Westland (Sword of Truth)
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Westland is a fictional location in the Sword of Truth fantasy series by Terry Goodkind.
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[edit] History
For most of the history of the New World, magic existed everywhere, including Westland. After the war between D'Hara and the Midlands, several people of the Midlands were sick of magic and its alleged evils and wanted to live in a land free of magic. Zedd reformulated the boundary spell he had used to end the war to form an additional boundary between what became Westland, which was populated by the people who wanted to be rid of magic, and the Midlands. In order to create a Westland free of magic, there could be none there when the boundary went up, however a few magical items did come over after the boundary was established, such as the Book of Counted Shadows and the Sword of Truth. Zedd also left the Midlands and crossed the boundary to settle in Westland. The boundary prevented anyone but the most talented and skilled from traveling between Westland and the Midlands and was put up about 40 years before the start of the series. It came down shortly after the series began.
[edit] Government
Westland is ruled and governed primarily by the First Councilor. The seat of government is Hartland.
[edit] Geographical Characteristics
Westland is the western most nation in the New World. It is separated from the Midlands to the east by a range of mountains that diminish as you travel south. The boundary existed along this mountain range.
The majority of Westland is covered in gently rolling hills covered by woods, consisting largely of maple, balsam fir, oak, pine, spruce, white birch, and nannyberry trees. Other forms of vegetation include the Aum plant, ferns, and wildflowers. Native wildlife includes wolves, rabbits, beavers, snakes and a variety of birds, particularly ravens. Native insects include snowy tree crickets, moths, and lacewings. Precipitation is common but not normally in significant amounts (except during the Winter). Westland is the home of the town of Hartland as well as of a young Richard and George Cypher and their family.
[edit] Culture
Unlike the Midlands, all girls are allowed to keep their hair at any length they desire.
