Oliver Oakfield

***“**Wars aren't won in one battle. They are won by continuing to get back up as many times as it takes.**”***
— Oliver Oakfield

**Oliver Oakfield** is the general of the Army for the Liberation of Wyrsia, the land forces of the Kingdom of Wyrsia. He serves as the right hand of the Queen in matters of war.

## Biography

### Early Life

Oliver Oakfield was born to a minor noble house that ruled over Thrawmoore, a relatively unassuming town on the coast of the Frozen Ocean. He was his father's eldest son and received training in rulership, war, and chivalry. He was knighted on his sixteenth birthday and given a position as an officer in the Second Colonial Army, based on Serpent Island.

He proved to be somewhat talented, if not stubbornly determined to improve, and rose to the ranks to become second-in-command to the army's general, Othid Blackwyn. Blackwyn died in 1205 AW, leaving the young Oakfield in charge of the force.

### The Great War

When the Republican-Wyrsian War broke out in 1211 AW, Oakfield was in Redwall on a diplomatic mission. As a result, it took a while for news about the war to reach him and even longer to return to Serpent Island. Oakfield gathered his troops in 1212 AW. Yet, by the time he landed on the Wyrsian mainland to assist in the defense of Stavia, the Republican armies had already marched through the Green Grove, taking Wyrgate and encircling the vast majority of Wyrsia's army.

As such, Oakfield's Second Colonial Army was recalled to Woodhall. It was here that Stephen II entrusted Oakfield with keeping his family safe. Together with Monarchist forces under Erik von Kalzberg, the Wyrsians sailed for Serpent Island, shortly before the fall of Woodhall and the death of Stephen.

The new Wyrsian monarch, Frederick, was not keen on staying on Serpent Island and sailed for the Wyrsian Wintersong Colony, leaving Oakfield behind to defend the island alongside Admiral Frank Whitman. Yet, the pair were met with overwhelming forces and were forced to abandon the island in late 1212 AW, following the Wyrsian king to Wintersong's Wasteland.

However, when Oakfield arrived at Starport, he found the capital in flames, with a sizeable Republican fleet docked in the city. While initially assuming the worst, they were able to learn of Liam Ashfrey's betrayal and the Wyrsian loyalists' flight to Klipton. Here, the pair managed to rescue Cecilia Mitthel, the last living child of Stephen II, alongside a significant force of Wyrsians and Fühlgartian Monarchists. Together, the unlikely alliance sailed for Redwall, leaving the frozen wastes behind.

### General of the ALW

Once the Wyrsian exiles were safe in Redwall, Oakfield took upon himself the thankless task of reorganizing the remnants of the Wyrsian military. While his Second Colonial Army was almost entirely intact, stranded amongst his men were remnants of the Army of Stavia, Army of Woodhall, Army of Wyrgate, First National Army, and the Wyrsian Island Garrison. Many of these men were hungry, demoralized, and had damaged equipment. To make matters worse, many officers had died in the chaotic fighting in Starport, leading to widespread officer shortages. Oakfield decided to disband all armies and merge them together into the Army for the Liberation of Wyrsia, a relatively small and disunited force of around 2,500 men.

He also received further responsibilities, becoming the regent of the young Queen Cecilia. This left him with the impossible task to reform his battered army while also performing vital statecraft, all while managing a nation conquered and betrayed: an impossible task.

Republican armies would invade the Eastland in 1214 AW, forcing Oakfield to evacuate once more to Sallant. It was here that Erik von Kalzberg would forge an alliance with the Empire. In return, they expected the Monarchists to aid in their conquest of Da'al Mon. Oakfield and the ALW played a minor role in the war yet found themselves backstabbed by the Sallanthians, who began to attack while stranded in the desert.

Oakfield's quick thinking managed to fool the Sallanthians into thinking the ALW would retreat towards Qu'Zell City, only for them to flee north towards Amagoi. Crucially, Queen Cecilia, as well as a large number of non-Human troops, went missing in the chaos, meaning Oakfield was a regent of a monarch he wasn't sure that lived anymore at the time. Yet, he still held out hope that she lived.

Oakfield and the ALW played a minor role in Liang Nadai's invasion of the Gemstone Islands in 1217 AW, yet ultimately prepared themselves for an invasion of the Wyrsian mainland that might never come. Oakfield provided further aid for the Grey Kingdom of Weckstein in 1223 AW, a war that would last until 1225 AW. By sheer coincidence, he was reunited with his Queen, who had made a slow march north overland and proven herself a capable commander. As a result, Oakfield gave up his title of regent yet was still viewed as the right hand of the Queen.

When the Second Fühlgartian Civil War broke out in 1227 AW following the death of Jan Luftschwert, the Wyrsians were able to begin liberating their territory. Oakfield himself planned the invasions of Woodhall Island and Serpent Island in the same year, yet the main target was the Protectorate of Woodhall, which was overthrown in 1228 AW, with Oakfield playing a large part in the war.

### Present Day

Oakfield's ALW has grown tremendously since the liberation of Woodhall. Whereas they first landed with some 2,000 men, he now commands an army of roughly 15,000, primarily fresh recruits from the mainland. He continues to serve as the Queen's right hand while also being the highest-ranking commander in the ongoing Wyrsian Civil War.

The future looks bright for Wyrsia, the ALW, and for Oakfield, as the ongoing Battle of Sunfort tips more in his favor each day. It is predicted that taking Sunfort would cause the Republic of Southern Wyrsia to collapse, where Oakfield can sweep in and take the rest without much resistance. Yet, for the general, the real target is the Duchy of Redlyre, which currently owns his hometown, Thrawmoore. If Oakfield can liberate Thrawmoore, he can die a happy man.

## Personality

Some would call Oliver Oakfield too kind to be fighting wars. Perhaps because he is from a relatively lowly house, he lacks the arrogance present in most feudal societies. He treats his soldiers as equals, eager to fulfill their needs. Yet, it would be unwise to mistake his kindness for weakness, as Oakfield will dedicate his entire being to gaining a victory, no matter how small. Some would call him a stubborn fool, while others call him unwavering.

Yet, behind his kind and carefree exterior lies a spark of genius, as he has proven himself to be a master of trickery on the battlefield multiple times during the Great War.

## Relationships

* Cecilia von Kalzberg-Mitthel - Oakfield has earned the Queen's trust and vice-versa. The two make quite an impressive pair, with her being a benevolent ruler to rally behind and himself being a tactician able to score her the victories she needs. They are about as close as possible without nasty rumors being created.
* Alex Oakfield - While Alex is a mere scout in the ALW, unworthy of the close attention of a general, Oliver is obviously biased towards his own son. He loves the boy to death and will put him on parts of the front where there is little danger.
* Frank Whitman - Whitman has served as Oakfield's brother-in-arms since they were trapped on Serpent Island in 1212 AW. Oakfield handles the land, and Whitman handles the seas. They can cooperate well with each other and enjoy mutual trust and respect.
* William Ryker - When Oakfield looks at Ryker, he is reminded of himself when he was a bit younger. Oakfield saved Ryker at Klipton and earned the young captain's loyalty, which he repaid tenfold in his service to the ALW. Furthermore, his constant defense of non-Humans and his idealistic outlook align with Oakfield's, making Ryker an excellent protege to the general.
* Erik von Kalzberg-Mitthel - Oakfield has a natural distaste of Fühlgartians, like most Wyrsians. Yet, he can safely consider King Erik "one of the good ones." He proved to be willing to fight with honor when his enemies did not. That, in Oliver's book, earns him the general's respect.
* Liang Nadai - Oakfield fought alongside Princess Liang. While the two worked together quite well in securing the majority of the Gemstone Islands, he considers her and her idea on how a government should be run a bit... odd. Still, he respects her enough to overlook it.