Wetlanders

“As we crossed the treacherous Penn River, the Wetlanders closed in on us from all directions. With water up to our waists, my heavy infantry struggled to move as they were bombarded by an onslaught of arrows that pelted us like rain. Chaos ensued as my soldiers stumbled about, floundering like headless chickens in those murky waters. I spun around to bark orders to my lieutenant, desperate to form ranks and retaliate against our assailants. But before he could even utter a word, an arrow found its mark, piercing through his visor slit and dropping him into the waters below. I don’t think it was a stray either…”

- Primean Emperor, Adrianous Milanos. Written several years after his attempted conquest of the Wetlands.

Overview

Hailing from the unforgiving and murky marshes of the inner Heartlands, the Wetlanders are a breed apart from their Heartlands forebears. Their homeland, aptly named the Wetlands, has molded them into a tenacious and resourceful people, constantly pushing themselves to overcome the treacherous terrain they call home.

Renowned for their unparalleled skill in archery, sailing, and commerce, the Wetlanders have truly mastered both the sea and the battlefield. Their ability to navigate the choppy waters and marshy terrain of their homeland has honed their senses and given them a keen understanding of the surrounding landscape. With a combination of underhanded tactics and deadly accuracy, the Wetlanders strike fear into the hearts of their foes, becoming a force to be reckoned with on both land and sea.

History

Sources vary among modern historians on the true origin of the Wetlander people, but what is known is that the Wetlanders were originally part of the Heartlander slave rebellion against the Elven Empire. With the rebellion proving to be for the most part a great success; the original human settlers could have been scouts sent to survey the treacherous marshes in the name of the fledgling Kingdom of the Heartlands. Other scholars argue they were merely a band of rogue defectors who no longer were suited to life amongst their brethren, wandering off into the riverlands.

In any case the new residents of the central marsh faced an overwhelming challenge in taming their new homeland. The swamps, rivers, and forests were teeming with all sorts of hostile life that sought to impede the new Wetland settlers. This ranged from native forest Elves and Fae to creatures indescribable in their monstrosity. The settlement of the Wetlands was essentially a war in it of itself, consisting of several decades full of guerilla warfare and genocide of the local fauna. In the end however the Wetlanders emerged as the undisputed masters of their territory, quickly adapting to the hostile environment.

Thus the Kingdom of the Wetlands was formed, and a new city was constructed as their capital: Lyledale. Lyledale’s positioning near the Eastern sea led to it becoming a huge trade city, importing goods from all over the world. The brutalistic and dreary city with its towering stone walls would become known to many merchants across Reveia.

In the following years the burgeoning Primean Empire, the rulers of nearly half of the continent, would invade the Heartlands region. The Heartlander knights had a devastating effect on the Primean infantry, being able to scatter their lines into pieces. Whilst the Heartlanders were able to defeat the Primeans in the first few engagements the superior numbers of the Primean army began to erode at the Heartland’s territory. When the Heartland king beseeched the Wetlands for aid they acquiesced, and together the two were able to beat back the Primean horde in exchange for the Heartlands ceding much of their territory to the Wetlands.

Following this the Fletcher kings would continue to expand the power of the Wetlands whenever possible, which put them at odds with many different kingdoms. This would result in numerous wars with the Fae, Zusko, and the Elves. Despite this the Kingdom experienced a new golden age at this time, however with the disappearance of Edward II the Wetlands was merged into the Heartlands territory under Corinfyre supervision.

Culture

The vast majority of the Wetlands is made of peasantry and merchants, sporting far less nobility to manage them in comparison to a region such as the Grapelands. The greatest religion in the lands is by far the Trium, however many still do cling to the old gods.

For work a Wetlander has a plethora of jobs to take up, with many around Lyledale tilling the fields or taking up fishing. For those in the Marshes however hunting is the go to, with their longbows killing rabbits  just as well as men. Such is the number of hunters in the region that deer have been hunted to extinction in the area, with the local lords having to implement strict hunting laws to stop the same from happening to other animals.

The Wetlanders live in modest, utilitarian homes constructed from local materials, such as mud and reeds. Their homes are designed to withstand the harsh conditions of the marshlands, with thatched roofs and raised foundations to protect against flooding. The interior of their homes is typically sparsely furnished, with simple wooden furniture and minimal decoration.

As for their cuisine, the Wetlanders are known for their simple, bland fare. Their diet is primarily based on rice, barley, and fish, with little in the way of spices or seasoning. They do, however, have a fondness for ale, which they brew from local grains and hops. Despite the simplicity of their cuisine, the Wetlanders take great pride in their ability to make the most of the meager resources available to them, creating hearty and nourishing meals that sustain them through a long day’s labor.

Warfare

The Wetlander’s preferred mode of warfare is guerrilla-style hit-and-run attacks, striking at their enemies from the shadows and disappearing just as quickly. They are adept at using the marshy terrain of their homeland to their advantage, setting deadly traps and ambushes for their foes.

When it comes to traditional warfare, the Wetlanders are masters of the longbow, boasting some of the best archers in all the land. Wetlander armies can be composed of up to fifty percent longbowmen at times, serving as the backbone of their armies. So long as their archers cannot be reached the Wetlands can dominate a battlefield. However, their infantry has often been found to be of mediocre quality.

In naval warfare, the Wetlanders are a force to be reckoned with, using their superior shipbuilding skills to construct massive, well-armored vessels that can take on even the mightiest of fleets. These ships, known as Man of Wars, are towering behemoths of vessels, and boast twice as many cannons as a galleon. They are however slow to maneuver, and need to be supported by other smaller ships to prevent being swarmed by desperate boarding parties.