Barony of Grovemarch

**Ruler**
 **Ruling House**
 **Resident Houses**
 **Seat**
 **Settlements**
* Lastshire
* Plain's End
 **Beliefs**
 **Founded**

**Grovemarch,** watching Stormwind's southern border since time immemorial. This pocket of land has traded hands many times over the decades. Nobody seems to be able to hold it for long. What little citrus and sugarcane Stormwind grows comes from this land, a pocket of green created from Stranglethorn's rains breaking through the gap in the mountains. These storms have created a sub tropical microclimate different from the rest of Westfall. Hard fought for against the spears of the Gurubashi and the thieves of the Defias.

The **Barony of Grovemarch** is the last stop along the Nazferiti river before plunging into the jungles of Stranglethorn Vale. It relies primarily on river trade for sustenance, and is equipped with a sizable border force due to its location on the edge of the kingdom.

## Culture

The people of the Barony of Grovemarch are a peculiar folk. In ages past, this land has been known for being a war torn place constantly fought over between disparate rival groups and houses. In between those wars however have been periods of almost ethereal calm and prosperity, making it something of an anomaly to those of surrounding lands. It can be either heaven or hell on earth and the people's temperament changes to match. Some say it's both but that one aspect is merely more visible than the other. Right now the land appears to be in a moment of fairytale prosperity with overflowing larders, picnics, and children playing in fields of wildflowers. Still, there is an undercurrent of worry that the bad times will soon be returning. People have been found dead some mornings in the fields, throats slit and left to bleed out. As such, going out at night alone is right now very unadvisable.

### Religious Beliefs

Some residents can be considered superstitious, but most believe in the Church of the Holy Light.

### Local Holidays

On April 1st of each year, the Festival of Sweets is held in Queensbridge as it is the nation's sugar bowl. Candymakers from all over come to show off their craft in zany outrageous displays. This festival is all about pushing the envelope and creating candy for all the world to enjoy.

## Economy & Resources

The Barony enjoys some imported comforts due to its status as a prominent river port and the only location within Stormwind where it is possible to grow sugarcane. The borderguard is staffed by the Stormwind Army, mostly young greenhorns or old war dogs too worn out for fighting but capable enough to hold off a band of Gurubashi. Aside from sugar, citrus fruits are also grown here in its many orchards. Tin also used to be produced from here but since the abandonment of Deadtree, that industry has folded.

## History

### Founding

Grovemarch was founded in 422 K.Y. during a campaign by House Wrynn to strengthen the border. House Ashera was the first house to rule this region but their reign lasted only ten years, going extinct after all the heirs killed each other off. Each subsequent house that has ruled the region has suffered a similar fate, leading to rumors of the land being cursed in political circles. At times, these disputes have even erupted into localized civil wars, further adding to the political instability and hampering the region from achieving its true economic potential.

### Gurubashi War

The initial Stormwind settler incursions which sparked this war are sometimes linked to Grovemarch, with good reason. The people of Grovemarch have always looked hungrily at the jungles acrossed the border. None are too keen to try again and harvest materials though after the region was razed to the ground by the trolls. Only Queensbridge escaped unscathed due to its position astride the river.

**Deadtree is Abandoned**

The entire town of Deadtree goes quiet in the year 591 K.Y.. Witnesses nearby describe a strange glow coming from the town. Nobody knows what happened. All who go to investigate don't return. The area is put under quarantine and is currently being researched by the Kirin Tor.

### Present Day

The Civil War ravaging the surrounding lands has left Grovemarch untouched. This has mostly been due to the actions of its current ruler, Baron Elrodore Chivay. He foresaw that his lands were a prime target for raiders and has been manipulating things to keep the armies at bay, sometimes by directing them at his neighbors. This has not made him many friends but without a standing house guard of his own, what's a man to do?

## Settlements

### Queensbridge

Queensbridge is the capital of the Barony, and is a major trading port of the Nazferiti. This is the largest port of entry for goods to the surrounding regions. With the drought ongoing, the most common trade is in food goods. Merchants flaunt their produce and meat from the city's market stalls and try to charge relatively reasonable prices. The city is also known across the kingdom for it's sweets industry. Candy from the city's factories travels far and wide to soothe many a sweet tooth and those factories have been known for producing some outrageous products. The mansion of the previous baron is located here. It has been turned over to the people and now functions as a town hall.

**Lastshire**

Lastshire is the agricultural dynamo keeping the barony aloft. Sugar and citrus flow from her plantations to Queensbridge and then to the rest of the Kingdom. The town and surrounding farms are blessed with an unnatural abundance that somehow the drought simply can't touch. It is a dreamy place of wildflowers, butterflies, and pleasant days. Many wish to move here so the baron has had to intervene in the housing market to keep prices from driving out the farmers and turning it into a playground for the wealthy. This is also the town the ruling Baron, Lord Elrodore Chivay, calls home; living in a small cottage amongst the fields and flowers.

### Plain's End

Plain's End is a small farming town located on the barony's northeastern border. The blessings of Lastshire have sadly not reached this place. The drought has wreaked havoc on the tiny cotton industry there. The Civil War has also resulted in the creation of a growing cemetery and funeral industry here.

**Deadtree**

Deadtree has been abandoned ever since a mysterious magical event caused the town's residents to disappear many years ago. A small detachment of the Kirin Tor has been monitoring the region but hasn't had any major findings.

## Houses

House Chivay rules Grovemarch, coming to power in a curious string of events which led to a traveling jester, Elrodore, being made baron after the former rulers killed themselves off in a double-homicide. Reportedly, the last baron had said to his son that he would rather have "that jester over there" inherit the land than him. The resulting duel ended with both baron and son dead. Seeing as there were no heirs, Elrodore was made baron as per the last ruler's technical wishes.

## Map

(Post a full map of the land! Setting it to be 900px wide fills the page. Inkarnate is a great tool for map making! There's a free version and one which adds a bunch more icons to work with.)