County of Mirwood

**Ruler**
 **Ruling House**
 **Resident Houses**
* House Jolley
* House Courland
* House Lyon
 **Seat**
 **Settlements**
* Barony Rivenland
* Barony Hillbrook
* Barony Sarcelfen
 **Beliefs**
 **Founded**

The **County of Mirwood** is a temperate forested region comprising most of central and eastern portions of the Duchy of Westridge ruled by House De Vries. Climate in Mirwood is idyllic, with the worst of weather rarely exceeding a thunderstorm or thick snowfall. At its eastern border, Elwynn Forest itself extends into Mirwood thick with lush foliage and old-growth oak. On the western border the milder foothills of the county offer rolling plains that support many crops. With its central location relative to the other regions of Westridge, Mirwood enjoys significant influence simply by dominating most traffic between counties.

The Mirwood Rangers and their sanctuary at Oakhall are located here, as are the rare members of Westridge’ reclusive druidic order. Also within Mirwood can be found the old mage tower, where raw arcane energies crackle with unfathomable power. The Mages of Sarceline train here not only for their own benefit, but to harness and temper the latent powers that threaten disaster if left unchecked.

## Vries

The City of Vries is one of the two most densely populated cities in Westridge, and certainly the older. The capital of Mirwood and Highmont, Vries is expansive with three major districts and the De Vries Estate overlooking the city from a hill. Most of Vries is built with timber and mortar construction, though upper class areas use brick and mortar instead.

The southern Merchant Quarter, as suggested by the name, is the center for legitimate trade and business for all of Westridge. Multi-story guild banks, auction houses, trade forums, bathhouses, and innumerable rows of vendors and stalls hawk their goods to any that pass. The Chapel of Mirwood is also located here, frequented by Knights of Mirwood who stop by to pray.

The Fountain Quarter on the east side of the city is primarily an upper class residential area that houses most of the knights, wealthy merchants, and lesser lords of Mirwood. Unlike most of the rest of the city, the houses of Fountain Quarter are built in imported red brick and ironwood, quite modern and luxurious by comparison. The streets are kept clean and well-lit with oil lanterns, and a friendly city watchman can be found on every corner. Named for a long-ago removed fountain, the most notable landmark today is actually the expansive and magnificent Grand Stables located just outside the city.

On the west side of the city are The Commons. Densely packed with stacked rows of houses, crime is a problem in this part of the city, a constant thorn in the side of the City Watch. Several years back, a terrible blaze carved out a section of the area which has yet to be rebuilt. A loose collection of outlaw gangs operate out of the ruins, each accused of having ties to the Defias Brotherhood or Bridgeport – depending on who you talk to. In reality, they are merely groups of misguided do-gooders attempting to keep The Commons clean and safe without the ‘help’ of the City Watch.

Finally, the De Vries Estate sits on the northern hill overlooking the city. It is a massive complex of brick and gold manors, gardens, fountains, and more mansions taking up the entire size of a city quarter. It is unfortified like the rest of the city, but heavily guarded by the City Watch’s finest blades, denoted by their plumed helmets and white silk cloaks. Among these sentries of course stand the lords and knights themselves, who do not lack for martial skill or experience. The mansions of the De Vries Estate are regarded as some of the most luxurious and beautiful to be found in Westridge.

## Oakenvale

Oakenvale is a protected old-growth oak forest at the southern edge of Mirwood. It is comprised of lands pulled from southern Hillbrook, northern Rein, and the exclusionary zone surrounding the ranger headquarters, Oakhall Sanctuary. Oakenvale is so named because it is one of the few remaining protected forests in Westridge. By Ducal decree there is to be absolutely no hunting, fishing, or harvesting is permitted within the borders of Oakenvale. This policy is enforced by the painfully accurate longbows of the resident rangers. Only the Rangers and Druids are permitted to access or maintain the forest at will, and only in certain methods that allow for healthy growth. The climate and seasons here are typical of temperate Elwynn Forest, and wildlife of both docile and aggressive sorts are plentiful.

## Oakhall Sanctuary

Oakhall Sanctuary is the last remaining ranger hold. Originally, the Rangers of Mirwood had multiple seats of power, each with their own cadre. After the eventual dissolution of ranger holds in other regions of Westridge, the Mirwood is all that remains. Oakhall Sanctuary is an A-framed longhouse built of oak logs and rough hewn stone with a thatch and moss roof. Like the others were, Oakhall is a restricted area surrounded by an exclusion zone. Non-Ranger visitors are allowed only by invitation, and while technically this includes Army Officers and Nobility - the Rangers here at Mirwood tend to avoid causing a scene by denying entrance unless there is an imminent threat.

## Tower of Sarceline

The Tower of Sarceline is the headquarters for the Mage Circle of Sarceline. While from the outside the structure appears to be little more than a simple stone watchtower of old Azerothian design, the interior is quite a different story. Finely tuned wards and spells have given the tower a whole new expansion of space to allow many large halls, libraries, and studies to fit within the small structure. Most mages choose to teleport in and out of the tower rather than approach from the forest for obvious reasons. The Tower of Sarceline, despite its turbulent history and many accidents, is a very well respected institution of higher arcane learning among Stormwind’s scholars and magi.

## Holdings

### Barony of Highmont

The capital of Mirwood and seat of the ruling Counts.

### Barony of Rivenland

A land of vast agricultural tracts and idyllic villages.

### Barony of Hillbrook

The home of proud knights and their mighty steeds.

### Barony of Heartsgrove

The newest barony and hope of Mirwood's damaged woods.

## Gallery

House De Vries Coat of ArmsHouse Jolley Coat of ArmsHouse Courland Coat of ArmsHouse Lyon Coat of ArmsHouse Reignsford Coat of Arms