County of Greyrose

**Ruler**
 **Ruling House**
 **Resident Houses**
* House Carlyle of Stormwind
* House Coldthorne
* House Beligarde
* House Ramsey
* House Bellcry
* House Van Fleet (Deceased)
 **Vassal Fiefs**
* The Viscounty of Gryphonhold
* The Barony of Van Fleet
* The Barony of Rosewrought
* The Barony of Kasselholt
* The Barony of Ridley's Isle
* The Barony of Montriviere
 **Seat**
 **Settlements**
* Ravenbridge
* Pyremist Village
* Taverton
* Wineburg
* Silverhall
* Gryphonhold
* Falconcrest
* Rosewood
* Hunterspass
* Dirthill
* Thornwall
* Filigree
* Kasselholt
* The Slumbering City
* Ridley's Isle
* Montriviere
 **Beliefs**

The **County of Greyrose** (formerly the County of Sunrose) is a holding in the central-East of the province of Duskwood (formerly known as Brightwood) that thrives as a peaceful, relatively uneventful place. Once maintained by House Van Fleet, the County of Greyrose boasts a population of middle aged to older folk who are reclining into a peaceful life and have taken up the esteemed honor of maintaining those who have departed. To this extent, the County of Greyrose, especially the Duskbell district (which possesses the Duskbell Graveyard and the Duskbell Abbey) curate a culture of deep remembrance in which those that pass on from this life are celebrated for their impacts on this world and are never forgotten.

## Culture

> If one had to summarize life there with only three words they would be **quaint**, **humble**, and (of course) **grey**. There is a love for the mysterious greyness of Duskwood's reaches in Greyrose; A significant population of the people in Greyrose are resettling Gilneans or are folk who have begun to find it difficult to accomplish tasks they could execute with precision in their youth. As such, things in Greyrose tend to be quite slow. Perhaps that is what makes it so charming: Things are often well planned in advance and generally happen as they are expected to happen.
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### A Culture of Remembrance

> Before House Thane came into power over the land, House Van Fleet ruled for decades upon decades: There was a time which the land was fertile, as were the ideas and ambitions of its people. However, three decades ago House Van Fleet suffered immense loses and the House was left to one single man: Count Laurence Van Fleet.
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> As its count aged, so too did the county. Children grew up, young adults found love, and parents watched them go. Greyrose was a haven for those who age had left behind. Over the ages, Duskbell had accumulated quite an enormous graveyard and in the last three decades especially, it has only grown in size as older populations seem drawn to the grey landscape.
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> Since its descent into a modest home for the withering and forgotten, the people of Greyrose have grown fond of its loyalty to memorializing all of its people: Everyone in this world has loved and lost... Greyrose seems to proudly carry on the names of those who have been lost. Greyrose offers an unspoken commitment to its residents: In the County of Greyrose, a name is never spoken for the last time. The deceased are never truly lost; They are simply allowed to rest.
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> While some residents can be considered superstitious, the vast majority of Greyrose are faithful to the Church of the Holy Light. A large sum of the individuals in Greyrose are aging humans, especially those who have been gently left behind by their families or have experienced loss in some way. To that extent, there it a particular reliance on the Light amongst the population that is unique to Greyrose alone.
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### Local Holidays & Traditions

>     **Remembrance Ceremonies -** Remembrance Ceremonies or just "Remembrances" occur throughout the year; Every month on the third day a minor remembrance is held for those to attend. This meeting is something akin to a public funeral service in which people come together while dressed in black to remember the stories of the dead. Though Duskbell is filled at this time with some moderate festivities, the Duskbell Cathedral and Duskbell Cemetary are opened to the public for people to come in and read some of the names of the deceased that have been immortalized on plaques that litter the walls and pillars of the cathedral.
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> **January 3rd - First Remembrance -** This an infamous Remembrance, it is easily the largest event to occur in Greyrose. The January Remembrance is simply the most important as it signifies the start of a new, fresh year of contemplation for those lost; A re-affirmation of respect to the dead. Therefore, it brings in visitors from far and wide.
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> **May 28th - Crossing Day -** Crossing Day is a small-scale unofficial annual tradition in which young, single adults (often women) will dress in their best clothes and parade across the Raven Bridge in hopes of catching the eye of one of the guards or knights training in the facility in Ravenbridge.
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> **June 15th - Flower Day -** Flower Day is officially called the "**Day of the Flowers of Memoria**" but that name is quite the mouthful hence the shortened "Flower Day" name. This holiday originates from one of the most notable villagers within Duskbell, Memoria Albert, who was commended for her exemplary curation of graves. She would often grow flowers explicitly to lay them at headstones. This is no easy feat as the Duskbell Graveyard is incredibly large. In respect for her dedication, on this day people are asked to wear a flower crown and hold a moment of silence for their late loved ones.
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### Folklore

> **The Banshee of the Bramblewood -** This a classic tale amongst children in Greyrose. It appears to be a new tale that has sprung up in recent months, though it helps encourage young children not to walk in the woods. The tale tells of a young woman who was accidentally separated from her trusted knight while walking about in the woods at night. Accidentally separated, the woman allegedly walked for days and nights calling for her trusted knight until she passed away, still standing upon her two legs. Now, the young woman is doomed for eternity to walk the woods and scream into the winds.
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> **The Mistress of the Pale Spire -** The tale of the Mistress of the Pale Spire is a very recent story that has a good deal of truth to it, unbeknownst to citizens of the county. Locals of Ridley's Isle have reportedly begun spreading whispers of the Mistress of the Pale Spire, a tall and icy woman who can sometimes be spotted walking throughout the tallest building in the fief; the Pale Spire. Children especially like to gossip that those who go into the spire never come out.
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> **The Eyes in the Lake -** This an incredibly old tale in Greyrose that functions as a cautionary tale for youth, encouraging them not to go near open water on their own lest the eyed woman at the bottom of the lake stare at them with her unblinking visage. Should they look back at her, it is said that she pulls them to the depths of the lake and they never resurface. The exact origins are unknown, but it's a popular spooky story despite its grim retellings.
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> **The Five Sentinels of the Duskbell Graveyard -** The legend of the Five Sentinels is also a very old tale, though it is unclear who it is meant for and if it is a cautionary tale at all. It speaks in regard to the five angelic statues that stand like guardians over all of the graves in the vast graveyard. And that is simply it: No one knows when they were erected or built. Many stories have been fabricated about their creation but they remain an utter mystery.
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> **The Hangman's Widow -** Little is known about the Hangman's Widow. It is simply an old, dead tree that looms high and mighty over the East side of the Bramblewood. This gigantic, hollow tree stares down at those who pass by Jack's crossing. A folk song is associated with the looming giant.
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## Economy & Resources

> The County enjoys some imported comforts by profit of its funeral economy reaching across the Kingdom and beyond. As a result of the booming funeral industry in Greyrose, the County of Greyrose has been able to afford and establish a training facility for guards in Ravenbridge and these guards often partake in bolstering the local militia tasked with the safety of the county.
> As the County of Greyrose focuses its industry on the act of secure funerals, it is no surprise that many within the Kingdom of Stormwind seek to lay their dead to rest in its extensive graveyard. Over the years the Duskbell Graveyard has nearly tripled in size of what it once was and now occupies land as far as the eye can see.
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## History

#### The County of Sunrose & The County of Greyrose

> The County of Sunrose was founded in 482 K.Y when House Wrynn elevated House Van Fleet, its original settlers, to nobility. House Van Fleet suffered the years with grace following the curse that befell Brightwood, and allowed their fief to reasonably prosper despite the dreariness of Duskwood. The earlier ancestors of House Van Fleet decided to rename the holding to the County of Greyrose to better suit their new circumstances.
> Note: One can see the remnants of the County of Sunrose via House Thane's shield iconography as it is a rose-en-soleil, or a "rose in sunshine". What was once crafted in gold was eventually substituted for a more efficient metallic look to suit the new atmosphere of the County of Greyrose.
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#### A Diminishing Bloodline

> For years, the County of Greyrose hosted valiant defenders of their land in the form of House Van Fleet. As time passed, several members of the Van Fleet House, the original curators of the land, perished in the third and fourth wars. In time, only the heir to the House was left. It is said that Count Laurence Van Fleet's mourning was so overwhelming that the people of Greyrose adopted it too. He refurbished the old graveyard in the North-West of his holding and re-ignited the trade there, but that did not matter to him. All he cared about was establishing a safe place that was near his home where he could frequently visit the graves of those he loved. He grew to his greyness alone, unable to move on from the loss of his beautiful family.
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#### Painting a Better Picture

> After years of neglect, the people of Greyrose seemed to do one of two things: The youth moved away and those that stayed simply aged. In his later years, Count Laurence Van Fleet, the sole member of his House could no longer produce an heir and had resigned on life. In his grief, he commissioned an artist of renown to paint portraits of his deceased family from his memory. This proved to be a difficult task as time had blurred their faces from his memory, but the artist seemed to show enough patience and compassion that, over the course of several months, the two became quite close; Like a grandfather and granddaughter. In time, the Count learned of the young artist's life; one who had been born into nobility and had lost everything. Having grown very fond of the woman, he offered to give her another chance at nobility-- And to carry on his name, too, when it was his time.
> And thus, Remona Thane was introduced as the new Countess of Greyrose.
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#### Re-Establishing and Enhancing

>     Though it has wilted in its prestige from past neglect, Greyrose is on a rise once more since being handed off to Lady Remona Thane. With the help of her friend Roland Vanburen and Tlayna Rastoke, the County has begun taking steps to heavily increased defenses to the land to ensure its security while also allowing the funeral industry to boom. Remona saw an interesting opportunity to monetize the thick culture of remembrance that still lingered in the county, and she leaned into it. Immediately following this decision, the County of Greyrose began to rapidly expand-- As did the Duskbell Graveyard. Once comprised of five districts, the Duskbell Graveyard swiftly grew to a full sixteen districts and stretched its gloomy hands as far as the eye could see. The County of Greyrose became an ideal location for individuals to settle down for life with the promise of peace and a vow to be remembered once they passed.
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#### The Civil War of 634

>     Once the Civil War of 634 ignited, House Thane did not initially pick a side between the self-proclaimed nobility-led loyalist faction and the Defias-majority rebel faction. Surrounded by rebel influence in Duskwood, the County of Greyrose held sturdy in their neutrality and founded an alliance with the Duchy of Mivirdeaux. Remona and Darioch Aurelious formed a formal friendship and vowed to protect each other's lands during the chaos. The fighting between the rebel and loyalist factions came to a close once the Hearthgrove Peace Treaty was approved in the House of Nobles in early March of 634 K.C.. However, that was not the end of conflict as Lord Darian Lyonesse of the Duchy of Dragonwatch became enraged with the outcome of the Hearthgrove Peace Treaty. Following his aggressive response, the County of Greyrose allied itself with the now united rebel and loyalist factions, intent on ending the conflict as swiftly as possible, which they assisted in achieving.
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## Settlements & Houses

### The County of Greyrose

Greyrose is a holding in the central-East of the province of Duskwood (formerly known as Brightwood) that thrives as a peaceful, relatively uneventful place. Once maintained by House Van Fleet, the County of Greyrose boasts a population of middle aged to older folk who are reclining into a peaceful life and have taken up the esteemed honor of maintaining those who have departed. To this extent, the County of Greyrose, especially the Duskbell district (which possesses the Duskbell Graveyard and the Duskbell Abbey) curate a culture of deep remembrance in which those that pass on from this life are celebrated for their impacts on this world and are never forgotten.

### The Viscounty of Ravenbridge

Located just across the bright to the south-east of the walled city of Greyrose, THE VISCOUNTY OF RAVENBRIDGE was overseen by House Van Fleet until the recent death of the House's last member. Since House Van Fleet had no heirs, Remona elevated Sir Harris Carlyle to nobility and thus House Carlyle has begun their lordship of Ravenbridge. Ravenbridge is known for its knights-- And it is known even more for its excellent training techniques. As a result, the average age of the citizens of Ravenbridge is significantly younger than any other settlement around it. This sometimes brings the young people of Greyrose out in search of a potential romantic partner amongst the knights stationed in the mysterious and foggy Ravenbridge. This occurs so often that there is an entire unofficial local holiday based off of it called "Crossing Day".

#### Pyremist Village

> *A relatively new establishment on the southern shore of the main river that carves its way through Greyrose, this little village hosts mostly old people interested in spending the rest of their days fishing and enjoying the wilderness. The majority of its inhabitants are Gilneans who lost their homes in the burning of Teldrassil. These refugees enjoy a village very much like Keel Harbor of Gilneas alongside a forest reminiscent of the Blackwald... Pyremist gains its name from its unique brilliant orange and red leaves that persist regardless of season. There is a unique lighthouse that stands as an identifiable symbol of Pyremist but it is otherwise quite unremarkable. There is currently no House that oversees the small village and thus it answers directly to House Thane's protections.*
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#### Pyremist Graveyard

> *A small, more intimate graveyard than that of Duskbell Graveyard. It does not have the same immense protections, but it does afford a more beautiful view of the leaves and river.*
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#### The Raven Bridge

> *Ravenbridge, of course, gains its name from the massive gothic bridge that connects it to Greyrose. Although it seems to constantly be in repair (much like the bridge to Lakeshire until recent years), it appears to be rather timeless. That is to say, it is difficult to pin down when the Ravenbridge was actually first built. Like the Five Sentinels of Duskbell Graveyard, its date of creation is lost to history.*
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#### The Raven's Nest

> *A highly defensible castle looming over the city of Ravenbridge, including a keep on the far side of the river as well. Traversing the bridge is impossible without holding the castle, forcing a siege if any wish to march an army through it. However, the keep on the other side and fortified nature of the bridge means two sieges would be necessary- though the defenders retain access to the river and its resources. Construction began in 634 KC and completed in 637 KC, labor expedited with the surplus of peasants seeking food due to the famine in Greyrose. The Raven’s Nest survived the Hour of Empty Graves.*
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### The Viscounty of Gryphonhold

#### Starhaven Lake

> *Starhaven Lake was newly named in honour of Lady Remona Thane's dear friend Echo (formerly Ayla Starshine). There is an incredibly old tale in Greyrose that functions as a cautionary tale for youth, encouraging them not to go near open water in Starhaven Lake on their own lest the many-eyed woman at the bottom of the lake stare at them with her unblinking visage. Should they look back at her, it is said that she pulls them to the depths of the lake and they never resurface. The exact origins are unknown, but it's a popular spooky story despite its grim retellings.*
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#### The Hunter's Repose Gryphon Sanctuary

> *A renowned gryphon sanctuary sponsored by Lady Remona Thane that seeks to rehabilitate neglected, abused or injured gryphons so that they might exist in healthy, stable condition as loyal, well-cared for mounts-- Or as free beasts of the wild. To get to the Hunter's Repose Gryphon Sanctuary without a mage takes approximately three hours up the mountain and then three hours down the mountain. Thus, volunteers and caretakers are offered lodging at the facility.*
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### The Barony of Van Fleet

The Barony of Van Fleet is a fief within the County of Greyrose that serves as the general protector of the Walled City of Greyrose. The Barony is named in honour of the dissolved House Van Fleet, the former fief holders of the county. The Walled City lays peacefully within the barony, as do the main roads that carve their way through the county. Also prowling through the Barony of Van Fleet is Thornwall Fortress and the fearsome Bramblewood along with all of its dark secrets.

#### The Walled City

> *The Walled City of Greyrose is, as the name suggests, the capital of the County of Greyrose. It's a bustling walled city complete with dirty cobblestone, an excess of rainy seasons, and a mild gothic Victorian aesthetic. It's reminiscent of Gilneas in a way.It's known for its three distinct districts: The Fireplace, the Merchant Square, and the Upper Flat. The Flat hosts Greyrose Hall where members and staff of House Thane live.*
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#### The Bramblewood & Thornwall

> *A dark, sinister patch of forest that occupies a significant part of Greyrose's woods. This forest is iconically Duskwoodian in nature and it is said that unfathomable monsters lurk around every twisted trunk. There is a tale amongst children in Greyrose that helps encourage young children not to walk in the woods. The tale tells of a young woman who was accidentally separated from her trusted knight while walking about in the woods at night. The woman allegedly walked for days and nights calling for her knight until she passed away, still standing upon her two legs. Now the young woman is doomed for eternity to walk the woods and scream into the winds.*
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#### **The Hangman's Tree**

> *Little is known about the Hangman's Tree, also called the Hangman's Widow. It is simply an old, dead tree that looms high and mighty over the East side of the Bramblewood, perched atop the region known as Dirthill. This gigantic, hollow tree stares down at those who pass by Jack's crossing. A folk song is associated with the old tree which regales the tale of a weeping woman dressed in all black who enchants a young man and lures him to his doom by the tree with the promise of love.*
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### The Barony of Rosewrought

In the southwest of the county, lies the newly settled the Barony of Rosewrought. Consisting largely of rocky hills and stone quarries, the land served as the nameless masonry storehouse of Greyrose for decades. When Lady Remona Thane gifted the land to Lady Delilah Coldthorne at the beginning of the Three Year Peace, Delilah named the barony Rosewrought and sought to revitalize it.

Using much of her remaining wealth, Lady Coldthorne set about turning Rosewrought into a cultural retreat for the county. The town of Filigree saw the construction of a great theater and opera house. A small, but lavishly decorated sporting arena was established by Shalecrest Lake, fit for jousting, fencing and even marmot ball. Delilah even opened a public library, using her own extensive collection of books as a basis to grow over time.

By the end of 637 K.C., Rosewrought has become a thriving cultural touchstone and bountiful source of income for Greyrose as a whole.

#### The Theodore Coldthorne Memorial Theater

> *The most grand structure in the town of Filigree, the Theodore Coldthorne Memorial Theater (more commonly referred to as "The Theo-ter" by citizens of Filigree) is a four story performing arts center, constructed with Alteraci style brickwork. A three hundred seat auditorium dominates the interior, with separate opera boxes for visitors of nobility or special import. The theater has since hosted productions of A Midwinter's Nightmare, The Geist of the Amphitheater, Les Murlócs and Gadgetzan.*
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### The Barony of Kasselholt

A barony that lies to the west of Greyrose. A great library of military history lays here, as does a curious set of ruins: A city by the name of The Slumbering City. Lady Remona Thane has brought on her dear friend Lady Alia Beligarde of House Beligarde to act as the Stewardess to Kasselholt.

### **The Barony of Ridley's Isle**

Ridley's Isle, once called only "the Pale Isle" is home to only the richest citizens of Greyrose; The people who settle here can afford to frequently switch between living here and the Upper Flat of Greyrose. It is by far the smallest fief within Greyrose, though it appears to be the wealthiest.

#### The Pale Spire

> *A reflection of the sorceress under whose guidance it was crafted, rising from the mists and fog of Greyrose is a tower of slender and graceful guise, the stone the colour of moonlight and accented by greys and blues at home on a winter eve. Situated on the smaller island of Ridley’s Isle, the Spire is one of the newest, and now the tallest, structure within the fief, a shimmering mirage at times that glitters with a fey air, seemingly halfway twixt the world of dream and far starker reality at all times. Embracing the trees and forests it shares the isle with, despite its newness it appears nearly a natural part of the mystical space, even the ferry and the path to it embracing that aesthetic.*
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### **The Barony of Montriviere**

Formerly known at the Barony of Gravestone, the Barony of Montriviere was awarded to Lady Remona Thane for her contributions in the Civil War of 634. Remona then awarded her dear friend Roland Vanburen with the lands which he would go on to serve as Steward of Montriviere.

### **The Vidamy of Duskbell**

House Bellcry oversees the The Vidamy of Duskbell , one of the vastest graveyards in the Eastern Kingdoms. Duskbell boasts itself to be nearing the size of Brill's graveyard from Tirisfal Glades, and, though not the capital of the county, is the powerhouse of the land as most of the county's income revolves around the funeral and remembrance services posted here.

#### Duskbell Township

> *Duskbell Township notably has a stronger culture of upholding traditions than the rest of Greyrose. Anyone who settles in Duskbell Township is often well informed ahead of time of this strict appreciation of tradition and encouraged to assist in its curation. Settlers are often volunteers for major festivals.*
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### Duskbell Graveyard

> *The Duskbell Graveyard is obviously the centerpiece of this location (as it is for the rest of the county at large) and draws quite a good deal of attention every year. Most notably within the graveyard are five statues of winged beings many would instinctively dub "angels". These are the Five Sentinels of the Duskbell Graveyard. In the very center of the graveyard stands the Sentinel's Church.*
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#### **Duskbell Cathedral**

> *Duskbell Cathedral is the center of religious worship and study in the County of Greyrose. It is a great big structure that is decorated with thousands of names of the departed citizens of Greyrose.*
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**The Order of the Rising Sun**

> *The Order of the Rising Sun is a consortium of Light-wielders serving on behalf of the County of Greyrose and its residents and allies. Members of this holy order are dedicated to compassionate and charitable endeavors and, when called to take up arms, to defending the interests of their home. The Order of the Rising Sun is led by Eavyn Adair and Mordecai Sharpe.*
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## Gallery

Old Map of GreyroseOld Map of GreyroseOld Map of GreyroseMap of Greyrose