The Duke of Caerseren

## Childhood

Ashland Whiteraven was born the only son of the 3rd Earl of Ravenswood and Lady Genevieve (Ambrose) Whiteraven. Ashland was mentored in the responsibilities of the nobility by his father from a very early age. He began shadowing his father when it came to his Noble duties in Ravenswood. Ash learned the art of estate administration as soon as he could read and write. His father insisted that he train with the house guards and the local militia, so he would be skilled and experienced with a sword.  Ash's mother, a classically trained Mage, also insisted that he learned the arcane arts as well.  While he is no skilled mage, he does have a magical talent for inscribing arcane runes on objects, enhancing their natural properties. Ashland did not possess the natural skill and ability of his mother; however, with hard work and study (and with the help of his friend now Court Mage Scheine Brightwarden), Ash has become a passable mage in the areas of Abjuration and Illusion.

## Early Adulthood

Almost eleven years prior, Ash's world was turned upside down when the ship his parents were taking to the Kingdom of Stormwind was caught in a terrible storm. A large wave caused the ship to capsize, sinking it to the bottom of the sea with passengers and crew still aboard. Mourning the loss personal loss of his parents and finding himself the 4th Earl of Ravenswood, Ash threw himself into the work of the administration of his Earldom. Ash continued to build the his family's business in the Whiteraven Shipyards (see Ravenswood Isle) as well as grow Ravenswood influence around the neighboring lands and kingdoms. Much of Ash's mid-twenties to early thirties were spent focusing on being a champion for his people, a fair and just noble on whom his vassals could depend.

## Career

Ashland began his career in government when he decided that he did not want to limit his ability to grow, shape, and defend solely to the people of Ravenswood Isle, but wanted to assist all Gilneans in the rebuilding and resettling of the Kingdom. Ashland journeyed to Ebonport on Mistbriar Isle, the acting Gilnean capital, to see seek out an opportunity to assist the Crown Authority wherever he could. Ash interviewed for and took a position in the Ministry of State Home Office under the supervision of Minister Kelsea Vorota. Ash's diligent work and dedication to his goals quickly earned him a promotion to the Deputy Director of the Home Office.

Soon after his promotion, Ash began to express interest in the foreign affairs of Gilneas. Ash applied to join the diplomatic corps as an ambassador. He was appointed the Ambassador to the Kingdom of Stormwind (SLP) and served faithfully in this capacity, representing Gilnean interests abroad. Several months in the diplomatic corps and Ash found himself on the end of another promotion, this time to Deputy Minister of State. As Deputy Minister of State, Ash assisted Minister Vorota in the administration of affairs, both foreign and domestic.

As the rebuilding efforts of Gilneas continued to gain momentum, Minister Kelsea Vorota and First Minister Zydrik Anteran recognized that the Gilnea Ministry of State had far too many responsibilities for the Minister and Deputy Minister to handle. Under Crown Authority, First Minister Anteran decided that the Ministry of State would be split into three separate ministries: the Ministry of the Home Office, the Ministry of Intelligence, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. With the split of the former Ministry of State, Ashland was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs and was tasked with voicing Gilnean interests abroad and supervising a team of skilled diplomats assigned across Azeroth.

After a while, Ash's diligence and dedication were rewarded yet again with another promotion. Ashland currently serves as the Deputy First Minister of the Kingdom of Gilneas under First Minister Zydrik Anteran. His duties include exercising Crown Authority in the absence of His Majesty and the First Minister and assisting the First Minister in the administration of the entire Gilnean government.

## Gaining a Duchy

For the last eleven years, Ashland has dutifully carried out his responsibilities as Earl of Ravenswood Isle. During his tenure, the Earldom has experienced an increase in exports including lumber, tin and copper ore, pears, and goat meat and dairy product. The Whiteraven Shipyards have no shortage of commissions to fill, and with the appointment of Lady Vaebryn Blackwood, Baroness of Glenwood Bay, has a steady amount of trade traffic to the Isle. Ash remained ever-loyal to the people of Ravenswood first and foremost.

Because of his success in maintaining the stability of the Earldom and with his promotion to Deputy First Minister, the Crown of Gilneas awarded Ashland the title Duke of Caerseren. The Duchy of Caerseren itself is in various states of disrepair. As of now, the only operational settlements outside of Ravenswood Isle are Serendinas, the hamlet of Bachile, the town of Avonshire, and Braghaidd Abbey in County Greymoor. Ash, along with his partner Quvren Brightwarden, have undertaken the task of resettling and rebuilding the Duchy as much as possible, though they know the progress will be limited until Gilnean lands are returned to the Crown once more.

## References

1. ↑ Government Issued ID, Ministry of the Home Office, Kingdom of Gilneas
2. ↑ Stormwind Daily Newspaper, Issue 985, pg. 8-10
3. ↑ Anteran, Zydrik*.* "Ministry of State Restructure." *Public Notice Letter.*
4. ↑ DFM Appointment Letter, Office of the First Minister, Kingdom of Gilneas
5. ↑ "Letters Patent." *Duke of Caerseren*. Office of the First Minister, Kingdom of Gilneas