County of Auster Vallum

**Ruler**
 **Ruling House**
 **Resident Houses**
 **Seat**
 **Settlements**
* Sterford & Sons Powderworks
* Dolemoot
* Wellspring
* Plainshold
 **Beliefs**
 **Founded**

The County of **Auster Vallum** a holding that stretches from the the middle plains of Westfall to the southernmost reaches of the Dagger Hills.

The county is a conglomeration of the Baronies of Freefield, Midwell, Masonmire, and Montveilée formed following the Stormwind Civil War of 634 K.Y., as a reward to Lady Alia Beligarde for her service to the crown during such tumultuous times. The lands within the county are primarily spread out homesteads and farms orbiting townships, with Masonmire itself serving as its industrial heart and major population center.

## Culture

The people of Auster Vallum are an eclectic mix of homesteaders, acting and former soldiers, tradesmen, and migrants from the northern Eastern Kingdoms. At their best, the bonds of past hardship, desire for a better future, and loyalty to their liege keep the peace. At worst, disgruntled locals clash with the ardently loyal, with migrants forced to pick a side until the peace is enforced once more.

### Religious Beliefs

The Church of the Holy Light remains the dominant religion within the region. Though the Old Ways are practiced by a small migrant population of Gilneans and more traditional Lordaeronians.

### Local Holidays

On February 19th of each year, the locals hold a day of mourning for their fallen at the Sorrow of Sentinel Hill. Past allegiance to loyalists or rebels are forgotten as communities come together in evening vigils to mark the family that marched to battle, and never came home.

## Economy & Resources

The county's exports are a range of agrarian, architectural, and industrial goods.

Freefield was once renown for its rolling plains fit for grain, grazing, and horsebreeding. However, following the Burning Legion's latest invasion, much of the province has been ravaged and depopulated. Its exports are a shadow of what it was once capable off, but it still strives to at least provide enough for its people.

Midwell, along with segments of Freefield and Masonmire, dedicate themselves to farmland capable of supporting grains and vegetables, with Freefield itself being home to a thriving beekeeping population. Enterprising businessmen have set up breweries in the region to export local beers to the rest of the kingdom.

Masonmire itself draws upon a great deal of charcoal and iron to supplement its local saltpeter deposits for the production of gunpowder. Following the civil war, the local Powderworks has expanded to become one of the Kingdom's key providers in gunpowder, small arms, and artillery.

Montveilée and Masonmire both share the work on quarrying local granite, with several small iron mines within Montveilée supplementing local industry.

And finally, the above average population of former soldiers drawn to Alia's banner have been known to form mercenary companies to ply their skills for extra coin. Though they may offer their services to local lords, a major stipulation of their contracts includes a refusal to confront an enemy that would be in conflict to their loyalty to Stormwind, or their liege and her allies.

## History

### Founding (634 K.Y.)

Auster Vallum was founded following the Stormwind Civil War's conclusion in early 634 K.Y. as part of the land rewarded to Alia Beligarde for her service to the loyalist faction. Though Masonmire itself had managed to survive the conflict relatively unscathed, the conflict ravaged much of the plains surrounding it.

### Present Day

With the unprecedented peace that has settled across the kingdom, Auster Vallum has been able to recover from its

## Settlements

### Masonmire

The city of Masonmire is the core settlement of Auster Vallum, located in its namesake barony. Since its restoration, the city has become a major exporter of gunpowder, masonry, and firearms.

### Dolemoot

The town of Dolemoot is located north of Masonmire, far past the mountains that shield the city. It serves as a major agricultural hub and marketplace for locals to hawk their wares, and trade with merchants. In recent years, the town has become home to a small garrison of riders that act as a rapid response force for the wider fields beyond Masonmire's mountainous heartland.

### Wellspring

The walled town of Wellspring within the Barony of Midwell takes its name from a spring that, by some miracle, has managed to remain flowing in spite of the region's constant troubles. Its outer walls are home to several verdant fields, and it retains a burgeoning local entertainment and courier industry by virtue of its location on a major crossroad.

### Plainshold

Plainshold is a castle town situated in Freefield's center, and was once a thriving hub for locals and visitors alike to congregate and purchase the region's prized horses. The town was almost completely razed during the Burning Legion's invasion, and recovery has been at a slow, ponderous pace. House Beligarde's acquisition of the town has at least rebuilt the castle and inner sections of the town, yet much of the land north of Plainshold remains blackened and ruined by fel. Though the Soul Engine that once loomed over the region is long since offline, its husk perturbs the populace.

### Garde-Foyer

The hamlet of Garde-Foyer is considered a town more out of convenience for the county and larger kingdom. It acts as a point of contact where Montveilée's spread out populace can gather, send and receive news beyond the mountains they call home, and trade for essentials. Otherwise, Garde-foyer remains lightly populated. However, a small garrison calls the hamlet home to keep watch over the southern pass leading into Stranglethorn.

## Houses

House Beligarde is the reigning house of Auster Vallum. Its seat is presently located in Masonmire.

## Gallery

This is going away soon. I PROMISE, THOMAS