County of Dragonreach

**Rulers**
Baroness Ondrea Rask
 **Ruling House**
 **Resident Houses**
House Fouragerre (Destroyed.)
House Rochefort (Destroyed.)
 **Seat**
 **Settlements**
Township of Westford
 **Beliefs**
 **Founded**

Formerly known as the Barony of Rochefort, the County of Dragonreach encompasses the three provinces on the southwestern corner of Elwynn Forest bordering Westfall and Duskwood. Three villages make up the County, Elyssia, Ravenna and Westford.

The City of Elyssia is a rich series of farms and a bustling township with high walls on the border of Westfall and Elwynn, located on the banks of the Westbrook River leading out to the Great Sea. The seat of House Rask once belonged to the House of Rochefort. Taken through legal means in a political coup which saw the House of Rochefort disavowed by the crown and lands given to the progenitor of House Rask, the former Captain of the Royal Alliance Navy-- Baron Jack Rask of Stormwind.

Atop a rocky promontory, overlooking the tall trees of the Elwynn Forest and the near barren plains of Westfall, there stands the seat of House Rask, Tor Nefarion-- a fortress surrounded by stone walls that serves as a monument to House Rask’s fortune. The recent addition to a near feral Black Dragon bound to the service of the ‘Dragonlord’ of House Rask mandated the construction of the ‘Dragonmont’. An arena-like structure built into the mountain to house the behemoth that is Khrysaior.

***"Elyssia was a poem... pressed into service as a city."***

***- Gaston L'Vignet, Philosopher from Old Rochefort.***

## Culture

The people of the Reach are characterized by their harsh way of life and outlook on the world, since the recent abolition of the Feudal Governance that had managed the province for hundreds of years up to that-- the militant ideal ‘Way of the Dragon’ has taken root as the predominant ideology.

With an extreme drive towards military-industry, an egalitarian social hierarchy absent of local nobility that reinforces three strengths as reflects an ‘ideal’ citizen of the Reach. Strength of Will, Strength of Principle and Strength of Mind.

The Strength of Will embodies the fortitude behind one’s actions, the ability to stand in the face of challenge and not waver in adversity. This tenet is one that makes the people of the Reach very standoffish and embracing of challenge often wherever they find it. As recent developments have seen to the rapid expansion of the Reach’s predominant military force: The Draconis Legion. Service in the Draconis Legion is mandatory for male citizens ranging from sixteen to thirty two, and guarantees citizenship for both themselves and their family members.

Strength of Principle embodies the personal code of conduct that all citizens of the Reach adhere to, this principle is embodied in the creed ‘The Way of the Dragon’ which emphasizes a familial regard for those within the borders and a signature sense of unified superiority as they view those beyond the borders of the Reach as lesser. Respect for the military hierarchy, the disparaging of apathy and greed, the pursuit of excellence in all things. These are characteristics embodied by the Strength of Principle.

Strength of Mind is the most unique one from the two, because it isn’t strictly an ideologue for the First Lord of the Reach and those sitting on the Draconis Assembly, a group of handpicked military officers that manage the day-to-day activities of the governance and act similar in regards to a senatorial representation of the people they manage, however the difference is that they are expected to lead men into war and see that all of the Reach is prepared to wage it…in regards to both monetary wealth and manpower. The principle of Strength of Mind encourages citizens to seek knowledge and challenge themselves to self improvement. The governance actually encourages the flow of information and the influence of foreign scholars, and incredibly well funded institutions of learning to achieve this effect.

Although it is to reinforce the critical thinking skills of future military leaders and soldiers, to the end of a more lethal fighting force, these resources are available to non-combatants. As is said by the First Lord of the Triumvirate himself; “A society that separates its warriors and scholars soon has its thinking done by cowards and its fighting by fools."

With this in mind, rebellion of course is always a consideration to take. With the prevalent ideology of the Reach being as it is, a betrayal of the Draconis Assembly is seen as a betrayal of every man, woman and child in the Reach itself. As such, rebellion is highly discouraged and disloyalty to the ‘Dragon’ is harshly punished by its military officers that govern the regions of the Reach.

### Religious Beliefs

Most believe in the Church of the Holy Light. With the Cathedral being located in Old Rochefort, the uptown district in the City of Elyssia.

### Local Holidays

**The Culling Festival:** The second weekend of February, a gladiatorial spectacle is hosted to celebrate the martial strengths of the Reach while seeking to 'cull' the weak from society.

**The Elyssian Night Market:** Twice a month on the second and last weekends, artisans and merchants are permitted entry to Elyssia to peddle their wares. A celebration of foreign culture and a tourist attraction which brings the governance a significant amount of capital each month.

## Economy & Resources

The economy of the Dragonreach is quite strong, with several cash crops such as cotton and tobacco being grown upon the rich banks of the Westbrook River, it has had many artisans and luxury goods exported to its neighboring trade partners such as the Duchy of Summerfast and foreign agents such as the Blacktide Marches (Kul Tiras) and the County of Carannia (Alterac). Ravenna has a stout iron mine to where the steel for the Draconis Legions armament is fabricated, while Westford is home to cattle and wheat farms that supply its quickly growing military.

It is a wartime economy centered around the shoring of defenses, a government that spends heavily and taxes heavily- however not without appropriate recompense to the citizenry in the form of public infrastructure, egalitarian representation in matters of local government, well stocked and maintained centers of public information such as Libraries or the monument built that allows its citizenry free speech without imprisonment or fine known as the Acropolis located in the direct center of Elyssia, so that all may be equally close to the pursuit of knowledge and growth. A testament to the challenge-based philosophy that embodies the Dragonreach.

(Describe the different industries and resources available in your holding. It has to make money somehow!)

## History

### Founding

- The Barony of Rochefort is founded in 237 K.Y. along with its neighboring Baronies, the Barony of Westford and Ravenna.

- The Barony of Rochefort is ravaged shortly after the First War's conclusion with the Razing of Stormwind.

- The County of Dragonreach is Founded December 26th, 637 K.Y. with the annexation of both Westford and Ravenna into the central province that was formerly the Barony of Rochefort. An event known as the Rise of the Triumvirate, where the opposing Aristocratic Families were apprehended and executed after trial, the more formal House Fouragerre Rebellion was put down by the formed Draconis Legion led by the Triumvirate themselves; Vallen Rask, Ondrea Rask and Gregory Schriener.

## Settlements

### The City of Elyssia

***Governed by: Lord Vallen Daerion Rask***

The Town of Elyssia is a picturesque image of life on a peaceful swathe of the Elwynn Forest, trees are preserved in the city  in respect for nature. Deforestation is heavily frowned upon and punished harshly under the law. Elyssia is home to three tobacco plantations and large farms which are responsible for the majority of its wealth and industry. It is a rich city, quickly growing due to the attractive lifestyle enjoyed by its inhabitants. The Guard are relatively unobtrusive as the King’s Laws are enforced ruthlessly by the Draconis Legion, what originally started off as a Mercenary Company known as 'Blackguard' under the command of Baron Jack Rask-- they were repurposed as both standing army and peacekeeping force. Education centers, bakeries, fishmonger’s haunts and taverns of good repute-- such as ‘The Hungry Dog’ and ‘The Butcher’s Table’ are among sights to visit in the town of Elyssia. Another sign of House Rask’s ostentatious wealth is how smooth its governance runs and how much monetary gain passes through the burgeoning township. The people of Elyssia enjoy luxuries, peace and quiet so long as they bow before the will of the Dragon and the Kingdom of Stormwind. The seat of governance is the fortress of Tor Nefarion. The city is divided into four districts. Old Rochefort, Military Quarter, Market Quarter and Gate Quarter. It is home to approximately one thousand, five hundred peoples based on a recent census taken by the office of the Censor.

It is host to such monuments as the fortress of Tor Nefarion and the network of caves upon the rocky promontory it is built upon. The Acropolis, which is a place in the city where philosophers and scholars gather to debate and study without fear of reprisal from the Draconis Legion. Decindra's Arena, the massive coliseum in which Culling Festivals take place and Gladiators practice their craft for the entertainment of the people in emulation and reverence of the ancient Arathorian Empire.

#### The Township of Westford

***Governed by: Lord Gregory Schriener***

Farther to the northeast of Elyssia, nearest the Westbrook Garrison is the more modernized, albeit smaller township in comparison to Elyssia. It is the most recent addition to the Dragonreach as the land was outright purchased from the governing family by Vallen Rask. It is a staunch tradepost with a hearty people, although they have fallen to poverty in more recent years under the poor management of the Westbury Family who have since…disappeared following the signing of the deed over to its new lord.

Westford serves as a thoroughfare from Elyssia to the Kingdom of Stormwind and its neighbouring province of Summerfast; it now serves as the first line of defense for the Barony of Dragonreach. It holds a considerable Legion garrison, among the more well financed and extremely disciplined forces that the wealth of House Rask has financed. The average population of Westford is approximately a eight hundred people taken by the Office of the Censor out of Elyssia. The seat of government is Westhearth Keep.

#### **The Township of Ravenna**

***Governed by: Lady Ondrea Rask***

To most, the village of Ravenna is a dreary place. On the southern border of the Dragonsreach-- on the corner that heralds both Westfall and Duskwood on the banks of the Westbrook river that leads out to the Great Sea stands the modest township of Ravenna. Held as a military outpost against incursions to the Kingdom from the west and the south-- Ravenna is Westford’s mirror however far more modest due to the harsh conditions of which its people live. It is often rainy, dour and the criminals of Dragonreach are sent to Ravenna for sentencing. Either execution or hard labor in service to the governance.

The people of Ravenna are polite, reserved, yet kind people and since their integration into the Barony of Dragonreach. The gold flowing from Elyssia has improved the quality of life of Ravenna’s population significantly and provide some of its most loyal Legionaries and most valiant knights. The Village of Ravenna bears the most modest population of around three hundred and fifty civilians and a Legion Garrison of two hundred. The seat of governance is the Ravenloft Estate. It is also host to the regional prison, known as Tol Corvus.

## Political Structure

The recent changes, completely eradicating any traces of the old ‘Feudal’ style of governance that was inspired by the high chivalry of Lordaeron and the principles of the Old Alliance, the Reach functions off of a heavily modified version of the government adopted by Imperial Arathor at the height of her power.

An austere, representative system that functions akin to the senate of its former liege state, the Duchy of Summerfast’s own Senatorial body. However, there are key differences here in which to note which denote its differences from its liege state. It is a heavily authoritarian meritocracy, managed in the day to day affairs by way of the Draconis Assembly. Ten members elected to the Assembly are solely recruited from the best and brightest of the military body to serve as military governors-- ranked as ‘Decimus’, the highest possible rank in the Dragonreach’s military.

A Decimus is either appointed to the position by the Triumvirate, or the position is won in a ‘Trial of Possession’ a series of tests that measure the values of a potential Decimus, the Trial of Will, the Trial of Principle and the Trial of the Mind. Culminating in a decision rendered by the Triumvirate and the Assembly to whom will take the rank of Decimus.

The Triumvirate are the most senior of the Draconis Assembly, and have the final decision in all matters that concern the Reach. All three members of the Triumvirate sit as equals in the Assembly although one is elected to the position of Imperator by the other two Consuls on the Tribune and the Draconis Assembly, and have the final say in the matters of decision that the Assembly brings to table when it is called to session-- akin to the Senate but with far less membership and far lesser influence from the greater populace. As the core belief of this governance is; “The strong should govern to protect the weak.” It is to be noted that the position of Imperator is awarded as a military and foreign policy figurehead, whose power is checked and balanced by the other two in the Triumvirate.

*The Draconis Assembly Chambers, with a geographically accurate map of Azeroth at the center.*

There are thirteen members that sit upon the Draconis Assembly and each are military officers in the highest echelons of command in the Draconis Legion. To become a member of the Triumvirate and earn the title of Lord / Lady-- one must be a Decimus and challenge a member of the Triumvirate to take their place in a Trial of Possession-- however instead of a decision being rendered by the two remaining Triumvirs…it is settled in single combat to the death. Each Decimus has three advisors, representing Officers of Coin, Officers of War and Officers of Resource-- civilian scholars with military commission.

The local populace are actually mostly left to their own devices, to trade and dwell as they see fit so long as they pay their tithe to their respective Decimus and provide whatever the Assembly asks of them without question and without delay-- else it could lead to terrible consequences for those in question. Men and women aged eighteen to thirty are mandated to serve in the Draconis Legion, one from every family in the Reach are ordered to serve in order to guarantee their family citizenship and the protection of the Dragon. If one is to avoid enlistment, they are branded and forced to march in the ‘Penitent’ Cohort.

**Considerations:**

- The citizenry abide by this as the military status quo is rather unobtrusive and the quality of life since the abolishment of Feudal Practices have made this egalitarian society rather functional, as they are not lorded over and demands are never unreasonable-- and if something is considered in disagreement? It is resolved with a Trial by military tribune, presided by a Decimus or one of their appointed officers.

- There is no consideration of gender or societal standing in the Reach, only the consideration of one’s strength to take what is theirs and answer the challenges of life put before them. Resulting in a fanatical, militaristic society that values strength above all else and weakness is shunned. Service to the Dragon is honored by those that reap bounty from its hoard.

- Although in the most official senses the nobility has been dismantled, there are a few powerful families that remain in the wake of the power vacuum in support of the new government and hold considerable military positions within the Draconis Legion- the object of hierarchical advancement in the Reach’s society. Heavily inspired from the trappings of the Arathorian Legions.

- The private ownership of lands in the Reach is actively encouraged, although those who do own land are not granted special privileges over others who do not, they are considered as contributors to the Dragon as not every member of an army is a soldier and all serve the Reach in their own way. After the ‘Hour of Blood’, many of the ruling families that managed the feudal day-to-day affairs were killed, officially this is a rumor but any in the Reach will tell you about how the newly minted Draconis Legion marched on the lands of lesser Lords and Ladies…and put their families to the sword to redistribute the wealth and equity of land ownership throughout the Reach.

- A violent byproduct of a government that thrives on the practices of violence and warfare as well as the egalitarian treatment of its citizens. Governorships and military commissions are no longer inherited, but rather appointed by official channels managed by the Draconis Assembly. The noble houses in the Reach that stood in opposition to this, were swiftly and violently dismantled without so much as a word of it escaping their borders.

- Personal wealth and property is declared and verified with the regional Decimus and their officers, held in a state-wide trust with any not held in trust heavily taxed by the assembly.

- With this new form of governance upsetting the old order, there are likely many that support it within the shadow for fear of the Dragon’s wroth falling upon them for open rebellion. The institution of the Reach is a strong one, young as it might be.

## Military Structure

***A battle line of Draconis Legionnaire Secutorix during the Rise of the Triumvirate.***

Perhaps among the most important things to understand of the Dragonreach, as it is the absolute core of their society. With a military that thrives off of two principles, challenge and discipline-- it isn’t hard to imagine why the Reach is host to one of the most disciplined private military bodies within the borders of the Alliance.

Between the good conditions for the soldiers, the considerable pay afforded to both enlisted and officers and a measured-- egalitarian system of upward development that doesn’t consider hereditary birthright or nepotism within its ranks as a factor at all-- the Draconis Legion may be a small force compared to that of its neighbors… but it is one of the most ferocious.

Trained extensively in single combat and formation fighting, the versatility of the Draconis Legion is emphasized in its ability to produce capable single combatants, and capable combat formations ranging from a squad all the way to the entire Legion fielded. Strict order and discipline as well as the recent modernization of the Legion to include riflemen, cannons and other modern weaponry left vacant in the wake of the Fourth War in the surplus left by the significant downsizing of the Alliance military.

Paving the way for the rise of the militant XIII (13th) ‘Draconis’ Legion and the Assembly that commands them, setting the stage for their rise to prominence on the field of war that they prepare for.

**Rank Structures**
(Lord Commander)
 Centurion
(Commander)
 Primus Talus
(First Talon)
 Talus
(Talon)
 Decurion
 Evocatus
 Legionnaire

Secutorix: Frontline soldiers that serve as the meat of the Draconis Legion’s formation. Outfitted with hand and a half swords as well as shields and spears. They are the first in the frontlines as the Draconis Legion’s shock troops.

Adiuvos: The Adiuvos are perhaps the most important part of the Draconis Legion’s formation, as they are healers and supply officers. Responsible for the management of supply lines and the health of soldiers.

Velites: The ranged support element of the Draconis Legion’s formation. They are cannoneers, archers and riflemen as well as scouts, siege engineers and forward observers.

Equites: The cavalry. They operate for one purpose, the breaking of the enemy and long range reconnaissance missions that the Velites cannot otherwise complete. They work closely with the Secutorix on the field of war.

***The Standard of the XIIIth 'Draconis' Legion.***