House Willow

**Head of House**
 **Heir**
 **Seat**
 **Lands**
* The Barony of Bear Peak
 **Overlords**
 **Vassals**
 **Founder**

**House Willow** is a minor Lordaeronian noble house that rules over the County of Densewood Thicket in the Kingdom of Lordaeron. The Willows have always been the more independent and fierce of the population of Zollern, although they have historically been the most religious as well. Currently, it is headed by Dawn Willow, who has pledged her loyalty to Burchard Hillegas after her niece, Brienne, decided to stay loyal to Stormwind in the South.

## History

### Founding

House Willow was founded not long after House Hillegas was granted the Duchy of Zollern, when Maeve Willow was elevated to the position of Countess. Maeve was a religious figure and had a particular worship and respect towards nature above all else. Never a strong nor largely-populated house, the Willows became renowned for their political maneuvering within the Duchy of Zollern, and the fact they became the religious authority of the nature and shamanistic worship of bears and figures such as Ursoc and Ursol within the duchy.

### Scourging of Lordaeron

During the Fall of Lordaeron, House Willow joined up with remnants from other regions of the Duchy of Zollern and made it to Sigismund's landing, where House Hillegas' military was making their last stand to allow the ships carrying civilians and wounded to safety. House Willow was unable to provide sufficient troops to the defense, but upon the naval voyage to southern lands and the settling within the Kingdom of Stormwind's land, they became instrumental in keeping morale and spirits high.

### Present Day

House Willow has reclaimed their county of Densewood Thicket with aid from Zollern at large and has returned to being not only the ruling House, but also the religious authority. Brienne Willow was originally the member of the House who took control of Densewood Thicket upon it's return to Lordaeronian hands, but she abdicated her title to her aunt, Dawn, to reside in the South instead.

## Notable Members

### Maeve Willow

Maeve Willow was granted the County of Densewood Thicket not long after Sigismund the Great himself acquired the total lands of the Duchy of Zollern. Maeve was chosen because of her fierce and independent behavior, but her strong loyalties to Lordaeron, her friendship with Sigismund, and her profound reverence of bears. It is foretold that Maeve herself was responsible for Sigismund's rules of protecting, respecting and revering bears as holy animals - though whether this is truth or propaganda of Zollern's religious authority, none could tell.

### Brienne Willow

Brienne Willow is a young woman who joined Duke Hillegas in his campaign for the ancestral lands of the Duchy of Zollern, hoping to reclaim the holy sites within Densewood Thicket. She succeeded alongside him and briefly served as Countess of Densewood Thicket, and eventually abdicated her title and renounced her claims to Densewood Thicket. Her family was against this gesture and has left her as a 'black sheep' of the family.

### Dawn Willow

Dawn Willow is an aged woman who assumed control of House Willow and the Nest after her niece, Brienne, abdicated her titles. Dawn has become Countess of Densewood Thicket, and is rumored to be almost as deft in the ways of intrigue as the house founder Maeve Willow was.

## Lands and Vassals

### The County of Densewood Thicket

House Willow rules the County of Densewood Thicket. It is the smallest county in the Duchy of Zollern, with only two baronies of limited size. However, the members of House Willow were smart and sought early political maneuvering within the structuring ranks of the duchy, and they quickly exerted their control over the religion of bear and nature worship.

### Vassals

House Hillegas has no notable vassals in their county to name, but the populations of both baronies are loyal to their command, and practically fanatical or extremist in their faith. Their religious beliefs and close-knight, small community has led the denizens of Densewood Thicket to be rather independent within the already isolated and independent Duchy of Zollern, being noted by Zollern citizens as 'unique' or 'different'.