Introduction: The Windholm Revolt

Windholm

499AF, Blue season, Tertius

In the last month of winter, Duchess Greysword of Windholm announced changes for the next year. In light of recent Vanskerry raids, the lady raised commoner and merchant taxes by 15%, making a total of 50% on those classes. While the highborn are traditionally exempt from any taxes, the same decree stated that second- and third-born sons and daughters of the nobility would be drafted into the army, with a dismissal foreseen after the threat is over.

The nobles were outraged, but the unexpected and dramatic reaction came from the lower classes. Commoners and merchants banded together and started pressing for a review of the decree. The duchess reacted as any Windholm lady would: she ignored the protesters' pleas completely.

What was a simple protest became a revolt and open conflict. The merchants seized the harbor and are currently controlling all imports - something that makes them stronger every day, since ships never stop arriving. Commoners have armed themselves and are scattered around the city. The city watch and the local army have attempted to remove the citizens from their barricades, but it has become clear that this can not be done without bloodshed.

Currently, the Western quarter, where the harbor is located, is controlled by commoners and merchants, while the Eastern (where one finds the palace and upper districts) are held tightly by the nobility and the city watch. The central area is the battlefield, with several corpses from both factions. Buildings have burned down and carts are overturned. Thick, black smoke is visible from a distance.

Important People of Windholm

Conrad Valdor, Head of the Windholm Merchant's Guild - Conrad is a second generation Vanskerry immigrant. He owns a small fleet of trading ships. He is also the current head of the Windholm Merchant's Guild. In a city of the former Fierdsvain, the Guild holds more influence than elsewhere in Pendor.

'Captain' Barbarosa, Head of the Windholm Militia - Not part of the formal city guard, but a citizens' militia instead. He is a butcher by profession. He is very charismatic and has rallied large numbers of commoners to his cause. Some villagers have begun to rally from the nearby countryside as well.

Bishop Gundar of the Dawn - The Bishop of Windholm is a well-liked man by both the nobility and the commoners who has not taken a side in the current struggle, though is known to favor the Rolandians within the Dawn. He has urged peace and reconciliation publicly.

Duchess Greysword - She is proud, vain, fond of the new absolutism found in Barclay, and according to rumors nearly bankrupt. She has one son and two daughters. Her husband past away one year ago. In her youth she trained as a Valkyrie, and continues to wear a sword despite never being seen using it.

A map of Windholm:

Spoiler:

A better map of Windholm:

Spoiler:

As you can see, our lord and savior Mordred Adalhard has made the map much prettier and more sensible now. The original hexified map is still present so you can get your bearings on the new one.

Update:

There are now prettier maps and a much cleaner thread.

Enjoy the cleanness. ENJOY IT.

Also note that the 2nd map turned 90degrees, the slums were actually on the northern edge, and the GM's were using this as their key so their scene setting will actually make sense now! The map now reflects in game actions, magical!

Lord Wulfred's character sheet:


WP 8 : (Base 2 Lion, +5 Lordly Armour. +1 Ironbred Warhorse)
SK 9 : (Base 1 Lion, +1 Good, +1 Exceptional, +1 Master, +3 Weapon, +2 Marleons)
SP 1 : (Base 0 Lion, -1 Lordly Heavy Armour, +1 Weapon, +1 Quick)
Charge 4 : (+4 Ironbred Warhorse)

Background: Noble
Traits:
Legendary Swordsman
Horseman
Basher

Marleons Tradition-
Mounted Talent: +2 Skill while on horseback; -2 Skill on foot.
Glory of Marleons: Polearms no longer get the 3x Skill against charging cavalry.
Fire and Charge: May switch weapons with no penalty
Horse-whisperer: Mount is immune to fear / terror

Equipment
Lordly Heavy Armor
Wulfred's Sword
Shield
Ironbred Warhorse


[EDIT, Saeros: Enjoy the detailed description. It's likely thtat future npcs won't show you their numbers, so you'll have to rely on the lore and your character's knowledge to determine his stats.]

Now for a post to cover all the inevitable battles and stuffs. Well, more accurately, their maps. Their poorly drawn maps.

Spoiler:

As of 7/30:

First, Nickolas' slightly inaccurate map...but not so inaccurate that it breaks the game or will likely have any influence on how you decide to act.
Unless you try to use it when, of course, your characters know nothing of the layout of the city.

Map of War:

Also, a troop list of all currently available troops:

Troop Numbers List:

As of 8/5:

Troop List:

As of 8/10:

Troop List:

As of 8/16:

Troop List:

As of 8/25:

Troop List:

A note on the fires:

The majority of the Artisan District is now ablaze. Travel would appear perilous. There are large, but somewhat scattered fires throughout the Merchant's District. The general trend is that the flames are moving towards the East Gate and Main Gate, although those areas would appear reasonably safe albeit with much more smoke due to the interplay of wind and the walls. (If this isn't wholly accurate, someone with a better understanding of smoke should post in the OOC thread!)

The south-western areas away from the Duke's Wharf have not yet burned, thanks to the wind direction.

No one as of yet has seen the Dawn Knights spreading the blaze. Some witnessed the initial incident with Lucius being trapped behind the burning furniture and spreading the flames, but none have seen the more coordinated action afterwards.