The Barony of Zollern

**Ruler**
 **Ruling House**
 **Resident Houses**
 **Seat**
 **Settlements**
* Victor's Point
* Rokholz Logging Camp
* Heldrecht
 **Beliefs**
* Shamanism (secondary)
 **Founded**

The **Barony of Zollern** is the ducal seat of the Duchy of Zollern. The barony itself is meager, with barely more than six-hundred total denizens. It was said to be one of the settling points of the Vrykul that came to the Eastern Kingdoms, and has been settled by ancestors to House Hillegas ever since.

## Culture

Specifically within the capital of the the Duchy of Zollern, inhabitants of the ducal seat are more adherent to the Northern ways of Northrend, owing much to the original settlers of Vrykul and the generations of Humans that came after. They are significantly more independent and tight-knit in comparison to the rest of the duchy, and are noted to even speak with a 'Northernized' accent of Lordaeronian.

### Religious Beliefs

The residents almost all follow true to the Northern Pantheon, and Shamanism with the following of Ursoc and Ursol. For the most part, the families will each take up their own deity of the Pantheon they most believe in, but even individuals within the families have been known to go against their familial grain and choose their own deity. Despite the primary, surface-level worship of these beings, everyone within the barony has a nigh-fanatical worship of bears, and thusly some denizens instead have taken to Shamanism, devoting their supernatural faith in Ursoc and/or his brother, Ursol.

### Local Holidays

Sigismund's Day - September Seventh. It is a day of celebration of Baron Sigismund Hillegas' achievements for the Duchy of Zollern and his life.

Unity Time - February Sixteenth. A two-day religious time of festivities. including parades, with heavy drinking that is celebrated once a year annually. Liturgy, speeches and observances are done in favor of the bear population that is revered and denizens are often united with their ursine companions, or informed about the end of the hibernation period.

Novemberfest - November First. A month-long celebration of the successes of the Duchy of Zollern where families can get together and relax, play games, travel, drink and overall have fun.

## Economy & Resources

The Barony itself exports large quantities and varieties of lumber for profit from its vast forests. It has several farmsteads for harvesting the few crops available to the northern lands, and will often export it's produce to the other regions within the Duchy of Zollern. Seafood is another staple inside of the barony, since the settlements of Starkfeste, Sigismund's Landing and the Rokholz Logging Camp are all coastal in nature.

## History

### Founding

The Barony of Zollern was founded sometime before the year 500 K.C., as the Kingdom of Lordaeron had well been established by this point, and the First War had not yet occurred. It was created when the ruling house of Lordaeron, House Menethil, granted Sigismund Hillegas with the lands of the soon-to-be Barony, and he founded the town of Starkfeste, and soon after, the lighthouse at Victor's Point.

### Siege of Starkfeste

During the Second War, Starkfeste was sieged by the Orcish Horde. House Hillegas had never before fought an empowered foe such as the Orcs from the Dark Portal. The Orcs had set upon the duchy in an attempt to pillage and destroy, but the rulers of House Hillegas made Starkfeste into a fortified city, and withstood the siege for a fortnight before repelling the beleaguered attackers.

### Campaign for the Barony of Zollern

Burchard Hillegas, after mucking the idea around in his head and milling around during the Civil War of Stormwind initiated by Darion Colfax, commenced his campaign to retake the Barony of Zollern. Seeking help from allies and organizations he knew, the tall Lordaeronian scrounged together sufficient resources and loyal manpower to trek North, and take back the lands. The campaign was at least a month long and many lives, of all kinds, were lost in the process. However, it is now reclaimed. Still, the Barony of Zollern is a shallow husk of what it once was, a ruin to be coveted by the remains of House Hillegas. It sits, molested by time and untouched by the Alliance forces as they attempt to cleanse the lands that were made up in the former Kingdom of Lordaeron. (A journal outlining the Campaign.)[1]

### Recent History

The former residents and their next generation have reclaimed these lands, and are endeavoring to make the lands hospitable again. Burchard Hillegas has given the land of the fallen to mercenaries and loyal supporters in order to boost his barony's population and return a sense of normalcy to his people. Farming and regular life has returned, while it's military begins it's next move on the surrounding territories of the Duchy of Zollern.

## Settlements

### Starkfeste

Starkfeste is the capital of the Barony of Zollern, and is the ducal seat of the Duchy of Zollern. It was founded by Sigismund Hillegas himself, and made into a fortified city on the coast nearest to mountains, on the eastern border of the duchy. It has strong walls and connection to a port, not far from it's walls, where the majority of it's imports from other Kingdoms comes from. Members of House Hillegas resides primarily in Hillegas Manor, the ancestral seat of power both House Hillegas and the Barony of Zollern. Hillegas Manor is the most fortified section of Starkfeste. The walls are tall and thick, and have several large towers and stations for mounting artillery, such as trebuchets, ballistae, and other weaponry. The gates are made of firm wood and reinforced with metal, as well as having portcullis' on each gate. There are food-stores and even an escape tunnel leading down to a secluded, cavernous dock where an always-equipped, fast ship is hidden. A garrison of the best-trained soldiers and bears are kept around the Hillegas Manor, as well.

### Victor's Point

The second settlement founded by Sigismund the Great, Victor's Point, is a lighthouse and lighthouse keeper station just off the coast, in the middle of the river, in the Barony of Zollern. Victor's Point has successfully guided ships into the Barony from afar and kept trade and travel alive for generations. It is populated by a small group of lighthouse keepers, and a tiny garrison of troops to monitor any incoming attackers. It is also the namesake of Sigismund's son, Victor Hillegas, who would go on to lead the House after his father's death.

### Rokholz Logging Camp

Rokholz is a logging camp, and is one of the primary exporters for the Barony of Zollern. Being in a forested area, House Hillegas became a large exporter of lumber of many varieties. Although not heavily defended nor surrounded by housing, the logging center has become flush with workers who come from all over the Barony, and it is one of the main job suppliers.

## Houses

House Hillegas rules the Barony of Zollern, from the capital of Starkfeste and the seat of Hillegas Manor. It is known for its breed of strong, tall men who are powerful warriors on the field of battle. Sigismund himself, the founder of House Hillegas, was said to be seven feet tall. A rumor spread among the common folk is that the House Hillegas, for remaining in this place for so long, still has strong traces of Vrykul blood in their lineage, giving them a unique difference in comparison to other Human stock.

House Aarden is a vassal house of House Hillegas, and have existed almost as long as House Hillegas have ruled over the Barony of Zollern. On the surface, they are a small and loyal house, richer than most of the serfs that make up the bulk of the work force. They have come to House Hillegas' calls for aid in times of strife and provide an adequate tithe of loyalty. However, unbeknownst to all, House Aarden secretly schemes against the ruling House, and seeks to usurp the Barony of Zollern for themselves and proclaim rulership for their own people in Lordaeron. During the campaign to reclaim Zollern, House Aarden abandoned Baron Burchard Hillegas and his loyal troops, and instead retreated to the Aarden Estate where they had built up their defenses and stood in open rebellion. After a few months, Baron Hillegas and his troops, aided by newly reinforced mercenaries, took back the Aarden Estate and imprisoned members of House Aarden. Now, the youngest son of House Aarden rules as loyal to Burchard, while other family members remain in house arrest.

## Gallery

Burchard, Baron of the Barony of Zollern. (Art by Tearcry08)The newly finished Crest of the Barony's lands. (Made by Squallrunner.)The Bear of Lordaeron, Burchard the Tall. (Created by Ayie\_OlaerArt.)Baron Burchard and his Big Bear Buddy, Adalbern. (Illustrated in combat by Zsanjani.)