County of Wildwood Reach

**Ruler**
 **Overlord**
 **Ruling House**
 **Seat**
 **Baronies**
 **Beliefs**
* Nico's River Worship
 **Founded**

The **County of Wildwood Reach** is a county within the Duchy of the Riverlands. The capital city is Bear's Landing, and it is lorded over by Countess Valerie Hillegas. She swears fealty to the Duchess Nicolette Sawyer.

## Culture

The people of the County of Wildwood Reach are rather quite similar, having been split between the baronies of Rivermark and Greyvale. In Rivermark, the folks are welcoming and homely, whereas Greyvale they are more insular and sleepy. Despite these short differences, both sets of population are agrarian and naturalistic, as well as fierce in their own regard. Their shared insular styles of living have created a bond of kinship betwixt the two and regular trading of herbs, berries, and grown crops are shared. Countess Hillegas has begun training the folk more in terms of militarism.

### Religious Beliefs

The primary belief shared by the citizens of Wildwood Reach is a naturalistic belief. Uniquely, the peoples of Rivermark and Greyvale each have their own special religions. In Rivermark, the people worship the Rivers in a sense of Tidesfaith, and the people of Greyvale worship trees and forests.

### Local Holidays

Novemberfest - November First. Just like within the Duchy of Zollern, Burchard enforced the local holiday of his own down to Elwynn Forest. Novemberfest is a month-long celebration beginning on the first day of November and celebrated until the end of the month. It is a festival of drinking and cheerful activities, a celebration of camaraderie and achievements of their people. Unlike in Zollern where it is a celebration of legendary ancestor Sigismund the Great, Wildwood Reach's Novemberfest is a celebration of Lady Nicolette Sawyer and the House of Sawyer, as well as Countess Valerie Hillegas and what she has done for her people.

## Economy & Resources

The primary resources of the County of Wildwood Reach are largely naturalistic. Varied types of lumber, including oak primarily, wild herbs and berries, spices, and mined decorative crystals are all resources found within the County of Wildwood Reach. Farms are maintained and grow crops such as grains, fruits and vegetables, but they are used for their people's diets and only exported to the Duchy of Zollern. The lumber and excess herbs, berries, spices, and the decorative crystals are used as exports to any other trading partners. The monies received from trades and exports are used as the tithing for Lady Sawyer.

## History

### Founding

The County of Wildwood Reach was founded in 634 K.Y. by House Sawyer.

### Present Day

The newly-formed county was granted to Lord Burchard Hillegas, since he was already the baron of Rivermark, and Greyvale bordered the land. He was elevated to the status of count within the Duchy of the Riverlands, and has been taking strides to help the people acclimate to their shared lands, as well as sorting out the combined economy and trading, the invasive alligators in Greyvale, and the festivities of Novemberfest for November.

In early February of 638 KY, Burchard abdicated the throne to his wife, Valerie, making her the new Countess whilst he left to focus on his own lands.

## Settlements

### Bear's Landing

Bear's Landing is the capital of both the Barony of Rivermark and the County of Wildwood Reach. It is a small, meek place with a small enough population that everyone within it knows each other. They are situated close to the river's edge, and have a crude, sharpened-log palisade acting as a wall of defense around their perimeter, though they have never been under threat. There are commodities for everything one might need; a smithy, a town hall, a fishery, a lumber mill, several different stores and buildings, and of course, the inn! When Burchard the Bear arrived as the then-Baron of Rivermark, he renamed the town to Bear's Landing in honor of himself, and the impressive retinue of bears he brought along with himself.

### Arcvale

Arcvale is the capital of the Barony of Greyvale, though it is not so much a settlement as it is a large manor with a few tracts of land surrounding it. Burchard has allowed a minor vassal to reside therein since their lands near Dragonsbane were decimated by the gators.

### Dragonsbane

Dragonsbane is a sleepy and far-off town within the barony of Greyvale, where many war veterans had settled to get away from life at large and live peacefully. Unfortunately, the gators did quite the number upon the town and caused many residents to move away. The denizens here have a local reputation for absolutely hating dragons.

### Sounds Reach Harbor

Sounds Reach Harbor is a port-city that resides on the coast of Tuna Lake. Tuna Lake houses a fish population that is known for jumping out of the water at people like a loaded spring, and the people here have become quite used to the occurrence. In fact, they will oftentimes trick newcomers to fishing or taking a stroll by the lake, only for them to be set upon by the springing fish, as a practical prank.

## Houses

House Sawyer is the overlord to the County of Wildwood Reach. Currently, House Sawyer is headed by none other than Lady Nicolette Sawyer.

House Hillegas is the vassal to House Sawyer, and it is the ruling house of the County of Wildwood Reach. They became vassals of House Sawyer in 634 K.Y. when Lady Nicolette Sawyer granted head of House Hillegas, Lord Burchard, the land.

## Gallery

The Map of the County of Brightwater, with Rivermark in the top-right.