Ashbrooke

**Major Settlements**
Rivercrest
Grimnes
Cloveshire
 **Minor Settlements**
Fairhaven
Nibury Logging Camp
Witchaven
Old Acres
 **Military Settlements**
Alverton
 **Races**
 **GovernmentFaith**
 **Affiliations**
 **Notable Figures**

# **History of Ashbrooke**

Nestled away within the creeping gloom of Duskwood rests Ashbrooke, a true light in the darkness for weary travelers. It is a well-protected area full of citizens and soldiers alike who have grown accustomed to the curse upon Duskwood that threatens to wipe out all that they hold dear. They have evolved into hearty folk adapted to fighting back all manner of abominations that haunt the area.
Under the rule of Augustus Rochefort the First, the fifth Duke Ashbrooke, the land was vastly different than it appears now. Brightwood was a cheery, beautiful place and Ashbrooke was no exception to that. Unfortunately, the First War saw Brightwood cursed, allowing darkness to overrun the once beautiful area. Tiberius Rochefort, the fourth Duke Ashbrooke, was killed in the war with the Old Horde. His young son, Augustus, was named Duke upon his eighteenth birthday. He inherited a Duchy on the brink of ruin due to corruption in the Council appointed as Regents in the boy's stead.
He was determined to return Ashbrooke to its former glory, and so the Council was disbanded and the land of Ashbrooke was dedicated to the service and worship of the Holy Light. With this came the ability to train and deploy specialized fighters, exorcists and inquisitors, across Ashbrooke to beat back the ferals who attacked the citizens in the night. Druids were invited in and given a place to stay in return for their aid in controlling the curse carried by the feral worgen roaming the area. Many were killed in the war against the worgen, and many more were afflicted. Time and time again the beasts were beaten back, time and time again they returned.
It took nearly a decade of constant fighting to fully eliminate the ferals from Ashbrooke. People finally felt safe wandering their towns at night, but it was still suicide to enter the woods past dusk. The Ashen Inquisition evolved throughout this time, until there were Inquisitors stationed throughout the Duchy. One at least was tied to each town and village, with two to three being more common. In conjunction with the local militias, the woods were gradually cleared of the worst of the darkness. Sunlight returned to Ashbrooke, the people felt safe in their homes, and the land entered a period of happiness and prosperity.
Augustus left a lasting, blessed legacy for his grandson, yet Jayson Rochefort was not content to sit idle in a fortress while others fought to protect his beloved home. He joined the Inquisition against his grandfather's will, leaving the man without an heir. Jayson's elven half-sister, fresh from witnessing the horrors of the Scourge invasion of Lordaeron and Quel'Thalas, was delivered to the Duke's doorstep by the children's father. The girl, Fiera Rosefury, was taken in and disguised as a human. They gave her a new identity, Felicity Rochefort, and placed her in line to inherit the Duchy upon Augustus' death.
Felicity did much in her time as Duchess, choosing to bring the Duchy back into the Grand Alliance while continuing to expand the influence of the Church and Inquisition with the help of Jayson. Together they fully reclaimed the southern half of the Duchy, known as the Witchwood, from the undead. Jayson, in his turn, was named High Inquisitor of the Ashen Inquisition. Ashbrooke entered a true time of peace and growth.
Fiera was not content to remain Felicity forever, though. She eventually wrote into law the changes that would enable Jayson to remain an Inquisitor and still take up the mantle of Duke of Ashbrooke. Thus freed, she was able to step aside into the role of Bishop of Ashbrooke. Jayson took over as the sixth Duke Ashbrooke once their deception was revealed to the world.
The borders of Ashbrooke were opened and travelers were welcomed back in after the resurgence of Scourge activity, because the Duke and Bishop recognized the need to pledge their specialized Inquisitors to the fight. Since then, the military within the Duchy has been reorganized to place the Militia and Ashen Guard under the command of the Duke while the Bishop oversaw the Inquisition and Hospitallers as part of the Diocese of Ashbrooke.
# **Military**

## **The Ashen Guard**

Previously the Guard was the only formal military in use by Ashbrooke. They were responsible for the protection of the Rochefort family, visiting dignitaries, and the city of Iredale.
Recently, they have been turned into the mounted and trained Knights of Ashbrooke. They act as a buffer for the other forces of Ashbrooke. It is seen as a great responsibility and honor to become one of their number. As such, the men and women are hand-selected and knighted after many vigorous trials to prove their worth and dedication to the Duchy. The Chapter Master of the Order of the Ashen Rose oversees the training and deployment of the Guard.
## **The Militia**

The bulk of Ashbrooke's forces fit into the Militia. They are normal citizens trained to fight with both physical and magical means. Their base is in Alverton, yet many are stationed or live elsewhere within the Duchy. Any who wish to protect their home are allowed to join, with many of the members choosing to train into other branches of the military within Ashbrooke as they gain skills or notoriety. They hold biweekly training sessions to keep their skills sharp. The Commander of Ashbrooke's forces oversees their training and deployment in conjunction with the other branches.
# **Diocese of Ashbrooke**

## **The Inquisition**

The Inquisition was founded within the Duchy by Duke Augustus Rochefort the First, in response to the ever increasing afflicted and undead activity of Duskwood. Recognizing the need for a trained force of Exorcists and witch hunters, the first order of Inquisitors was hand picked by the Duke himself from the original Ashen Guard. This foundation has led to the Inquisition holding its members to a higher standard than that of other branches. Their first and only duty is the protection of Ashbrooke and the Lord or Lady they serve. Inquisitors are revered within Ashbrooke as the true protectors of the Duchy, as they are the ones who possess the skills to beat back the darkness plaguing Duskwood as a whole. The very reputation of the group is heralded by the common-folk as the true protectors and epitome of Ashbrooke honor. The High Inquisitor of Ashbrooke oversees their training and missions.
## **The Hospitallers**

The Hospitallers are an elite force of healers, lore keepers, and spiritual guides within Ashbrooke. They mend the wounds of their allies and shield them from harm, often risking life and limb to ensure the safe return of their charges. Magical healing is encouraged and necessary, but not required. The training is rigorous and demanding, requiring a thorough knowledge of medicines, herbs, and the humanoid body. As such, they finish it competent in mundane medicine and become certified Doctors. The Bishop of Ashbrooke oversees their training and upkeep personally.
# **Specialists**

## **The Artisans**

No inquisitor, soldier or guard has a chance against their enemies without the weapons and armor created by the Artisans of the Order. Skilled smiths supply specialized weapons and armor while others provide the tools necessary to combat the darkness that plagues the world. The Trademaster of Ashbrooke oversees the work orders and assignment of the various artisans.
# **Territories**

## **Ashbrooke Proper**

### **Iredale**

The city of Iredale is the county seat and capital of Ashbrooke. What started as a modest fort in the early days of the Duchy has since developed into a large city that boasts a keep, a mage tower, a church where the Bishop of Ashbrooke delivers sermons weekly, an inn, a blacksmith, a tanner's workshop, and dozens of houses for those who live within the walls of the city. The keep itself houses visiting officials, as well as the Ashen Guard. Outsiders rarely see the rest of Ashbrooke, as the people are secretive and wary as a result of constant threats from the darker areas of Duskwood. Those within Iredale have largely been spared from the constant attacks from ferals and undead.
### **Malgrave Priory**

Malgrave is a town dedicated to the Church and to the Light. All citizens living within the Priory serve the Light in some way. Notable buildings within the town include an abbey, a church, a smaller chapel, barracks for the Inquisition, and a nunnery. It is the base of operations for the Inquisition and the Hospitallers. The townsfolk are inherently suspicious of outsiders. Because of this, travelers are often directed to stay away from the area.
### **Alverton**

Due to its proximity to Raven Hill, Alverton houses the greater part of Ashbrooke’s militia. It originally started out as a military encampment that later became a permanent fixture in the area. The sheer number of soldiers stationed there, combined with the lack of sustainable food sources in the area make it the largest drain on Ashbrooke’s resources. Still, the Duke gives them all they need to sustain themselves so they can continue to ensure the safety of her people.
### **Cloveshire**

The village of Cloveshire, if it can truly be called that, is largely secluded from the remainder of the Duchy. Indeed it is more of a collection of houses spread around a large area in the woods, and only designated a village for population reasons. The majority of its inhabitants pride themselves on their skill at tracking, trapping, and hunting. As such, the area is the main supplier of furs and game animals for export to the rest of the kingdom. Recently Cloveshire has found itself besieged by a pack of feral worgen that are keeping the local Inquisitor and militia quite busy.
### **Witchaven**

The town of Witchhaven was named for the large gathering of Harvest Witches that made their home there in times long past. The Rochefort family drove out the witches after a long and grueling battle with heavy casualties on both sides. The descendants of these pagan practitioners returned under Fiera's rule as Duchess, and were permitted to remain so long as they acknowledged and revered the Light along with their own beliefs. It remains a guarded, unwelcoming place to outsiders.
## **River's Edge, the Riverlands**

### **Myrefall Keep**

Myrefall is the center of military might in the eastern part of the Duchy. It started as the capital, but was soon replaced by the much larger keep within Iredale. A loose garrison of militia remained to keep watch over the Eastern Woods, but they were wiped out by the same necromancer that overran Fairhaven. The Ashen Inquisition moved in to clear the keep, but were called back from it when the Duchess gave permission to Munderic Kuechler and the Order of Hallowgarde to make use of the area. When the Order abandoned the Keep, Felicity granted governance of the entirety of River's Landing to a close personal friend and ally, Jacquelyn Reynolds.
### **Thorpes**

Situated on the bank of the river dividing Duskwood from Elwynn Forest is the sleepy fishing town of Thorpes. It is a quiet town that sees and hears little of the outside world. People are born, live their entire lives, and pass away there as if it is the only town in the world, which has led to a dwindling population and families that have known each other for generations. The fish caught by the fishermen in Thorpes supply food for the rest of the Duchy year-round.
### **Rivercrest**

Home to Ashbrooke's mage tower, Rivercrest is naturally the center of arcane research and practice within the Duchy. The tower boasts a permanent portal to Stormwind as well as an extensive library for mundane and magical research both. The lowest dungeon of the tower houses the information relating to all manner of dark magic that benefits the Inquisition in their work. The town itself is lively and constantly full of citizens and outsiders both.
## **Eastwick, the Eastern Woods**

### **Fairhaven**

Similar to Cloveshire, Fairhaven was once a place for trappers and hunters to call home. The hunting lodge at the heart of the town was well known as a place to rest or to sell furs and meat from the game caught in the surrounding woods. Travelers would often stop there to rest, as the people were welcoming and friendly to outsiders. Perhaps too welcoming, as the town was infiltrated and overrun by a necromancer over a decade ago. The small chapel was desecrated and destroyed, while the lodge became the base used for the necromancer's unholy rituals. Those that abandoned the town mostly settled in and around Grimnes or Cloveshire. To this day it stands empty and forgotten in a faraway corner of the Duchy. All attempts to retake the town have failed due to the sheer number of undead that remain, even years after the necromancer abandoned it.
### **Grimnes**

The close proximity to the mountains surrounding the Twilight Grove has made Grimnes the perfect spot for mining within the Duchy. Workers there have established a complex system of mines both within the mountains and under the town they call home, yielding both heavy and precious metals, as well as gemstones for the blacksmiths and jewelers to use in their crafts. Naturally, the town has become the home of several masters of the two crafts because of the close proximity to their suppliers and the source.
### **Nibury Logging Camp**

Nibury is, as the name suggests, a logging camp situated within the Eastern Woods of Ashbrooke. It was originally only a small collection of tents around a sawmill, but the workers soon built homes and moved their families in with them to enjoy a peaceful, simple life in the woods. Nibury now acts as a full-service timber production plant, making beams and planks as well as some furniture to sell throughout the Kingdom.
## **Caer Dolath, the Witchwood**

### **Mortham Hold**

The nature of Duskwood required a well-manned keep in the southern reaches of the Duchy to provide militant forces to protect the many villages and towns hidden within the wood. As such, the Duke deemed it necessary to have a large keep and barracks built near Raven Hill so threats could be responded to quickly and without hesitation. Mortham Hold is the most recent structure built in Ashbrooke, having been finished at the end of the war with the Legion in other parts of the world.
### **Old Acres**

The natural geography of the rivers in Ashbrooke support a large, fertile farmland just south of Malgrave Priory. The farmers manage to grow a wide variety of vegetables along with the grain, fruit trees, and livestock they tend to. People within the town often preserve the produce to last the county throughout the winter months when things are not as plentiful. The town itself houses all manner of people, from butchers, to millers that turn the grain into flour or corn into cornmeal, bakers that take ingredients directly from the source and turn them in to products that are delivered to the other towns daily, and of course, the farmers themselves. It is a thriving, lively settlement that serves as the agricultural heart of the area.
### **Redwood Grove**

Redwood is a small village hidden away in the woods just north of Mortham Hold. The villagers are welcoming, if reclusive and set in their ways. They rarely accept aid from the rest of the Duchy, instead choosing to harvest and hunt for their own food and supplies. Gold is rarely exchanged there. The people prefer to barter and trade each other for the goods they need.
### **Oakridge**

With the prevalence of ferals within Ashbrooke, there was a dire need for those who could effectively handle the Curse. As such, druids were recruited and given a proper place of their own, far from others. They are honored by much of Ashbrooke as saviors of the soldiers who are unlucky enough to be afflicted in the line of duty. The village is welcoming, if not warm to outsiders.
### **Arkstone**

Arkstone plays host to an odd natural wonder in the form of a giant rock pile. The stones look nothing like any of the other rocks or mountains in the area, and hold a strange silvery sheen in the sunlight. An entrance to an enormous cave is well-hidden within the rocks. The cave system is notorious for attracting all sorts of dark, dangerous creatures and has to be cleared out regularly by the Inquisition. Arkstone also inexplicably holds the highest concentration of worgen inhabitants in Ashbrooke.
### **Harrowshire**

The southernmost town in Ashbrooke is not known for its welcoming nature. In fact, most of the inhabitants are outright hostile to travelers and the other inhabitants of the Duchy. The people there do all they can to ignore the rule of the noblemen who lord over their land, and as such the gentry rarely visit the town without being well guarded. Efforts have been made to separate fully from the Duchy, but have been unsuccessful thus far.
### **Wicker Hill**

Little is known of what happened to the residents of Wicker Hill in recent months. Communication with the town all but died out after Lord Jayson Rochefort claimed his place as Duke, leaving people wondering what might have caused the town to suddenly become so reclusive. Those who visit in hopes of contacting their relatives disappear without a trace. Citizens of Harrowshire have reported seeing odd creatures and strangely enhanced ferals in the woods around their town, and an overall feeling of darkness and unease has settled over the far corner of the Duchy.