Hillegas Manor

**Ruler**
 **Ruling House**

**Hillegas Manor** is the the seat of House Hillegas and the Duchy of Zollern. It is a large and ancestral manse, built around the same time as Sigismund founding Starkfeste itself. Generations of Hillegas' have ruled from Hillegas Manor, and it is once again held by a member of the family.

## Hillegas Family

The people of the Hillegas family are fiercely loyal to Lordaeron and nature. Due to their passionate love of bears and nature, even the inside of the manor smells like a forest. The males of House Hillegas are often of larger stature, being tall in height and broad in shoulder. They have a propensity to lean head-first into combat and manual labor, but they do not shy away from leadership roles, either. Women of House Hillegas are motherly and protective, often viewed as a 'Mama Bear'. They are typically wide of hip, probably because of the abnormally large babies they usually produce, and are round-faced.

## History

### Founding

Sigismund the Great built the Manor while constructing the very town of Starkfeste. He envisioned a great house where his family could thrive for generations, as well as a central seat of power to rule his subjects. The manor was constructed using the strongest of wood and with finely tempered glass.

### Abandonment

During the Scourging of Lordaeron, the members of House Hillegas and it's retainers were forced to flee, as denizens of the Duchy were either contaminated from plagued grain, or were already being torn apart by Scourge forces. After the lands were vacated, and even after the Scourge eventually scattered, banditry and other forces would eventually inhabit the lands. In particularly, bandits used the Manor as a base of operations, though they were unable to crack the treasure vault within.

### Present Day

Lord Burchard Hillegas now resides comfortably in the cleaned up and repaired Manor. He rules his subjects fairly and just, and has made alterations to his liking. The vault has since been opened and freely used once more, though it's stash has dwindled since Burchard has been paying mercenaries, repairs, and other costs.

## Description

The Manor itself is large and primarily constructed of strong wood, with windows strategically throughout to allow natural light to flood in, or viewpoints to gaze out of. The entrance is marked with two large double-doors, and an overhang to shield visitors from rain and other elements. Inside, one is greeted by a large room with an ornate staircase in front of them, leading up to the next floor and splitting in two different directions. The Hillegas Manor has plenty of different rooms, each with their own uses, whether it is guest rooms and bedrooms, to bathrooms, a large dining room, and more!

Despite being described as ornate and rich, the Hillegas Manor is ancient and dated. No rich gemstones or unique material was used for detailing, nor is any of the decoration gaudy. What makes the Manor so unique is its simplicity, for it is much more rugged and homely than it is suitable for a rich city-person. The Hillegas Manor is more of a naturalist's dream home, with plenty of space for plants and animals, and more natural decor than statue or other decoration.