Duchy of Redpass

**Ruler**
 **Ruling House**
 **Seat**
 **Beliefs**
 **Founded**

The **Duchy of Redpass** is a fief within the realm of Stormwind that sits on the northeastern-most border of the Redridge Mountains, against what is now the Burning Steppes. It is ruled by Duke Lorias Ashgarde and he is expected to be succeeded by his daughter, Lady Barathena Ashgarde, who is the current Baroness of Redcastle.

## People & History

Originally, this land was little more than a highway that connected the Red Steppes to the Black Morass. Following the War of Three Hammers, however, its rulers were able to manage the chaos following Blackrock Mountain's eruption far better than their neighbors; while other fiefs suffered under volcanic ash, the court wizard of Redcastle allegedly discovered archaic magic that could use it to catalyze routinely wealthy harvests.

Some scholars debate whether druidism was truly at play and contend the region's success was simply a matter of geographic luck; others criticize the prospect, citing that such a selfish use of magic should undermine its authority entirely. True or not, an ample overflow of healthy crops afforded Lord Yvonne Tyras the political leverage he needed to lead his peers for a generation.

Redpass has a significant population of Dark Iron Dwarves who escaped the slave-rule of Ragnaros and Emperor Thaurissan; they prefer to call their new home "The Ironwalk" because it is quite literally the place they walked to.

## Territories

The Duchy of Redpass comprises two counties and four baronies, the former of which can be neatly divided by their elevation and the latter of which can be recognized by either their topography or urbanization.

### The County of Highshire

This subregion is host to both the seat of House Ashgarde and a portion of the old provincial highway that connects Redridge to the Burning Steppes. It is known for having a high population of wealthy freeholders.

#### The Barony of Redcastle

As the ancestral seat of House Ashgarde, Redcastle was originally a military outpost meant to overlook both the Forbidden Sea and the distant Redridgean heartlands. The administrative capital of Redpass is located here.

#### The Barony of Ashfield

The rural communities of Ashfield enjoy a close relationship with their local mage guilds, though this is in-part due to the Redpass nobility directing their arcanists to employ druidic teachings to increase the area’s farming output.

### The County of Galardell Valley

This area is known for being haunted by the tower of Ilgalar and is allegedly where King Barathen Wrynn and his knights confronted the packlord Garfang and ended the Gnoll Wars. The valley also connects the provincial highway to Redridge’s heartlands.

#### The Barony of Garfang’s Folly

Many a gnollslayer has come from this region, inspired by the legends from the Gnoll Wars to hunt and fight away the ferine menace that stalks their neighboring woods. Names based on Barathen and Adamant are very common here.

#### The Barony of Galarweald

The people of these woods pride themselves for their games of wit, claiming such is required to survive when their hearth is surrounded by stray warlocks, shadowhide gnolls, and the forgotten minions of Black Dragons.