Whitman

***“**So many turncoats, so much treason. I'm sick of it.**”***
— Frank Whitman

**Frank Whitman** is a Wyrsian admiral who serves as the leader of the Royal Navy of Wyrsia.

## Biography

Born to a family of sailors in Whaler's Bay, Frank grew up on the seas like much of the city's population. When he was sixteen, he joined the Wyrsian navy. He was stationed on an outdated transport ship as little more than a deck scrubber.

However, Frank always did what was asked of it, albeit with little enthusiasm. Whether he simply kept his head down or if he was merely apathetic about the work is debatable. In any case, he was slowly but surely promoted, becoming a cannoneer.

Ultimately he was transferred to another ship, the KOW Swift, a somewhat prestigious frigate. On the Swift, the captain, Edmund Black, took somewhat of a liking to the young Whitman, making him second mate on his ship. Black's first mate would later quit the navy altogether, bumping Whitman up a rank.

Edmund Black would attempt to defect in 1187 AW to join the Kingdom of Fühlgart in the ongoing Sixth Fühlgartian-Wyrsian War. However, Whitman hastily threw together a mutiny, killing Black and returning to Whaler's Bay. Here, Whitman became the captain of the KOW Swift, yet the war with Fühlgart already ended before he could link up with the rest of the Wyrsian fleet.

After the war had ended, Whitman continued serving the navy. He was briefly made captain of the larger KOW Fate before ultimately being promoted to Rear Admiral, a position he would be stuck in. Any ranks higher than that were reserved exclusively for nobles. He regained control over the KOW Swift and a small group of outdated smaller ships.

During the Great War, he and General Oakfield saved the Wyrsian Princess Cecilia at Klipton after Liam Ashfrey's betrayal, escorting her to Redwall. In Redwall, he was tasked with organizing the damaged and disunited ships that remained after the fall of the Wyrsian mainland. As a result, Whitman founded the Royal Navy of Wyrsia (RNW). The RNW mainly consisted of damaged ships, which underwent partial repairs in Redwall. However, the Wyrsian exiles were forced to flee once more when Fühlgartian troops landed in the Eastland in 1214 AW.

Whitman served a minor role in the rest of the Great War, mostly overseeing repairs and serving as a glorified ferryman for the Wyrsian army. His fleet escaped Sallant almost entirely unharmed after their betrayal in 1216 AW. He clashed a few times with the so-called Gemstone Defensive Navy, a combination of Republican ships based in Lao Muji. He also cleared the way for the invasions of Woodhall Island and Serpent Island in 1227 AW and the later invasion of the Protectorate of Woodhall in 1228 AW.

Whitman plays no role in the ongoing Wyrsian Civil War as there are no ports to attack, no ships to sink. Instead, he aids Erik von Kalzberg-Mitthel's Monarchist forces in the Second Fühlgartian Civil War, sinking Republican ships and blockading ports.

## Personality

Whitman's personality can be summed up with just one word: tired. His answers are short, his tone is one of boredom or disinterest, and he generally doesn't make a good conversation partner. This hasn't helped with befriending his allies, yet the man is capable enough as an admiral. However, he's not the most original or creative of admirals, mostly sticking to the book, using well-established, and, according to some, overdone and predictable tactics.

## Relationships

* Oliver Oakfield - Whitman and Oakfield are something akin to brothers-in-arms since they were left behind to defend Serpent Island in 1212 AW. The pair can cooperate nicely and have earned each other's mutual trust and respect.