Westmarch (City)

"Angry naked women are attacking me? This is my summer in Westmarch all over again!"

- Lyndon

Westmarch, City of the Light was the mercantile and martial capital of the country of the same name.

Lore
"Well, let me be among the first to welcome you to Westmarch! Isn't it as grand as the stories say?" "It is certainly large, I will give it that."

- Charsi and a hero

A legendary city, Westmarch was one of the largest cities of Sanctuary at the time of its fall, and was the world's most powerful.

Westmarch was so named as it marked the westernmost point of Rakkis's crusade into the West. It had sprawling streets with gutters thick with sludge and refuse, and Gothic architecture. It served as the berth of the country's navy.

The city of Westmarch was surrounded by stone walls, lined with archers and lookouts. Its ramparts and buildings were much taller than Bramwell. Its geography involved a rise as one moved inwards towards the city center, as it was built on hills. As one moved into the city, the buildings grew more ornate. In its heyday, Westmarch was always bustling with activities as people came from all over the world to marvel at its sights and landmarks. It was home to a number of churches, museums, and art galleries.

Much of Westmarch's trade came in through its piers. Here, a rivalry existed between longshoremen and sailors. Sailors resented longshoremen for "not having the guts to go to sea," while longshoremen looked down on sailors, not seeing them as a true part of the community. Ergo, those in one profession tended to keep their distance from those in the other while in taverns.

The city had a number of orphanages, though, according to Deckard Cain, they were "little better than slave camps."

Founding
After his conquest of Westmarch, Rakkis ordered the construction of a river-port settlement that would serve as a capital for his new kingdom, located adjacent to the Western Sea and the Blood Marsh. He later consecrated the city and named himself king. What would become the city's palace was the first building constructed, which served as Rakkis's stronghold. The Sons of Rakkis later constructed the outer walls of the city. Later architects would mimic this design and embellish it. In a sense, the city of Westmarch became an extension of the palace.

Because of Westmarch's proximity to the sea, it quickly grew into a center of martial and mercantile power. Over the next two centuries, no outside force ever laid siege to the city. As it spread outwards, as Westmarch and its harbor grew, nearly all of its buildings built by the sea were torn up and replaced with new ones. Only a few examples of its old architecture remained, as they had been shored up by expert artisans.

The Great Pestilence
"This pestilence threatens to destroy our city, General Arenton. See that the plague dead are kept only in the Repository, and use this weapon to set their bodies aflame. Would that the memory of this tragedy could burn with them."

- Justinian II

In 1200, the city experienced an outbreak of plague, known as the Great Pestilence. It affected both humans and animals. The panicked survivors threw the corpses of both into the Plague Tunnels. Justinian II ordered the incineration of plague victims.

Age of the Wolf
"If this is the Age of the Wolf, it is the common people of Westmarch who have made it so."

- Anonymous

After the destruction of Mount Arreat, Westmarch accomodated an influx of refugees from the north, while coping with rising tensions between the city's commoners and nobility. The city began to de-emphasize its once prominent Zakarum faith.

Dawn of Damnation
"More and more travelers come to Westmarch every day."

- Mattis

In 1270, refugees from Ashwold flocked to Westmarch. Similarly, villagers living in/around the western part of the Dark Wood tried to flee to Westmarch, but were waylaid by a Fallen tribe. The city requested that adventurers clear the wood of Fallen, so that the roads would remain clear.

Later, the forces of Skarn invaded Sanctuary, sweeping across the kingdom. Soon, only Westmarch itself stood against his forces.

The Reaper of Souls
"Malthael's fallen angels have brought death to Westmarch, raising an army of reapers from the city's slain defenders."

- Lorath Nahr

In 1285, Malthael led his Reapers against Westmarch, culling many of its citizens and defenders and converting them into an army of undead thralls under his command. The city fell nearly instantly, but fighting continued between the Reapers and Westmarch's remaining soldiers, who were aided by the Nephalem and Tyrael. The city was successfully defended, albeit at the cost of thousands of lives. Currently, the city is deserted, with much of it reduced to rubble.

Diablo Immortal
"Explore the sprawling streets of Westmarch in a time before Malthael’s corruption. The city is always bustling with activity as visitors from all over the world come to marvel at its sights, enjoy its landmarks, and more. Westmarch is where you can meet all your adventuring needs. You’ll have access to your stash and vendors, but more importantly it’s the place to meet fellow travelers, relax and take a breather."

- Zone summary

Westmarch serves as the hub for Diablo Immortal. Players can interact with vendors and other players here, along with being able to store their loot.

In the beta, players gained access to Westmarch after completing the Ashwold Cemetery and Dark Wood zones. In the final version, players gain access to Westmarch straight after Ashwold.

Zones

 * Cain's Workshop
 * Central Square
 * Charsi's Smithy
 * Gideon's Row
 * Glittering Gems & Jewelery
 * Iben Fahd's Sanctum
 * Immortal Overlook
 * Palace Courtyard
 * Pathway to the Docks
 * Rakkis Plaza
 * Selynne's Basilica
 * The Docks
 * The King's Road
 * The Wolf Gate
 * Westmarch Palace
 * Wolf City Tavern
 * Wynton's Grand Market

Diablo III
Westmarch is an area featured in Act V of Diablo III, as introduced in Reaper of Souls. The city is divided into numerous sub-zones.

Areas

 * Briarthorn Cemetery
 * Gideon's Row
 * Mercantile Quarter
 * Nobles' Rest Courtyard
 * Plague Tunnels
 * Rakkis Plaza
 * The Cesspools (sewers)
 * The Docks
 * The Survivors' Enclave
 * Westmarch Commons
 * Westmarch Heights
 * Wynton Courtyard
 * Wynton's Grand Market

Structures

 * Cain's Workshop
 * Captain Haile's House
 * Charsi's Smithy
 * Clyfton Hall
 * Court of Whispers
 * Cozy Bookstore
 * Cross-Eyed Sal's
 * Glittering Gems & Jewelery
 * Hall of Dark Arts
 * House of Screams
 * Inn of the Black Ram
 * Inn of the Snapping Dog
 * Miser's Hovel
 * Moldering Waterway
 * Old Storehouse
 * Repository of Bones
 * Selynne's Basilica
 * Sorcerer's Room
 * Tower of Korelan
 * The Hangman's Noose
 * The Wolf Gate (entrance to the city)
 * Westmarch Chapel
 * Westmarch Dungeon
 * Westmarch Palace
 * Wolf City Tavern
 * Zakarum Cathedral

Other

 * Dock Street

Trivia

 * According to Valerie Watrous, Kingsport and Westmarch are located very close together. This is contradicted by maps of Sanctuary, which show that Kingsport and the capital are located on opposite sides of the country.