Orman Wulk - 12th Known Ruler of Revellia
Called the Fearful and Orman Westfall
King Orman Wulk
Reign: 768 RA - 774 RA
Wizards: Margget the Wise, Hannah Humble The third and final king of the Rule of the West, Orman's reign was stable and peaceful until the invasion of Garland the Conqueror. Orman is now principally known for falling to Garland and ushering in the Second Rule of Ainros. Orman was a third son and had not expected to rule. His eldest brother Ollagar was infantilized by a blow to the head (delivered by his own father King Ollaugh, if rumors are to be believed, and they usually are in Ollaugh's case). The second son, Prince Ragnat, died at only twelve years, fighting against Lord Nodraigh Beth's rebellion (called the Fool's War). After the rebellion was won, King Ollaugh seemed to abandon all interest in his children, leaving Orman's future in the hands of his half-brother, Conrac Wulk. Young Orman was wed to Carmyn Sirtal when the two were six-and-ten, by order of the King. Ollaugh famously hated his Eastern queen (his disdain was mutual), and wanted to demonstrate the supremacy of the West by wedding his heir to a thoroughly Western clan. Hard as it may be to believe, at the time the Sirtals were a minor people with no true lands of their own, forest folk in every sense. Yet there was a small cadet branch living in Dubraigh whose loyalty was unquestioned, and it was from these that the king selected his heir's bride. The couple's opinions toward one another is not known, but they did sire three children: Rosmaran, Lilianna, and Conrack. Orman's father was a bloody, savage monarch, yet he died peacefully in his bed in 768 RA. Orman took the crown at four-and-twenty, having spent about a decade under the tutelage of his half-uncle and Margget the Wise, the celebrated Western wizard. His reign began peacefully, but it would come as little surprise when lords began to test this new, unknown king. Orman's father had few allies and fewer friends, and Margget's histories claim his corpse was not yet cold when the Eastern lords began harassing their Siiari subjects. Revelback and Great Cross outlawed Deinain worship, holding back their taxes to instead send north to the King of Kings. Siiari were beaten and even killed with no recourse. Several of Revelback's vassals even made weekly convocations mandatory, keeping records of those who refused to attend, with notably harsher punishments for Siiari infractions. Margget the Wise spells that Conrac was eager to ride out and visit bloody vengeance upon the East. He had been named Chief Justicar within a week of King Ollaugh's death, replacing the aging Lord Doolan Eskmai, who at once returned to his seat at Redwalk. Conrac was a celebrated warrior, known to most as the Headsman, for managing to decapitate Maladraigh Capall's head in a single blow during Nodraigh's Rebellion. He urged the new King to demonstrate his power unflinchingly, but Margget convinced him to try a subtler approach. Clans Beth, Capall, Dylaen, and Slabh had all given hostages over to the West after the Rebellion, and those hostages were now being fostered by Clans Wulk, Eskmai, Faolan, and Baene. Emissaries from these four fostering clans were sent East to treat with Revelback, a clear reminder of the power the West held. The compulsory convocation laws were soon revoked, and the East would return to paying taxes in the future, but the already withheld money was instead used to build new hostels. This was a bold move, as the chiefs of Clans Capall and Dylaen had no clear heirs at the time, aside from those hostages in the West. Yet rebellion was stemmed, and soon enough peace returned. Margget's counsel had proven effective, and it is entirely possible that further pursuing her policies might well have secured the Rule of the West. Sadly, she would catch a chill while wandering the docks in the second year of Orman's reign, and died shortly thereafter. She was sixty years old and, despite her allegiance, is still heralded as one of the greatest wizards of Revellia. Her replacement, Hannah Humble, was renowned for her loyalty and little else. Still, at the time of Margget's passing, there was much cause for hope in the West. She was granted a peaceful death in a peaceful realm. The peace did not last. About three years into Orman's reign, rumors began to circulate that the heir to Clan Ainros had returned. Orman's grandfather King Otgam had slain King Griin Ainros and Kurnek the Usurper, but Griin's children had managed to escape north into Ethel. Now it was said that the son or grandson of one of those children was returning, and moreover that he led a host of divine warriors, descendents of the Viisianars, from across the Barrow Sea. Chief Justicar Conrac would dismiss this at first, but the rumors continued to grow until a fleet of strange ships attacked Aerwoth in what would be called the Battle at Ardail. The ancient seat of Clan Ainros was taken by those flying the banner of the horned warrior, the sigil of that clan. The leader of these invaders was earthen-skinned like the Viisianars, yet he had the crystal-blue eyes and rubious hair of the Ainros, and he called himself Garland the First Ainros. Leante and Ethel warriors counted among his ranks, and even Siiari fought for him, as well as strange, beautiful, earthen-faced warriors that would come to be known as the Liddinawths. At his side was a Vainan wizard called Elisel the Enchantress. Queen Carmyn supposedly remarked once that it seemed the whole of the world was allied against them. Garland's army swept across the East, and in truth there were few battles. Many of the great clans willingly came to his banners, and those that did not (notably the Elkwoods of Berleigh and all of their vassals save Clan Hunter) simply refused to fight one way or the other. Clan Graunt would hold Saolmoth against them for a few moons, but it was not long before they too bent the knee. Lord Sairas Graunt had been a close friend to King Ollaugh in their youth, but he seemed to hold little love for his son and heir. Unwilling to wait for Saolmoth's surrender, Garland's navy swept around the Southern Promontory and attacked Dubraigh directly. This attack was used to sneak agents into the city in hopes of freeing the hostages taken after Nodraigh's Rebellion. Sadly, only young Arribold Capall managed to escape. Igranach Beth and Orthos Sorshan died in their escape attempt, and young Robin Dylaen was executed before the navy had even arrived. Lacking hostages, and with their capital under attack by both Ethel ships and the Liddinawth navy's fiery catapults, Orman and his party retreated eastward toward Saolmoth, which had not yet surrendered at the time. The office of Chief Justicar was granted to Dullan Eskmai, who eagerly accepted the title and swore that ports would repel all invasions by sea (which, to be fair, they ultimately did). Some would sneer and call this cowardice, but even today Clan Eskmai accords this a great honor done to their family. Freed from his obligation to hold the city, a forty-six-year-old Conrac Wulk marched out with his half-nephew in hopes of meeting the invaders in the field. Also accompanying them was Prince Warragh, the King's brother and sworn shield, as well as the king's firstborn daughter Rosmaran and his only son, Conrack. Princess Rosmaran was twelve, but not yet betrothed, a vital part of the King's plan. Princess Lilianna, his second daughter, was left behind in Dubraigh with his wife, Queen Carmyn, under the protection of Lord Saldor Baene (the very man who had so enthusiastically executed young Robin Dylaen), with the instructions to take them both east to Hillbaile should the city fall. Though the royal army marched toward Saolmoth, breaking the siege was not their sole intent. While most of the army would engage with the Ainros forces, a small contingent led by Conrac would take the King's children south, into the Fiirwood, to Castle Malbrand, where they hoped to arrange alliances with Clan Marnock in exchange for the safety of both prince and princess. Conrac's own sister Maery was wed to a Marnock, and it was hoped they would be sympathetic to the Western cause. Once the children were secured, Conrac would lead his forces up the Nightfall to surprise the Easterners from the south. The plan would fall apart before it began. By the time they neared Saolmoth, Lord Sairas Graunt had already given the city to Garland, and the Easterners were rushing toward them in overwhelming numbers. Conrac directed two of his most trusted soldiers, Ottimar Wallock and Coll Maulkin, to take the royal children into the Fiirwood and beg asylum of Clan Marnock, whereafter he wheeled his horse toward the oncoming foes. It was said he was first to reach the Eastern army, that he died with a sword in his fist and a curse on his lips. The King and his brother Warragh would prove more pragmatic. The Western army retreated for three days before order was given to move south into the Fiirwood. These were mostly men of Dubraigh, many of whom had never set foot into the Frozen Forest, yet they were still Siiari in their bones. Giving up their horses in order to move more freely, they hoped the trees, the Brume, and the werewolves would protect them. In the end, it cannot be known how many soldiers died in the woods, and how many stripped off their arms and armor and pretended to be forest folk in order to save their own skins, or how many would ultimately vanish into the Brume and become brigands. Meanwhile at Dubraigh, word would soon reach them of the army's retreat. The port still held, and indeed much of the Ethel navy was already returning home, but it was clear to all present that their time was limited. Lord Saldor Baene had prepared a retinue and was hours away from departing for Hillbaile when Chief Justicar Dullan Eskmai pulled him aside and ordered that the Queen and Princess be taken to Starton instead (then the seat of Clan Eskmai). Lord Saldor refused, and the argument soon turned violent. By day's end, all of Lord Saldor's people in Dubraigh had been put to the sword, including Lord Saldor himself. Lord Dullan assembled a new escort headed by his brother Donrack and had Queen Carmyn and Princess Lilianna taken to Starton. Donrack offered to take the wizard Hannah Humble as well, but she refused to abandon her post. In the Fiirwood, things were even more chaotic. Some of the forest folk were happy to assist their brethren in hiding from or even ambushing the Eastern army, but just as many saw only armored assailants and reacted by fleeing or even attempting to harm them. The Easterners did not know the woods, but there were simply too many of them. Ottimar Wallock was taken along the Nightfall, separated from Coll Maulkin, and after receiving oaths that Princess Rosmaran would not be harmed, gave himself up and was soon executed. Coll Maulkin would be seized the next day, but Prince Conrack had vanished. Coll insisted the boy had been seized by werewolves, and even under harsh questioning would give no other answer. He was soon executed as well. Princess Rosmaran would eventually be taken east and fostered by Clan Griivan. She would grow up to become a hostess at Great Cross. King Orman had fled deep into the Fiirwood, accompanied only by his brother Warragh and three unknown fighters, all on foot. They were seeking the Nightfall, in hopes of reaching Castle Malbrand. One by one, the unknown warriors fell to guard their King's retreat. When at last the King and his brother found the river, they fell upon a party of ten Easterners that had been on their way north to Saolmoth. Among them was the man called Garland Ainros. He was a boy of thirteen. Big for his age, confident and fit, and possessed of both the noble bearing of his ancestors and the strange, unsettling beauty of the Liddinawths, but a boy nonetheless. The Easterners commanded they surrender, but both Orman and Warragh drew steel and attacked. They reportedly slew four men before Warragh fell. It was then King Orman fled south in hopes of reaching Castle Malbrand. He was intercepted by another small band, however, those that had found and executed Coll Maulkin. Utterly surrounded, Orman turned and charged at the boy Garland. The histories of Elisel the Enchantress say the two fought in single combat, and that Orman died nobly in defense of his crown. The King's son, Prince Conrack, was never found. His widow Queen Carmyn would remain at Starton until it changed hands from Clan Eskmai to Clan Wallock, at which point she would return to Dubraigh and was kept in comfort by Dullamac Eskmai. Her daughter, Princess Lilianna, would marry Lord Arnard Wallock: three of her daughters would be spellers. So ended Clan Wulk, and the Rule of the West.
Wizards: Margget the Wise, Hannah Humble The third and final king of the Rule of the West, Orman's reign was stable and peaceful until the invasion of Garland the Conqueror. Orman is now principally known for falling to Garland and ushering in the Second Rule of Ainros. Orman was a third son and had not expected to rule. His eldest brother Ollagar was infantilized by a blow to the head (delivered by his own father King Ollaugh, if rumors are to be believed, and they usually are in Ollaugh's case). The second son, Prince Ragnat, died at only twelve years, fighting against Lord Nodraigh Beth's rebellion (called the Fool's War). After the rebellion was won, King Ollaugh seemed to abandon all interest in his children, leaving Orman's future in the hands of his half-brother, Conrac Wulk. Young Orman was wed to Carmyn Sirtal when the two were six-and-ten, by order of the King. Ollaugh famously hated his Eastern queen (his disdain was mutual), and wanted to demonstrate the supremacy of the West by wedding his heir to a thoroughly Western clan. Hard as it may be to believe, at the time the Sirtals were a minor people with no true lands of their own, forest folk in every sense. Yet there was a small cadet branch living in Dubraigh whose loyalty was unquestioned, and it was from these that the king selected his heir's bride. The couple's opinions toward one another is not known, but they did sire three children: Rosmaran, Lilianna, and Conrack. Orman's father was a bloody, savage monarch, yet he died peacefully in his bed in 768 RA. Orman took the crown at four-and-twenty, having spent about a decade under the tutelage of his half-uncle and Margget the Wise, the celebrated Western wizard. His reign began peacefully, but it would come as little surprise when lords began to test this new, unknown king. Orman's father had few allies and fewer friends, and Margget's histories claim his corpse was not yet cold when the Eastern lords began harassing their Siiari subjects. Revelback and Great Cross outlawed Deinain worship, holding back their taxes to instead send north to the King of Kings. Siiari were beaten and even killed with no recourse. Several of Revelback's vassals even made weekly convocations mandatory, keeping records of those who refused to attend, with notably harsher punishments for Siiari infractions. Margget the Wise spells that Conrac was eager to ride out and visit bloody vengeance upon the East. He had been named Chief Justicar within a week of King Ollaugh's death, replacing the aging Lord Doolan Eskmai, who at once returned to his seat at Redwalk. Conrac was a celebrated warrior, known to most as the Headsman, for managing to decapitate Maladraigh Capall's head in a single blow during Nodraigh's Rebellion. He urged the new King to demonstrate his power unflinchingly, but Margget convinced him to try a subtler approach. Clans Beth, Capall, Dylaen, and Slabh had all given hostages over to the West after the Rebellion, and those hostages were now being fostered by Clans Wulk, Eskmai, Faolan, and Baene. Emissaries from these four fostering clans were sent East to treat with Revelback, a clear reminder of the power the West held. The compulsory convocation laws were soon revoked, and the East would return to paying taxes in the future, but the already withheld money was instead used to build new hostels. This was a bold move, as the chiefs of Clans Capall and Dylaen had no clear heirs at the time, aside from those hostages in the West. Yet rebellion was stemmed, and soon enough peace returned. Margget's counsel had proven effective, and it is entirely possible that further pursuing her policies might well have secured the Rule of the West. Sadly, she would catch a chill while wandering the docks in the second year of Orman's reign, and died shortly thereafter. She was sixty years old and, despite her allegiance, is still heralded as one of the greatest wizards of Revellia. Her replacement, Hannah Humble, was renowned for her loyalty and little else. Still, at the time of Margget's passing, there was much cause for hope in the West. She was granted a peaceful death in a peaceful realm. The peace did not last. About three years into Orman's reign, rumors began to circulate that the heir to Clan Ainros had returned. Orman's grandfather King Otgam had slain King Griin Ainros and Kurnek the Usurper, but Griin's children had managed to escape north into Ethel. Now it was said that the son or grandson of one of those children was returning, and moreover that he led a host of divine warriors, descendents of the Viisianars, from across the Barrow Sea. Chief Justicar Conrac would dismiss this at first, but the rumors continued to grow until a fleet of strange ships attacked Aerwoth in what would be called the Battle at Ardail. The ancient seat of Clan Ainros was taken by those flying the banner of the horned warrior, the sigil of that clan. The leader of these invaders was earthen-skinned like the Viisianars, yet he had the crystal-blue eyes and rubious hair of the Ainros, and he called himself Garland the First Ainros. Leante and Ethel warriors counted among his ranks, and even Siiari fought for him, as well as strange, beautiful, earthen-faced warriors that would come to be known as the Liddinawths. At his side was a Vainan wizard called Elisel the Enchantress. Queen Carmyn supposedly remarked once that it seemed the whole of the world was allied against them. Garland's army swept across the East, and in truth there were few battles. Many of the great clans willingly came to his banners, and those that did not (notably the Elkwoods of Berleigh and all of their vassals save Clan Hunter) simply refused to fight one way or the other. Clan Graunt would hold Saolmoth against them for a few moons, but it was not long before they too bent the knee. Lord Sairas Graunt had been a close friend to King Ollaugh in their youth, but he seemed to hold little love for his son and heir. Unwilling to wait for Saolmoth's surrender, Garland's navy swept around the Southern Promontory and attacked Dubraigh directly. This attack was used to sneak agents into the city in hopes of freeing the hostages taken after Nodraigh's Rebellion. Sadly, only young Arribold Capall managed to escape. Igranach Beth and Orthos Sorshan died in their escape attempt, and young Robin Dylaen was executed before the navy had even arrived. Lacking hostages, and with their capital under attack by both Ethel ships and the Liddinawth navy's fiery catapults, Orman and his party retreated eastward toward Saolmoth, which had not yet surrendered at the time. The office of Chief Justicar was granted to Dullan Eskmai, who eagerly accepted the title and swore that ports would repel all invasions by sea (which, to be fair, they ultimately did). Some would sneer and call this cowardice, but even today Clan Eskmai accords this a great honor done to their family. Freed from his obligation to hold the city, a forty-six-year-old Conrac Wulk marched out with his half-nephew in hopes of meeting the invaders in the field. Also accompanying them was Prince Warragh, the King's brother and sworn shield, as well as the king's firstborn daughter Rosmaran and his only son, Conrack. Princess Rosmaran was twelve, but not yet betrothed, a vital part of the King's plan. Princess Lilianna, his second daughter, was left behind in Dubraigh with his wife, Queen Carmyn, under the protection of Lord Saldor Baene (the very man who had so enthusiastically executed young Robin Dylaen), with the instructions to take them both east to Hillbaile should the city fall. Though the royal army marched toward Saolmoth, breaking the siege was not their sole intent. While most of the army would engage with the Ainros forces, a small contingent led by Conrac would take the King's children south, into the Fiirwood, to Castle Malbrand, where they hoped to arrange alliances with Clan Marnock in exchange for the safety of both prince and princess. Conrac's own sister Maery was wed to a Marnock, and it was hoped they would be sympathetic to the Western cause. Once the children were secured, Conrac would lead his forces up the Nightfall to surprise the Easterners from the south. The plan would fall apart before it began. By the time they neared Saolmoth, Lord Sairas Graunt had already given the city to Garland, and the Easterners were rushing toward them in overwhelming numbers. Conrac directed two of his most trusted soldiers, Ottimar Wallock and Coll Maulkin, to take the royal children into the Fiirwood and beg asylum of Clan Marnock, whereafter he wheeled his horse toward the oncoming foes. It was said he was first to reach the Eastern army, that he died with a sword in his fist and a curse on his lips. The King and his brother Warragh would prove more pragmatic. The Western army retreated for three days before order was given to move south into the Fiirwood. These were mostly men of Dubraigh, many of whom had never set foot into the Frozen Forest, yet they were still Siiari in their bones. Giving up their horses in order to move more freely, they hoped the trees, the Brume, and the werewolves would protect them. In the end, it cannot be known how many soldiers died in the woods, and how many stripped off their arms and armor and pretended to be forest folk in order to save their own skins, or how many would ultimately vanish into the Brume and become brigands. Meanwhile at Dubraigh, word would soon reach them of the army's retreat. The port still held, and indeed much of the Ethel navy was already returning home, but it was clear to all present that their time was limited. Lord Saldor Baene had prepared a retinue and was hours away from departing for Hillbaile when Chief Justicar Dullan Eskmai pulled him aside and ordered that the Queen and Princess be taken to Starton instead (then the seat of Clan Eskmai). Lord Saldor refused, and the argument soon turned violent. By day's end, all of Lord Saldor's people in Dubraigh had been put to the sword, including Lord Saldor himself. Lord Dullan assembled a new escort headed by his brother Donrack and had Queen Carmyn and Princess Lilianna taken to Starton. Donrack offered to take the wizard Hannah Humble as well, but she refused to abandon her post. In the Fiirwood, things were even more chaotic. Some of the forest folk were happy to assist their brethren in hiding from or even ambushing the Eastern army, but just as many saw only armored assailants and reacted by fleeing or even attempting to harm them. The Easterners did not know the woods, but there were simply too many of them. Ottimar Wallock was taken along the Nightfall, separated from Coll Maulkin, and after receiving oaths that Princess Rosmaran would not be harmed, gave himself up and was soon executed. Coll Maulkin would be seized the next day, but Prince Conrack had vanished. Coll insisted the boy had been seized by werewolves, and even under harsh questioning would give no other answer. He was soon executed as well. Princess Rosmaran would eventually be taken east and fostered by Clan Griivan. She would grow up to become a hostess at Great Cross. King Orman had fled deep into the Fiirwood, accompanied only by his brother Warragh and three unknown fighters, all on foot. They were seeking the Nightfall, in hopes of reaching Castle Malbrand. One by one, the unknown warriors fell to guard their King's retreat. When at last the King and his brother found the river, they fell upon a party of ten Easterners that had been on their way north to Saolmoth. Among them was the man called Garland Ainros. He was a boy of thirteen. Big for his age, confident and fit, and possessed of both the noble bearing of his ancestors and the strange, unsettling beauty of the Liddinawths, but a boy nonetheless. The Easterners commanded they surrender, but both Orman and Warragh drew steel and attacked. They reportedly slew four men before Warragh fell. It was then King Orman fled south in hopes of reaching Castle Malbrand. He was intercepted by another small band, however, those that had found and executed Coll Maulkin. Utterly surrounded, Orman turned and charged at the boy Garland. The histories of Elisel the Enchantress say the two fought in single combat, and that Orman died nobly in defense of his crown. The King's son, Prince Conrack, was never found. His widow Queen Carmyn would remain at Starton until it changed hands from Clan Eskmai to Clan Wallock, at which point she would return to Dubraigh and was kept in comfort by Dullamac Eskmai. Her daughter, Princess Lilianna, would marry Lord Arnard Wallock: three of her daughters would be spellers. So ended Clan Wulk, and the Rule of the West.
Social
Family Ties
Conditions
Ethnicity
Honorary & Occupational Titles
King of Revellia,
Lord of Dubraigh,
Patriarch of the Siiari
Lord of Dubraigh,
Patriarch of the Siiari
Life
4744
4774
30 years old
Circumstances of Death
Slain in single combat with Garland the Conqueror during the Fiirwood Rout (according to tradition)
Birthplace
Dubraigh
Family
Children
Eyes
Blue
Hair
Grey
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Ghast