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The Province of Westisle: General Overview
Note: This will be updated from time to time, as more lore and history are fleshed out and more questions are asked.
I want to play a character from Westisle, what should I do?
Read through this entire guide first, and then if you have any questions, join the Discord or DM the staff about how to do so.
What is the Province of Westisle?
Westisle is the ancestral home of House Ryalor, the former Imperial House of the much larger but chaotic Fyador to its west, and now a province of the Vulpine Imperium following the decision of the formerly independent kingdom of Eastisle to swear fealty to the Empress and agree to a political union with her, becoming Westisle in the process as it is now centered around the Imperial, rather than Fyadoran, throne. It comprises of the main island of Westisle known as Stormisle for its periodic typhoons, the smaller island across the strait known as Sageisle both for the sage that grows on it and its intellectual focus, and the two smaller fortified islands of Northisle and Southisle which together with Westisle form the critical Western Island Chain defensive line. Traditionally, it has been mostly inhabited by foxes, and retains a strong vulpine influence.
What is the Western Island Chain?
The Western Island Chain is one of the critical defensive lines of the modern Imperium’s defensive strategy. Centered on Westisle and extending north to Northisle (the waters north of Northisle being considered too difficult for large-scale naval maneuvers) and south to Southisle (linked to Magh and then Pricklee Pointe), it provides bases for the Imperial Navy and Army to deter pirates, raiders, and hostile powers coming from the northwest, west, and southwest of the Imperium. It is an effective military “chain” of bases making it difficult for the Imperium’s foes to act in large numbers unless the Western Squadron of the Imperial Navy is redirected elsewhere, distracted, or otherwise understaffed or vastly outgunned.
Is everyone from Westisle a fox?
No, while all true fox species, hybrids between them, and gray foxes can be found in varying numbers in Westisle since most Ryalor loyalists fled there if they could, there have been and are an increasing number of non-vulpine characters, particularly in the last forty years. This is because just as it was the gateway to the East for a united Fyador, it is a gateway to the West for the Imperium. These are usually merchants, traders, and the odd mercenary, although increasingly non-vulpine military officers and their families, along with researchers, have been settling down from the Imperium.
Does my character have to be loyal to House Ryalor?
No, they do not, they can be neutral, disloyal, or even plan to overthrow their liege lords for various reasons, although after no less than three civil wars in the past sixty years on the province, the flames of revolution have been reduced to mere embers, reinforced by additional support from the Imperium. That is to say, you can totally play a revolutionary character and even get far, but do not expect the be overthrowing the House there permanently.
What are the naming conventions for a character from Westisle?
The general naming conventions for Southern Fyadorans, which the majority of Fyadorans including Westislers fall into, is of Baltic/Finnish origin, although there is a significant presence of Northern Fyadorans who follow Russian naming conventions. Generally speaking, white and gray-furred variants of the true foxes, arctic foxes, and hybrids tend to follow the Russian naming conventions, while the others tend to follow Southern Fyadoran ones, although intermarriage and an increasing number of foreign vulpine immigrants from the Imperium and other places have muddied the waters to a large degree. It is perfectly acceptable to use Ryalor as a last name, as it is a common name from Peltarra, although be clear in your biography whether or not you are seeking to be a common Ryalor or a member of the noble House of Ryalor. In essence, take the above as general guidelines, but do not be afraid to break from them if necessary.
What are the languages a character from Westisle might speak?
They would most commonly speak either Russian (Northern Fyadoran), Japanese (Southern Fyadoran), or increasingly Vulpinsulan (English with a mixture of French loanwoards). You do not have to fluently read or write the former two in order to play a character from Westisle, simply indicate that that they are speaking it, or if you want use Google Translate (and then provide the actual correct translation in spoilers).
What is the general culture of Westisle?
The general culture of Westisle is a mixture of Japanese and Russian with Roman architectural influences, with typical houses made out of white tufa stone topped with red clay roof tiles. Since becoming a province of the Imperium, Imperial influence has increasingly been seen, largely in cities and hamlets along the coast, where food familiar to Imperial beasts can be found or interesting cultural fusions between the two. Westislers are known to love the various hot springs that are native to both Westisle and Fyador, and tend to take pride in the maintenance of their appearance. Compared to the average Imperial a Westisler may seem a little more formal, polite, and some might even say closed off, but beneath this exterior lies a deep wellspring of emotion and care for those that matter to them.
One may take creative liberties here so long as it fits into the general “vibe” of the above.
What is the economy of Westisle like?
The economy of Westisle in the modern Imperium is complex and varied, although it can be broken down into two categories: acting as an importer and reseller of western goods for the Imperium and its own exports. Some of the goods resold to the wider Imperium that flow into its ports such are tea, silk, spices, alcohol, exotic plants, high quality paper, fine ceramics, along with western research and thought and food. Its own exports tend to center around raw mineral extraction, mineral refining, and perhaps most importantly the production of large quantities of quality small arms and armor. It is known for having extremely talented weaponsmiths and armorsmiths who have taken to and adapted remarkably fast to Imperial innovations in these areas, with the first dedicated factories in the province being devoted to these. One of their most prized exports is Auldarnian Steel, either in weapons or armor (pieces, since full sets are prohibitively expensive for all but the Empress), widely known for being the best steel that the Imperium has thus far seen, the secrets of its production being closely guarded. It is also known for various research conducted at Scholar’s Pointe and the Vaelora Ryalor Sanatorium for the Insane.
In terms of imports from the Imperium, the present Duke of Westisle has tended to favor his province’s comparative and absolute advantages over subsidizing areas where it merely matches or fairs more poorly than other areas of the Imperium. This means it tends to import heavier industrial machinery and heavy weaponry like cannon and warships from the more industrialized Imperium, along with refined textiles, timber, many types of food, medicine, and other goods, since it is far cheaper to acquire them from the Imperium proper than other western powers or cultivating a native industry. Overall, the economic situation in Westisle since submitting to the Imperium is good and has been improving in a mutually beneficial trade.
What is the climate of Westisle?
Westisle, much like the Imperium, has an oceanic climate, if with slightly hotter summers and cooler winters, especially in the interior mountain ranges. It is occasionally struck by typhoons, usually during the summer months to the beginning of fall when the water around it is warmest.
What is the population of Westisle relative to the Imperium?
It is roughly between one third to one half as populous as Vulpinsula proper, suffering greatly from the breakdown of Imperial Fyador, mildly from the Ryalor Restoration of 1727, and especially the Revolutions of 1748. Many have speculated that one of the reasons that House Ryalor submitted to the Empress was that they were no longer able to able to stretch their forces far enough to both defend their homeland and realize their ambition of eventually launching operations to regain a foothold on the mainland.
What is the view of the natives towards Imperials?
Most Westislers tend to have a mixed to positive view of the Imperium, pushed for by House Ryalor since the Imperium helped them regain their native seat of power in the 1720s, albeit with a significant hit in the 1730s due to Anithias Freedom and Imperium nativists stoking anti-Fyadoran hatred with the death of Vaelora Ryalor and the massacre of the Ryalors there, most of whom, ironically, were not actually of the former Imperial House, given that Ryalor is a very common surname in Peltarra. This, however, was improved with the death and subsequent (some would say deserved) demonization of the anti-Ryalor todd, and further improved with restored trade and diplomatic relations in the 1740s. Since the coronation of the Empress and the surprising and unexpected move of the former Imperial House of Fyador swearing fealty to her in a political union rather than attempting to seize the Imperium for themselves attitudes have been complicated, but generally positive, as explained below.
Increased Protection from Barbarian Raiders and Pirates
The addition of proper Imperial warships, cannon, and warships to Westisle has seen a marked drop in piracy and attacks from both the Land of Ice and Snow and the chaotic Fyadoran mainland, with incursions being limited to smaller, quicker raids on smaller settlements and communities rather than the former large-scale attacks on major cities such as the capital of Peltarra, and even those raids have started to become smaller and rarer ever year, often put down by local militia before Imperial troops even need to intervene. This has been by far the single most positive influence on the perception of Imperials in the province.
Extensive and Stable Trade Relations
With Imperial security also comes wealth, as trade between Vulpinsula and Westisle has picked up considerably in recent years in what has been seen as a largely mutually beneficial arrangement, with both sides tending to focus on their comparative and absolute advantages and importing the rest, although this has caused internal tensions on both sides as the displaced workers have to either migrate or reskill to adjust to the new reality, neither of which are easy choices.
Active Integration Efforts
Both the Ryalors and the Empress seem to be acting in curious lockstep about genuinely integrating Westisle into the Imperium, with House Ryalor, the Ministry of Misanthropy, and the Ministry of Niceties actively working and spending large sums of gilders to do so. While not a complete process by any means, the younger generations of Westislers seem to be eager to learn and become more accepting, with mixed reactions from their elders.
Independence Advocates
Although largely suppressed for now, there are many, particularly among the older generations, who are unhappy with the recent developments in Westisle, feeling that House Ryalor sold them out to bend the knee to a foreign Empress, not helped by the fact that the current House is a mix of “half-breeds”, with Talinn in particular being seen as weak or a traitor to these beasts. The solutions they propose, however, tend to be varied: some suggest an open rebellion against House Ryalor and the Imperium, while others suggest that Talinn and Dusk step down willfully or otherwise for the youngest daughter of the family who is seen as much stronger and more of a true Fyadoran capable of leading the reconquest of the mainland on her own.
Messengers of the Great Kitsune
One of the most prominent and oldest religions of Fyador, the Messengers of the Great Kitsune have a strong presence in Westisle, with two of their sacred nine “tails”, that is, mountain ranges, being located in the province. It is not a particularly centralized religion, and one that has many different interpretations depending on which shrine or temple that one attends, although there is a broad agreement there is indeed a fox god and that earthly foxes are his/her/their divine messengers. Points of contention include whether it is a singular “God” or just one of many gods, the gender of the Great Kitsune (him, her, some combination of both, interchangeable, or no gender at all), what exactly being a good courier for them involves, what degree They actively intervene in the world, what the role of other species are, and what the nature of the afterlife is for those who serve Them faithfully. Generally speaking, it has been a neutral to positive influence, although some hardliners have been noted to be quite furious with the Ryalors for allowing more extensive non-vulpine integration, and have made common cause with Vulpine Supremacists in the Imperium itself.
More progressive members of the religion believe that foxes were sent to the world to be a positive example to other species, and that there is a moral obligation to help them develop and protect them when possible, seeing their role as “messenger” being that of showcasing ideal behavior and living up to how they think that the Great Kitsune might wish them to act, though not by force. These progressive types tend to be more pacifistic, humble, and focused on issues of social welfare, justice, and equality, and have seen integration with the Imperium to be a chance to spread their message far and wide to both other foxes and more species. Curiously, a small but not insignificant amount of non-foxes have begun to follow the religion in recent years along this vein, acknowledging that foxes were the initial messengers chosen for the Great Kitsune, but that once Their principles have been spread, every beast can become a messenger too.
More conservative members of the religion also believe that foxes were sent to the world to be a positive influence, but believe in more active intervention in the world, thinking that other species have a moral obligation to learn from foxes, respect them, and, indeed, follow their divinely-inspired orders, although they do not tend to do this by force, but through showing off their own superiority. Some extremists take this to even mean ruling over them as members of an elite class with others designated to serve, and the most extreme believe that the “message” of the Great Kitsune is that only foxes should exist and that other species are ideally exterminated at best and barely tolerated as slaves at worst. The more extreme variations of this have taken hold among the Vulpine Supremacists of the Imperium, who, while it is debatable whether or not they actually believe in the Fyadoran god, definitely like the interpretation of this particular form of the faith.
Still others take this in quite a more esoteric way, attempting to, through a variety of prayer, substances, and ritual, to receive prophecies and directions from the Kitsune Themselves, which they then hope to spread throughout the land, although the effectiveness of this has been historically questionable, with some being eerily accurate and others being completely wrong, although many will admit this comes down to a matter of interpretation. Recently, with the increasing prominence of the sciences, a small but growing amount of followers believe that their goal in life should be to discover more things about the natural world, thereby being a “messenger” in the sense that they convey the truth about reality to the rest of the world.
There are many other variations and interpretations of how to follow the Great Kitsune, and everyone is free to experiment with this as well. A further, more extended lore article on this will be added at some point, but for now, this should be good enough to work with.
What are the points of interest in Westisle Province?
Northisle
Located to the North of the larger island of Westisle, this small, chilly, mountainous island replete with trees has a small fortress, town, and replenishing port for the Imperial Navy, serving as the northernmost point of the Western Island Chain, and often wards off or sends messages south about incursions from the Land of Ice and Snow or attempts to cut through the Imperial defensive line to the north. It is a cold, isolated, and forlorn posting, usually seen as something of an exile or a place less-favored officers of the Imperium are stationed, although it is said that Northern Fyadoran foxes and beasts with heavier natural coats actually prefer the climate. It is considered cruel, even by Imperium standards, to station monitor lizard or other reptilian troops here, due to their cold blood requiring them to huddle around sources of warmth most of the time.
Southisle
In many ways the opposite of Northisle, it is located south of Westisle and a decent distance off the coast of the Mahsterious Sathern Continent. It is fairly warm, and sunny, with a relatively flat landscape interspersed with tropical forests that not only provide lumber, but ample amounts of fruit as well. It, like its counterpart, has a small fortress with attached town and port, and serves much the same purpose as Northisle does except for the southern portion of the Western Island Chain. It is considered something of a desired posting for reptiles, in the sense that they can often happily bask in the sunshine, and is often a place sought after for commissions due to this and the chance for a larger amount of action than in Westisle or Northisle. Many more corsairs, otters, and others attempt to breach this point of the island chain or even attack Southisle itself in comparison to the diminishing raids on Westisle and the only occasional mad beast from the Land of Ice and Snow or particularly adroit pirate captain attempting to break through the northern line.
Peltarra and Storm’s Peak
The bastion of House Ryalor power, and indeed, from where it derives its name from the Rya and Lor rivers that run through and meet in it before combining to flow out to sea, Peltarra is a large city replete with classic white tufa stone and red clay Fyadoran architecture. It is widely known as the Cupcake City due to its assertion that it was the first in the world to invent such a delicacy, with the oldest recipes claimed to have originated over 1,500 years ago, although the veracity of such claims may be impossible to truly tell. Nevetheless, it is proud of this and features many cupcake shops, and it is rumored you can never go wrong with giving a beast from Westisle a cupcake. It has transformed under recent Ryalor rule to more of a smithing and refining city, with minerals sent downriver via barges and then refined and remade into arms and armor or shipped to the Imperium for use in larger industrial goods, causing a great number of problems that have only been partially mitigated by the ruling family. This includes air and water pollution from the industrial runoff, although the city’s drinking water supply is now sourced from an aqueduct upriver to help with this, ordinances have been put in place to allow the heaviest smelting to occur only when the wind is blowing away from populated areas, and a large army of painters and cleaners hired to maintain the city’s appearance (rumored to be more of a welfare program for those who became unemployed in the economic shift).
Storm’s Peak, on a large hill overlooking the city to its East, is the ancestral castle of House Ryalor, made of the much tougher granite, and recently expanded and reinforced with cannon. While primarily military in nature, it does have secluded inner luxuries for members of the House to enjoy, such as extensive inner gardens fed by its own underground streams, and places from which to eat and look out over the sea and the city. It is capable of hosting up to five thousand fighting beasts during a protracted siege, although in recent years with the relative peace of the Empress, this has fluctuated from between a tenth to a fifth of this number in actuality. The needs of the castle are provided for by the small town of Summerdock, to the west of the castle, which was where Vaelora Ryalor was born and where the Golden Hide launched its attack to reclaim the castle for House Ryalor back in 1727.
The Gauntlet Of Fire
A term used to refer to the extensive shore batteries located on both sides of the small strait dividing Stormisle and Sageisle, with the greatest concentration of the guns located in and around Peltarra and its bank on the opposite island, being one of the key defenses that Westisle maintains against its adversaries. In order to strike at the protected inner heartland of Stormisle one must pick between a variety of bad options. One is to painfully grind their way through attacks on each and every battery along with breaking through the various harbor chains then take on Peltarra’s city defenses, and then finally seize Storm’s Peak itself, or attempt to neutralize all of the above either through stealth or speed. The other is to land armed forces further up the less-protected coasts, giving the defenders at the populated center of the isles precious time to mobilize and fortify their positions for a protracted land campaign.
Ryalor’s End
More of a de-facto concept than a theory, this is the line about midway between Westisle and Mainland Fyador that delineates the end of Ryalor and by extension Imperial power and the beginning of the various clans and factions on the mainland. While pirates frequently cross this line, neither the Imperium nor the Fyadoran powers seem particularly eager to engage in large-scale military excursions across it though there have been several incidents and near-incidents where fire has been exchanged. The Imperium, generally having much larger and better ships in recent years under a united naval command, has usually prevailed in these conflicts, often by a large margin. It is rumored that the Duke of Westisle occasionally deliberately tests the strengths of the various powers maintaining the line, looking for any weakness, although he has seemed more interested in internal Imperial affairs rather than launching an offensive to retake even a small portion of the Fyadoran mainland in recent years. It is said that the youngest House Ryalor daughter, against the wishes and even sometimes the actual orders of her parents, occasionally crosses the line and leads small raids onto the mainland, although for what purpose even the Duke and Duchess do not know.
Scholar’s Pointe
Located on the northern tip of the smaller island, this town and its university are among the oldest on Westisle, speculated to have been founded even before Peltarra, having a favorable harbor, an excellent defensive position being a peninsula that is surrounded on three sides by water and steep shoreside cliffs, and finally having its own extensive groundwater supply and cave system. It is rumored that when the Ryalors were booted out of mainland Fyador, they were able to secure quite a large cache of books and knowledge, all of which was deposited at Scholar’s Pointe, and that secret expeditions to the mainland have recovered even more such knowledge. The Minister of Innovation has heavily directed much funding to the city, although the exact nature of the ongoing research, much like Magh, has been kept quiet. It has been rumored, however, that some beasts have been shown doing odd things like flying kites in lightning storms, putting up mysterious rods on the tops of buildings, and have been seen carrying strange jars, boxes, and smaller machines, occasionally carrying these things to the Vaelora Ryalor Sanatorium for the Insane, located some distance away.
Vaelora Ryalor Sanatorium for the Insane
Located on the smaller isle south of Scholar’s Pointe, this is the Imperium’s premier mental healthcare facility, which one can learn more about in the Imperial Medicine Official Lore article.
Note: This will be updated from time to time, as more lore and history are fleshed out and more questions are asked.
I want to play a character from Westisle, what should I do?
Read through this entire guide first, and then if you have any questions, join the Discord or DM the staff about how to do so.
What is the Province of Westisle?
Westisle is the ancestral home of House Ryalor, the former Imperial House of the much larger but chaotic Fyador to its west, and now a province of the Vulpine Imperium following the decision of the formerly independent kingdom of Eastisle to swear fealty to the Empress and agree to a political union with her, becoming Westisle in the process as it is now centered around the Imperial, rather than Fyadoran, throne. It comprises of the main island of Westisle known as Stormisle for its periodic typhoons, the smaller island across the strait known as Sageisle both for the sage that grows on it and its intellectual focus, and the two smaller fortified islands of Northisle and Southisle which together with Westisle form the critical Western Island Chain defensive line. Traditionally, it has been mostly inhabited by foxes, and retains a strong vulpine influence.
What is the Western Island Chain?
The Western Island Chain is one of the critical defensive lines of the modern Imperium’s defensive strategy. Centered on Westisle and extending north to Northisle (the waters north of Northisle being considered too difficult for large-scale naval maneuvers) and south to Southisle (linked to Magh and then Pricklee Pointe), it provides bases for the Imperial Navy and Army to deter pirates, raiders, and hostile powers coming from the northwest, west, and southwest of the Imperium. It is an effective military “chain” of bases making it difficult for the Imperium’s foes to act in large numbers unless the Western Squadron of the Imperial Navy is redirected elsewhere, distracted, or otherwise understaffed or vastly outgunned.
Is everyone from Westisle a fox?
No, while all true fox species, hybrids between them, and gray foxes can be found in varying numbers in Westisle since most Ryalor loyalists fled there if they could, there have been and are an increasing number of non-vulpine characters, particularly in the last forty years. This is because just as it was the gateway to the East for a united Fyador, it is a gateway to the West for the Imperium. These are usually merchants, traders, and the odd mercenary, although increasingly non-vulpine military officers and their families, along with researchers, have been settling down from the Imperium.
Does my character have to be loyal to House Ryalor?
No, they do not, they can be neutral, disloyal, or even plan to overthrow their liege lords for various reasons, although after no less than three civil wars in the past sixty years on the province, the flames of revolution have been reduced to mere embers, reinforced by additional support from the Imperium. That is to say, you can totally play a revolutionary character and even get far, but do not expect the be overthrowing the House there permanently.
What are the naming conventions for a character from Westisle?
The general naming conventions for Southern Fyadorans, which the majority of Fyadorans including Westislers fall into, is of Baltic/Finnish origin, although there is a significant presence of Northern Fyadorans who follow Russian naming conventions. Generally speaking, white and gray-furred variants of the true foxes, arctic foxes, and hybrids tend to follow the Russian naming conventions, while the others tend to follow Southern Fyadoran ones, although intermarriage and an increasing number of foreign vulpine immigrants from the Imperium and other places have muddied the waters to a large degree. It is perfectly acceptable to use Ryalor as a last name, as it is a common name from Peltarra, although be clear in your biography whether or not you are seeking to be a common Ryalor or a member of the noble House of Ryalor. In essence, take the above as general guidelines, but do not be afraid to break from them if necessary.
What are the languages a character from Westisle might speak?
They would most commonly speak either Russian (Northern Fyadoran), Japanese (Southern Fyadoran), or increasingly Vulpinsulan (English with a mixture of French loanwoards). You do not have to fluently read or write the former two in order to play a character from Westisle, simply indicate that that they are speaking it, or if you want use Google Translate (and then provide the actual correct translation in spoilers).
What is the general culture of Westisle?
The general culture of Westisle is a mixture of Japanese and Russian with Roman architectural influences, with typical houses made out of white tufa stone topped with red clay roof tiles. Since becoming a province of the Imperium, Imperial influence has increasingly been seen, largely in cities and hamlets along the coast, where food familiar to Imperial beasts can be found or interesting cultural fusions between the two. Westislers are known to love the various hot springs that are native to both Westisle and Fyador, and tend to take pride in the maintenance of their appearance. Compared to the average Imperial a Westisler may seem a little more formal, polite, and some might even say closed off, but beneath this exterior lies a deep wellspring of emotion and care for those that matter to them.
One may take creative liberties here so long as it fits into the general “vibe” of the above.
What is the economy of Westisle like?
The economy of Westisle in the modern Imperium is complex and varied, although it can be broken down into two categories: acting as an importer and reseller of western goods for the Imperium and its own exports. Some of the goods resold to the wider Imperium that flow into its ports such are tea, silk, spices, alcohol, exotic plants, high quality paper, fine ceramics, along with western research and thought and food. Its own exports tend to center around raw mineral extraction, mineral refining, and perhaps most importantly the production of large quantities of quality small arms and armor. It is known for having extremely talented weaponsmiths and armorsmiths who have taken to and adapted remarkably fast to Imperial innovations in these areas, with the first dedicated factories in the province being devoted to these. One of their most prized exports is Auldarnian Steel, either in weapons or armor (pieces, since full sets are prohibitively expensive for all but the Empress), widely known for being the best steel that the Imperium has thus far seen, the secrets of its production being closely guarded. It is also known for various research conducted at Scholar’s Pointe and the Vaelora Ryalor Sanatorium for the Insane.
In terms of imports from the Imperium, the present Duke of Westisle has tended to favor his province’s comparative and absolute advantages over subsidizing areas where it merely matches or fairs more poorly than other areas of the Imperium. This means it tends to import heavier industrial machinery and heavy weaponry like cannon and warships from the more industrialized Imperium, along with refined textiles, timber, many types of food, medicine, and other goods, since it is far cheaper to acquire them from the Imperium proper than other western powers or cultivating a native industry. Overall, the economic situation in Westisle since submitting to the Imperium is good and has been improving in a mutually beneficial trade.
What is the climate of Westisle?
Westisle, much like the Imperium, has an oceanic climate, if with slightly hotter summers and cooler winters, especially in the interior mountain ranges. It is occasionally struck by typhoons, usually during the summer months to the beginning of fall when the water around it is warmest.
What is the population of Westisle relative to the Imperium?
It is roughly between one third to one half as populous as Vulpinsula proper, suffering greatly from the breakdown of Imperial Fyador, mildly from the Ryalor Restoration of 1727, and especially the Revolutions of 1748. Many have speculated that one of the reasons that House Ryalor submitted to the Empress was that they were no longer able to able to stretch their forces far enough to both defend their homeland and realize their ambition of eventually launching operations to regain a foothold on the mainland.
What is the view of the natives towards Imperials?
Most Westislers tend to have a mixed to positive view of the Imperium, pushed for by House Ryalor since the Imperium helped them regain their native seat of power in the 1720s, albeit with a significant hit in the 1730s due to Anithias Freedom and Imperium nativists stoking anti-Fyadoran hatred with the death of Vaelora Ryalor and the massacre of the Ryalors there, most of whom, ironically, were not actually of the former Imperial House, given that Ryalor is a very common surname in Peltarra. This, however, was improved with the death and subsequent (some would say deserved) demonization of the anti-Ryalor todd, and further improved with restored trade and diplomatic relations in the 1740s. Since the coronation of the Empress and the surprising and unexpected move of the former Imperial House of Fyador swearing fealty to her in a political union rather than attempting to seize the Imperium for themselves attitudes have been complicated, but generally positive, as explained below.
Increased Protection from Barbarian Raiders and Pirates
The addition of proper Imperial warships, cannon, and warships to Westisle has seen a marked drop in piracy and attacks from both the Land of Ice and Snow and the chaotic Fyadoran mainland, with incursions being limited to smaller, quicker raids on smaller settlements and communities rather than the former large-scale attacks on major cities such as the capital of Peltarra, and even those raids have started to become smaller and rarer ever year, often put down by local militia before Imperial troops even need to intervene. This has been by far the single most positive influence on the perception of Imperials in the province.
Extensive and Stable Trade Relations
With Imperial security also comes wealth, as trade between Vulpinsula and Westisle has picked up considerably in recent years in what has been seen as a largely mutually beneficial arrangement, with both sides tending to focus on their comparative and absolute advantages and importing the rest, although this has caused internal tensions on both sides as the displaced workers have to either migrate or reskill to adjust to the new reality, neither of which are easy choices.
Active Integration Efforts
Both the Ryalors and the Empress seem to be acting in curious lockstep about genuinely integrating Westisle into the Imperium, with House Ryalor, the Ministry of Misanthropy, and the Ministry of Niceties actively working and spending large sums of gilders to do so. While not a complete process by any means, the younger generations of Westislers seem to be eager to learn and become more accepting, with mixed reactions from their elders.
Independence Advocates
Although largely suppressed for now, there are many, particularly among the older generations, who are unhappy with the recent developments in Westisle, feeling that House Ryalor sold them out to bend the knee to a foreign Empress, not helped by the fact that the current House is a mix of “half-breeds”, with Talinn in particular being seen as weak or a traitor to these beasts. The solutions they propose, however, tend to be varied: some suggest an open rebellion against House Ryalor and the Imperium, while others suggest that Talinn and Dusk step down willfully or otherwise for the youngest daughter of the family who is seen as much stronger and more of a true Fyadoran capable of leading the reconquest of the mainland on her own.
Messengers of the Great Kitsune
One of the most prominent and oldest religions of Fyador, the Messengers of the Great Kitsune have a strong presence in Westisle, with two of their sacred nine “tails”, that is, mountain ranges, being located in the province. It is not a particularly centralized religion, and one that has many different interpretations depending on which shrine or temple that one attends, although there is a broad agreement there is indeed a fox god and that earthly foxes are his/her/their divine messengers. Points of contention include whether it is a singular “God” or just one of many gods, the gender of the Great Kitsune (him, her, some combination of both, interchangeable, or no gender at all), what exactly being a good courier for them involves, what degree They actively intervene in the world, what the role of other species are, and what the nature of the afterlife is for those who serve Them faithfully. Generally speaking, it has been a neutral to positive influence, although some hardliners have been noted to be quite furious with the Ryalors for allowing more extensive non-vulpine integration, and have made common cause with Vulpine Supremacists in the Imperium itself.
More progressive members of the religion believe that foxes were sent to the world to be a positive example to other species, and that there is a moral obligation to help them develop and protect them when possible, seeing their role as “messenger” being that of showcasing ideal behavior and living up to how they think that the Great Kitsune might wish them to act, though not by force. These progressive types tend to be more pacifistic, humble, and focused on issues of social welfare, justice, and equality, and have seen integration with the Imperium to be a chance to spread their message far and wide to both other foxes and more species. Curiously, a small but not insignificant amount of non-foxes have begun to follow the religion in recent years along this vein, acknowledging that foxes were the initial messengers chosen for the Great Kitsune, but that once Their principles have been spread, every beast can become a messenger too.
More conservative members of the religion also believe that foxes were sent to the world to be a positive influence, but believe in more active intervention in the world, thinking that other species have a moral obligation to learn from foxes, respect them, and, indeed, follow their divinely-inspired orders, although they do not tend to do this by force, but through showing off their own superiority. Some extremists take this to even mean ruling over them as members of an elite class with others designated to serve, and the most extreme believe that the “message” of the Great Kitsune is that only foxes should exist and that other species are ideally exterminated at best and barely tolerated as slaves at worst. The more extreme variations of this have taken hold among the Vulpine Supremacists of the Imperium, who, while it is debatable whether or not they actually believe in the Fyadoran god, definitely like the interpretation of this particular form of the faith.
Still others take this in quite a more esoteric way, attempting to, through a variety of prayer, substances, and ritual, to receive prophecies and directions from the Kitsune Themselves, which they then hope to spread throughout the land, although the effectiveness of this has been historically questionable, with some being eerily accurate and others being completely wrong, although many will admit this comes down to a matter of interpretation. Recently, with the increasing prominence of the sciences, a small but growing amount of followers believe that their goal in life should be to discover more things about the natural world, thereby being a “messenger” in the sense that they convey the truth about reality to the rest of the world.
There are many other variations and interpretations of how to follow the Great Kitsune, and everyone is free to experiment with this as well. A further, more extended lore article on this will be added at some point, but for now, this should be good enough to work with.
What are the points of interest in Westisle Province?
Northisle
Located to the North of the larger island of Westisle, this small, chilly, mountainous island replete with trees has a small fortress, town, and replenishing port for the Imperial Navy, serving as the northernmost point of the Western Island Chain, and often wards off or sends messages south about incursions from the Land of Ice and Snow or attempts to cut through the Imperial defensive line to the north. It is a cold, isolated, and forlorn posting, usually seen as something of an exile or a place less-favored officers of the Imperium are stationed, although it is said that Northern Fyadoran foxes and beasts with heavier natural coats actually prefer the climate. It is considered cruel, even by Imperium standards, to station monitor lizard or other reptilian troops here, due to their cold blood requiring them to huddle around sources of warmth most of the time.
Southisle
In many ways the opposite of Northisle, it is located south of Westisle and a decent distance off the coast of the Mahsterious Sathern Continent. It is fairly warm, and sunny, with a relatively flat landscape interspersed with tropical forests that not only provide lumber, but ample amounts of fruit as well. It, like its counterpart, has a small fortress with attached town and port, and serves much the same purpose as Northisle does except for the southern portion of the Western Island Chain. It is considered something of a desired posting for reptiles, in the sense that they can often happily bask in the sunshine, and is often a place sought after for commissions due to this and the chance for a larger amount of action than in Westisle or Northisle. Many more corsairs, otters, and others attempt to breach this point of the island chain or even attack Southisle itself in comparison to the diminishing raids on Westisle and the only occasional mad beast from the Land of Ice and Snow or particularly adroit pirate captain attempting to break through the northern line.
Peltarra and Storm’s Peak
The bastion of House Ryalor power, and indeed, from where it derives its name from the Rya and Lor rivers that run through and meet in it before combining to flow out to sea, Peltarra is a large city replete with classic white tufa stone and red clay Fyadoran architecture. It is widely known as the Cupcake City due to its assertion that it was the first in the world to invent such a delicacy, with the oldest recipes claimed to have originated over 1,500 years ago, although the veracity of such claims may be impossible to truly tell. Nevetheless, it is proud of this and features many cupcake shops, and it is rumored you can never go wrong with giving a beast from Westisle a cupcake. It has transformed under recent Ryalor rule to more of a smithing and refining city, with minerals sent downriver via barges and then refined and remade into arms and armor or shipped to the Imperium for use in larger industrial goods, causing a great number of problems that have only been partially mitigated by the ruling family. This includes air and water pollution from the industrial runoff, although the city’s drinking water supply is now sourced from an aqueduct upriver to help with this, ordinances have been put in place to allow the heaviest smelting to occur only when the wind is blowing away from populated areas, and a large army of painters and cleaners hired to maintain the city’s appearance (rumored to be more of a welfare program for those who became unemployed in the economic shift).
Storm’s Peak, on a large hill overlooking the city to its East, is the ancestral castle of House Ryalor, made of the much tougher granite, and recently expanded and reinforced with cannon. While primarily military in nature, it does have secluded inner luxuries for members of the House to enjoy, such as extensive inner gardens fed by its own underground streams, and places from which to eat and look out over the sea and the city. It is capable of hosting up to five thousand fighting beasts during a protracted siege, although in recent years with the relative peace of the Empress, this has fluctuated from between a tenth to a fifth of this number in actuality. The needs of the castle are provided for by the small town of Summerdock, to the west of the castle, which was where Vaelora Ryalor was born and where the Golden Hide launched its attack to reclaim the castle for House Ryalor back in 1727.
The Gauntlet Of Fire
A term used to refer to the extensive shore batteries located on both sides of the small strait dividing Stormisle and Sageisle, with the greatest concentration of the guns located in and around Peltarra and its bank on the opposite island, being one of the key defenses that Westisle maintains against its adversaries. In order to strike at the protected inner heartland of Stormisle one must pick between a variety of bad options. One is to painfully grind their way through attacks on each and every battery along with breaking through the various harbor chains then take on Peltarra’s city defenses, and then finally seize Storm’s Peak itself, or attempt to neutralize all of the above either through stealth or speed. The other is to land armed forces further up the less-protected coasts, giving the defenders at the populated center of the isles precious time to mobilize and fortify their positions for a protracted land campaign.
Ryalor’s End
More of a de-facto concept than a theory, this is the line about midway between Westisle and Mainland Fyador that delineates the end of Ryalor and by extension Imperial power and the beginning of the various clans and factions on the mainland. While pirates frequently cross this line, neither the Imperium nor the Fyadoran powers seem particularly eager to engage in large-scale military excursions across it though there have been several incidents and near-incidents where fire has been exchanged. The Imperium, generally having much larger and better ships in recent years under a united naval command, has usually prevailed in these conflicts, often by a large margin. It is rumored that the Duke of Westisle occasionally deliberately tests the strengths of the various powers maintaining the line, looking for any weakness, although he has seemed more interested in internal Imperial affairs rather than launching an offensive to retake even a small portion of the Fyadoran mainland in recent years. It is said that the youngest House Ryalor daughter, against the wishes and even sometimes the actual orders of her parents, occasionally crosses the line and leads small raids onto the mainland, although for what purpose even the Duke and Duchess do not know.
Scholar’s Pointe
Located on the northern tip of the smaller island, this town and its university are among the oldest on Westisle, speculated to have been founded even before Peltarra, having a favorable harbor, an excellent defensive position being a peninsula that is surrounded on three sides by water and steep shoreside cliffs, and finally having its own extensive groundwater supply and cave system. It is rumored that when the Ryalors were booted out of mainland Fyador, they were able to secure quite a large cache of books and knowledge, all of which was deposited at Scholar’s Pointe, and that secret expeditions to the mainland have recovered even more such knowledge. The Minister of Innovation has heavily directed much funding to the city, although the exact nature of the ongoing research, much like Magh, has been kept quiet. It has been rumored, however, that some beasts have been shown doing odd things like flying kites in lightning storms, putting up mysterious rods on the tops of buildings, and have been seen carrying strange jars, boxes, and smaller machines, occasionally carrying these things to the Vaelora Ryalor Sanatorium for the Insane, located some distance away.
Vaelora Ryalor Sanatorium for the Insane
Located on the smaller isle south of Scholar’s Pointe, this is the Imperium’s premier mental healthcare facility, which one can learn more about in the Imperial Medicine Official Lore article.
