Haven County

**Ruler**
 **Ruling House**
 **Resident Houses**
 **Seat**
 **Settlements**
* Barleywall
* Grenhamsted
 **Beliefs**
 **Founded**

Haven County sits close to the western border of Duskwood, bisected by a tributary that separates the county's keep and orchards from the eastern landmass. The Count keeps his seat at Charter Keep, colloquially known as the Charterhouse, and enjoys a close relationship with the working Monastery just across the river.

The county was hit hard by the changes wrought to Duskwood, decimating its largest orchard to the northeast. Regardless, the citizens of Haven have worked tirelessly to keep their homes and remaining livelihoods free from the touch of undeath.

The seat is currently occupied by Lord Arton Grier and his wife, Lady Geriwed of Tweed.

## Culture

Haven's proximity to Westfall and its troubles with the darkness over Duskwood have left the people insular and mistrusting. They are deeply superstitious, and rely heavily on the church for guidance. Outsiders are encouraged to stick to the road and, if stopping in Haven for the night, to leave without wearing out their welcome.

### Religious Beliefs

Residents tend to adhere to the Church of the Holy Light, thanks in no small part to the monastery at the northern border. However, the locals have adopted their own myths and fears grown outside of the Light, though surely vanquished by it.

### Local Holidays

Early spring welcomes the Greentide, in which an individual on the town council dresses as The Green Witch and is chased throughout the city. Wreaths of flowers and dead twigs are commonly worn.

Midsummer begins with a bonfire dance in a similar fashion, with people dressing in full, grassy costumes as they please. The feast is far less important than drinking and dancing.

## Economy & Resources

Haven County is largely a farming community, though their haul has lessened somewhat in the past few decades. House Grier maintains control of a large orchard to the south, and works closely with Ortus Monastery, whose monks are regionally known for making jam. Barleytown and Grenhamsted to the east produce most of the county's crops, with a modest miller's fee for milled grain.

Though the monastery itself pays no taxes, the city of Haven benefits from pilgrims traveling there, who come to see a supposed holy relic and, one can assume, buy some jam.

## History

### Founding

Haven was founded by Lady Persimmon Grier, first Countess of Haven. She named her hold Charter Keep, and let it serve as a chapterhouse for monks building the nearby monastery. The keep retains its legacy today, commonly referred to as "The Charterhouse."

### The First War

Haven's forces joined those of the King to fight the Orcish Horde, but was eventually abandoned when the reigning Countess took her people and fled north. Many of them, largely those who could not afford to travel, remained behind. The land was reclaimed alongside the Kingdom of Stormwind, thought the curse that had come over Duskwood left permanent scars on the land.

The Lich Fields to the northeast, uninhabitable by humans and resistant to growth, still has a measure of spectral activity that keeps locals from traveling too close.

### Present Day

Haven County experienced a spurt of growth during Stormwind's brief period of bizarre astral phasing, and has since settled back into its quiet corner. Count Arton Grier and his wife, Lady Geriwed of Tweed, have named their only daughter, Emmilence, as their successor.

## Settlements

### Haven

The capital of Haven County sits on the east side of the river and to the west of the smaller villages. It hosts both major local festivals and most other, more widely recognized holidays. Count Arton often travels there to handle issues with the citizenry himself, though he is represented by a bailiff as well.

### Ortus Monastery

Formally known as Sacred Path of Those Who Walk in the Light, Ortus Monastery takes its colloquial name from the first Abbot, Ortus, who worked to see the Abbey's completion close to Haven's founding. It houses what it claims is a relic of the Light, drawing pilgrims and curious individuals inward. The monks there also make hella jam.

### Barleywall

The northern of Haven's two farming communities, Barleywall is known for growing a lot of... barley. It has no doctor or school of its own.

### Grenhamsted

The southern of Haven's two farming communities, Grenhamsted grows a wider variety of crops for both export and internal use. Taxes collected here are usually paid with harvests. It has no doctor or school of its own.

## Houses

House Grier oversees Haven County. The current head of house is Arton Grier. His daughter, Emmilence Grier, has been named his successor.