The Reach

The Reach
Regional Symbol:	A sprawling barren tree.
Regional Representative:	Lord-Protector Lerren Darkoak
Marcher Lords:	House of Greyfield
Earls:	House of Darkoak House of Crithe
Viscounts:	House of Lockewood House of Orren
Barons:	House of Darkwatcher House of Marshoak House of Woodcourt
Baronets:	House of Frostoak House of Lancewroth
Capitol:	Brandon's Stead
Prominent Features:	Very hilly and filled with sporadic forests. Home to the majority of the Galuyn people.
Status:	Active.

The Reach (properly referred to as the March of The Reach) is the western most region of the Ashen Coast and is lorded over by the great family of the House of Greyfield. Represented as a region by a sprawling barren tree, the region is known as one of the strife ridden regions of the Ashen Coast, as well as the one most divorced from worship of the Holy Light.

Regions

The Reach.

Within the March of the Reach, several regions exist throughout. Known for its mountainous terrain and somewhat forested hills, this region is the most diverse, with some parts dominated by mining, the others by farming and some heavily forested. The high cliffs of the region does not allow for ports to be created, as they prevent settlement along the coast.

The Earldom of the Tip

• Lord: Derrik Greyfield
• House: Greyfield
• Seat: Brandon's Stead

Located in the western section of the Reach, the Earldom is lorded over by the House of Greyfield and is the center of power of the region. The title is held by the Lord Marcher of the Reach, and so it is never used outside of notarization. It holds most of the central reachman lands, stretching out to the borders of the Gale and what was once the Viscounty of the Frost.

Within the lands also sits the keep of Highroost and the Barony of the Roost, a walled off enclosure being used to breed Chimaeras for the Reach following the capture of Lieutenant Fairsight's chimaera during the First Range Rebellion. Said chimaera has been retrained since then under less abusive circumstances from her previous owner.

The Earldom of the Gale

• Lord: Brandon Darkoak
• House: Darkoak
• Seat: Rosefield

The Earldom of the Gale is a newer installment ruled by the revived House of Darkoak encompassing the Baronies of Ironwood, Ridgebane, Ironsea and the Thorn, seat of the Darkoaks. It is one of the largest land holdings and encompasses the entirety of the northern Reach.

The Earldom of the Frost

• Lord: Natalie Crithe
• House: Crithe
• Seat: Chilled Grove

The Earldom of the Frost was a large viscounty, which would now be considered the size of a reachman earldom, towards the eastern reaches of the region. Lorded over by the House of Frostvine alongside their subordinates, they made up the original triumvirate of power that dominated the Reach. Heavily engrossed with Wicker ideology, the Frostvines rebelled alongside the wickers during the Second War of Thorns and were instrumental towards the capture of the Reach. As punishment for treason, the Greyfields executed most of the extended family alongside the current lord of Frostvine at the time. To top off their revenge, the Viscounty was dismantled and made into separated baronies and baronetcies; solidifying a hatred from the eastern Reach towards the rest of the region.

The region was ultimately returned to existence by way of Natalie Crithe, who facilitated the recovery of the Frost in the years that followed. The House of Frostoak, originally slated to take over the Chilled Grove, was instead redirected to Frostbreak, which was nearer to Vayden's Fall and was the former holdings of the House of Iomaire. As the heir to the house is still an infant, Lady Crithe was entrusted to look over the whole of the Earldom.

The Viscounty of Brandon's Claim

• Lord: Derrik Greyfield
• House: Greyfield
• Seat: Brandon's Stead

The Viscounty of Brandon's Claim is a holding located on the western coast of the Reach lorded over by the House of Greyfield and is home to the regional seat of Brandon's Stead. One of the smaller viscounty holdings in the Ashen Coast, the lands of Brandon's Claim include Brandon's Stead and the iron mines running beneath the region as claimed by Brandon Greyfield when he and his family first settled the area. As the title is exclusive to the Lord Marcher of the Reach, it is never used outside of notarization.

The Viscounty of Shiverwreath

• Lord: Natalie Crithe
• House: Crithe
• Seat: Chilled Grove

Once a Baronetcy that was part of the Viscounty of the Frost and later the Baronetcies of the Frost, the Viscounty of Shiverwreath is located in the colder southern regions of the Reach and is ruled by the House of Crithe. It is home to Winterdown, the Crithes' former seat, and the Chilled Grove, formerly the seat of the House of Frostvine. It sits as the head of the Earldom of the Frost and the title as thus is rarely used outside of extreme formalities as the region is held by the Earl of the Frost.

The Viscounty of the Oak

• Lord: Briana Lockewood
• House: Lockewood
• Seat: Cedarfall

Found in the southern regions of the Reach, the Viscounty of the Oak is lorded over by the House of Lockewood. Though it was originally a Viscounty, it was later demoted to a Barony, which it remained until the treason of the Houses of Frostvine and Iomaire, where it was rewarded with some of the lands of the House of Frostvine and elevated to a Viscounty once more. It is home to the town of Oakwood, which once served as their seat, and the town of Cedarfall which is geared to replace the now irreparably damaged Oakwood.

The Viscounty of the Crimson Ridge

• Lord: Lorcan Orren
• House: Orren
• Seat: Ridgebreaker Keep

Forming the northern reaches of the Reach, the Viscounty of the Crimson Ridge was created after the legitimization of Lorcan Wakefield to Lorcan Orren, the Crimson Lord. Rebuilt and fortified, the region forms a massive swath of Arevassian Order control.

The Barony of the Thorn

• Lord: Brandon Darkoak
• House: Darkoak
• Seat: Rosefield

One of the oldest installments in the Reach, the Barony, formerly Viscounty, of the Thorn is the ancestral seat of the House of Darkoak. Demoted from viscounty after the invasion of Gilneas, the lands were ruled by Duke Berenal Grayblade due to his Darkoak blood by way of his mother. They were later given to Lord Lerren Dayne, who also held minor blood claim, so as to divorce the Duke from holding lands in two marches. Lord Dayne was eventually elevated onto the name Darkoak, thus restoring the family to the region. It sits as the head of the Earldom of the Gale and the title as thus is rarely used outside of extreme formalities as the region is to be held by the Earl of the Gale at all times.

The Barony of Ironwood

• Lord: Khloros Darkwatcher
• House: Darkwatcher
• Seat: Ironwood Keep

Once under the ancestors of the House of Dayne, the lands of Ironwood were taken by the Wicker Clan of the Gnarled. After it was retaken, it was granted to the House of Darkwatcher, who were later elevated to the peerage of Baron. It is home to Ironwood Keep, now the Darkwatcher seat.

The Barony of Ironsea

• Lord: Zale Marshoak
• House: Marshoak
• Seat: Seaward Port

An old installment of power, the Barony of Ironsea is located in the northern part of the Reach and is ruled by the House of Marshoak. It is home to the Reach's only, and therefore largest, harbor town, Seaward Port.

The Barony of the Roost

• Lord: Alastar Woodcourt
• House: Woodcourt
• Seat: Highroost

A more recent addition to the Reach, the Barony of the Roost is located just north of Brandon's Stead and is ruled by the House of Woodcourt. Home to the Arbor Wardens and the rylaks/chimaeras of the Reach, the region was once simply just an abandoned holdfast. It now holds small growing town towards the base of Highroost. Highroost itself is a large fortress enclosure that surrounds an open space that moves out towards the cliffs.

The Baronetcy of Ridgebane

• Lord: Illiaster Orren
• House: Orren
• Seat: Ridgebreaker Keep

One of the older installments, the Baronetcy of Ridgebane has gone through several hands since the invasion. Ancestrally ruled by the House of Delmontt, they were supplanted with the House of Velanaris under Remegis Velanaris after the betrayal of Lord Ardreck Delmontt during the First Range Rebellion. After the House of Velanaris was removed from peerage by the Duke, who felt that Remegis was ill fit for statesmanship, it was later granted to the newly elevated House of Shaftoe, who ruled Ridgebane under Lord Theodore Shaftoe until he was removed from power following controversy during Alliance war campaigns in Ashenvale and Tirisfal and was replaced by Sir Illiaster Orren as regent of the region.

The Baronetcy of Cleftridge

• Lord: Balaforth Frostoak
• House: Frostoak
• Seat: Frostbreak

The Baronetcy of Cleftridge is a baronetcy ruled by the House of Frostoak, located in the southeastern regions of the Reach. Formerly a member of the "Baronetcies of the Frost" that was ruled by the House of Iomaire, Cleftridge was not secluded in the frozen grove and so was the region of the Eastern Reaches that interacted the most with the rest of the Ashen Coast. The lands were disbanded after the betrayal of the Houses of Frostvine and Iomaire, their lands divided between the Houses of Lockewood and Crithe.

This was later rectified with reorganization of the territory into the Earldom of the Frost, which saw the House of Frostoak instated over the Iomaires, who had betrayed Gilneas.

The Baronetcy of Vayden's Fall

• Lord: Lerik Lancewroth
• House: Lancewroth
• Seat: Vayden's Fall

A fort on the border of the Reach and the Range, Vayden's Fall formerly served as the base of operations for invading Reachsmen during the First Range Rebellion under Lieutenant Farsight. The fort was attacked by a Blades force under Sir Vayden Lancewroth, who successfully took the fort at the cost of Sir Lancewroth's life. The fort was named Vayden's Fall in his honour and was granted to the House of Lancewroth as a seat.

It was bestowed to the eldest of Sir Vayden's sons, Haedric Lancewroth, who later gave his life in defense of the Reach during a major Wicker uprising. It was then passed down to his younger brother, Lerik Lancewroth, who serves as the head of the house and as a chief guardian of Derrik Greyfield.

Families

The House of Greyfield

The House of Greyfield is one of the longest standing houses within the Ashen Coast. Though throughout Ashen Coast history they have instigated or partaken in a significant amount of bloodshed, the family's name is one of the most well respected and they are seen as the three great families of the Ashen Coast. Leaders of the Reach and lords of the great city of Brandon's Stead, the Greyfields are a proud lineage that has faced near utter destruction several times, only to bounce back stronger than ever. They are currently led by Lord Derrik Greyfield, a bastard born son of the late Cail Greyfield who was legitimized following the disappearance of the last true born heir, Sieglinde Greyfield. Though Sieglinde has returned, she has refused to take control of the Reach again, opting instead to act as an adviser and as the heir of Greyfield.

The House of Darkoak

The House of Darkoak was one of the longest lived families in Ashen Coast history. Seen as the "Fourth Great Family" of the Ashen Coast, the Darkoaks found their roots within the pagan natives that once dominated Gilneas. Famed for their lands of Rosefield and its fertile lush plains, the Darkoaks used their druidic roots to extreme success economically and militarily, resisting subjugation by the de facto leaders of the Reach, the Greyfields. Seen as a substantial part of the Coastlander history, the family's cousin branches eventually began to die out or removed themselves from the family name as they left the Ashen Coast region. Having married into the House of Grayblade through Erleia Darkoak, the family was placed as Marcher Lords of the Bite following the apparent demise of the House. The house met its end at the resurfacing of Lord Berenal Grayblade, where the resurgent lord apparently murdered the lord and his only heir, thus putting an end to the blood line. Though the charges were later dropped upon evidence of framing, the family has been made defunct by the incident and are survived by their former cadet branch, the House of Dayne. The sole survivor of the house, Lerren Dayne, later petitioned to use his blood to revive the name Darkoak and begin the lineage anew, without the stain of betrayal that was the House of Dayne. It was approved, thus reviving the House under Lerren and ending the Dayne family.

The House of Woodcourt

The House of Woodcourt is a relatively new family that finds its roots in the Reach. Originally a family of craftsmen, the Woodcourts were elevated unto hereditary knighthood under Sir Bashel Woodcourt, Alastar Woodcourt's (the current lord) father. Elevated for his service in the army and heroism during the Second War, the Woodcourts found themselves slowly making their way through the ranks of the Reachmen knights until they were one of the more trusted guardsmen of the House of Greyfield. Alongside the Lancewroths, the Woodcourts guarded the Greyfield lords. Sir Bashel died during the Invasion of Gilneas, though his children lived on and continued their family name. Eventually granted command of the Arbor Wardens and the land of Highroost, the Woodcourts were elevated to barons by way of Sir Alastar Woodcourt due to his repeated excellence in service. Now lords of the Barony of the Roost, the Woodcourts retain their loyal and devoted nature. The family holds a deep reverence for the Old Ways, with wicker connection through their bloodline.

The House of Lockewood

The House of Lockewood is a new house formed in the Ashen Coast that was formed under Lady Lilurah Lockewood following her exemplary service in the blades and as steward to Lady Sieglinde Greyfield. Appointed as barons of the Oak following the demise of the House of Oakenhale, the House of Lockewood has achieved varying successes in the woods that share the name of the township. Now under Lady Briana Lockewood, the House continues to manage the region through the troubling times that have befallen the Oak, including the destruction of Oakwood and the transference of the region's main township to Cedarfall.

The House of Darkwatcher

The House of Darkwatcher is a new family to the region borne through the efforts of Khloros Darkwatcher, former captain of the Iron Guard. Having come from humble roots, Lord Darkwatcher answered the call of the then rising Lord Lerren Dayne and became his most trusted ally within the Reach. Staunchly loyal to his position, Khloros was eventually raised into knighthood by Lord Dayne and when Lerren was elevated to earl and onto the house of Darkoak, Khloros once again rose with him. Elevated to Baron of Ironwood, the House of Darkwatcher was born. They rule from the former Dayne seat of Ironwood Keep and Khloros has begun the lineage by marrying Clarisa Thornwind of the Thornwind Clan.

The House of Marshoak

An older family that was one of House Dayne's original bannermen, they were the only house to survive fully through the two rebellions that wracked the Ashen Coast. Stemming from bastard blood of the House of Darkoak as well, though far more removed, the Marshoaks were loyal to Dayne for generations and were known to hold the only port in the Reach, Seaward. After the elevation of Lerren onto Earl, the Marshoaks were granted a barony by the name of Ironsea and made barons as well. After the death of the former lord, Damien Marshoak, during the Second Range Rebellion, the house is now led by his son, Zale Marshoak.

The House of Crithe

Viscounts of Shiverwreath and former member of the coalition known as the Baronetcies of the Frost, the Crithes were once part of the Viscounty of the Frost, ruling from their seat of Winterdown. They rebelled alongside their Frostvine lords when they joined the Wickers during the Second War of Thorns. Despite having no obligations to the Frostvines, the family kept a close tie to one another and they answered only to them.

Unlike their sister baronetcies, the Crithes under Lady Natalie Crithe did not join the Frostvines when they betrayed the Ashen Coast during the Discord and the Wicker Uprising, and were rewarded for their loyalty with the former lands of the Iomaires as well as being elevated to the status of Viscounts.

The House of Frostoak

Baronets of Cleftridge, the Frostoaks are a new family that were founded by Lord Lerren Darkoak after he placed his son Balaforth, at first as head of the Baronetcy of the Frost, but after the reorganizing of the Frost was redelegated to the Baronetcy of Cleftridge.

The House of Lancewroth

The House of Lancewroth is a cadet branch house of the House of Greyfield and has long since acted as the defenders of the lords of The Reach. Formerly just a knightly house, the Lancewroths were granted the Baronetcy of Vayden's Fall, after the death of their lord Vayden Lancewroth in that site following the Discord. The house was originally passed up for the Arbor Wardens leadership in favor of the House of Woodcourt, due to the Woodcourt's handling of beasts being better than that of the Lancewroths. As such, the two former knightly families have held a small, bloodless, competitive rivalry, with Bashel and Vayden having once competed for the favor of Cail Greyfield.

The House of Karanes

The House of Karanes is a knightly house established following the Darkmind crisis. Landed knights of Frostbreak, the House of Karanes was placed in control of the region of Cleftridge as regents for the House of Frostoak until Lord Balaforth Frostoak comes of age.

The House of Orren

The House of Orren is a knightly house established following the Darkmind crisis. Landed knights of Ridgebane, the House of Orren in its current state cannot be raised into lordship due to the status of Sir Illiaster Orren as an undead.

The House of Delmontt: Defunct

Delmontt Crest

The House of Delmontt is a reasonably old family, formerly the vassals of the House of Darkoak. The former lord, Ardreck Delmontt, conspired against Lord Darkoak during the First Range Rebellion, and took arms against him during the second. It was temporarily destroyed afterwards, its lands given to the House of Velanaris, though Remegis was later removed from the peerage by the duke (stating he was no statesman and better fit as a knight).

The House of Frostvine: Defunct

Barons of the Frost and leader of the coalition known as the Baronetcies of the Frost, the Frostvines were once the rulers of the Viscounty of the Frost. Extremely close in heritage to their wicker ancestors, the Frostvines rebelled alongside the Wickers during the Second War of Thorns, capturing the lords of Darkoak and Greyfield. After brutally murdering the Darkoak heir through castration, crucifixion, then freezing them to death, animosity grew between the rest of the Reach towards them. After the Second War of Thorns, the Greyfields took vengeance on the Frostvines. Executing most of the extended family alongside the lord of Frostvine, the central and northern Reach were united in disdain for the family. The animosity carried out throughout history, refusing to answer Reachmen calls to arms outside of pure necessity. During the Second Range Rebellion, the Frostvines allowed Simeon Houndsbane's forces to capture part of the Eastern Reach. Following this, Houndsbane's forces betrayed the Frostvines and captured most of their men to be used as sacrifices. The Frostvines then earned their freedom by rebelling from within Hound's Ward, which allowed the Duke's forces to invade Hound's Ward easier. Though this was not done for loyalty's sake, the Frostvines were pardoned and their involvement kept secret from all but the Duke, the Marcher Lord and the Regent.

The Frostvines later betrayed the Ashen Coast, revealing their true loyalties to be that of the Wickers. Attacking a Reach meeting, they almost slew Alaster Woodcourt and Derrik Greyfield. Lord Jeffery Frostvine then led his bannermen to Wickenden, where they took on the name of the Chillborn, an elder blood clan of their origin. Jeffery took the position as the High Keeper of Hod, remaining loyal to his king until his death even then. He later met his end at the hands of those he betrayed, when the Blades of Greymane entered Wickenden.

The House of Iomaire: Defunct

Baronets of Cleftridge and member of the coalition known as the Baronetcies of the Frost, the Iomaires were once part of the Viscounty of the Frost, ruling from their seat of Frostbreak. They rebelled alongside their Frostvine lords when they joined the Wickers during the Second War of Thorns. Despite having no obligations to the Frostvines, the family kept a close tie to one another and they answered only to them.

The Iomaires under Lord Colin Iomaire later joined the Frostvines when they betrayed the Ashen Coast during the Discord and the Wicker Uprising, following them to Wickenden. Although Claire Iomaire, Lord Iomaire's sister, has resurfaced during the conflict with the Gnarled Confederation and aligned herself with the Ashen Coast after having been presumed deceased in the initial clash at the Greymane Wall during the invasion of Gilneas, she has shown no interest in revitalizing the house, leaving management of Cleftridge to the House of Frostoak and Regent Siracco Karanes, effectively leaving the house defunct.

The House of Dayne: Defunct

The House of Dayne is a longstanding Ashen Coast house that traces its bloodline back to a bastard of the House of Darkoak. Originally seen as a cadet branch of the Darkoaks and protectors of their farther reaches during Rosefield's time as a viscounty, the house of Dayne was exiled during an incident known as the Dayne Rebellion, where they attempted to over through the rule of the House of Greymane. A colossal failure on many parts, the house was disenfranchised and its last member, the heir Lerren Dayne, was taken as a captive to be raised under less treasonous influence. Through an unknown mishap, those who were slated to raise the young Dayne were slain and he escaped. Through one way or the other, Lerren managed to work his way into the Blades of Greymane, where he continues to serve valiantly in the name of their kingdom. For his efforts, he was named Baron of Rosefield and has worked to revitalize and restore his tarnished family name. He later petitioned to use his blood to revive the name Darkoak and begin the lineage anew, without the stain of betrayal that was the House of Dayne. It was approved, thus reviving the House under Lerren and ending the Dayne family.

The House of Oakenhale: Defunct

The House of Oakenhale was a long lived family within the Ashen Coast that saw little to no real importance at any point. Born of a cousin branch of the House of Greyfield, the Oakenhales managed the small barony of the Oak for the majority of their existence. The family was characterized by its distinct lack of ambition and drive, and upon the invasion of Gilneas was almost completely obliterated. The family met its complete end when the last Oakenhale, who had been harbored in Theramore was slain upon the mana bomb detonation. They were replaced by the much more ambitious House of Lockewood which had already done more for the region shortly after appointment than the Oakenhales had in their entire existence.

The House of Shaftoe: Defunct

Baronets of Ridgebane, the House of Shaftoe was a new noble family installed by Lord Darkoak. After Theodore Shaftoe was prosecuted following controversy that arose during the Shadows of Ashenvale Conflict and the Siege of Tirisfal, he was placed under house arrest and his titles were revoked.

Links

The Duchy of the Ashen Coast
Court of the Coast	Marches of the Ashen Coast	The Bite · The Range · The Reach · The Fallow Crest
	Locations	Ashen Coast · Ashwake Gulf · Dark Woods · Dread Sleuth · Icecrest Mountains (Dun Boldihr)
The Bite	Houses	House of Grayblade · House of Enderlain · House of Cobalstant · House of Savastera · House of Delcarn · House of Hartvale · House of Winbrook · House of Ashtone
	Locations	Earldom of the Howling Woods (Bannhurst · Fang Tower · Fargath's Claim · Mistholme · Ravendale · Viscounty of Graston (Cobal's Hold) · Viscounty of Lunargrove (Karnsburg) · Barony of the Veil (Mistvale)) · Viscounty of the Hart (The Hartreave) · Barony of the Crooked Hollow (Blackfall Reach) · Barony of Beau's Tooth (Light's Hand · Vulpin Isle) · Baronety of the Gull (Clockrush · The Perch) · Baronetcy of the Vigil (Vigil) · Governance of Quel'Shala (Quel'Shala)
The Range	Houses	House of Greydon · House of Chesterhill · House of Haven · House of Houndsbane · House of Fairfax · House of Blackshire · House of Adler
	Locations	Earldom of Gryphon's Roost (Gryphonvale, Xavier's Keep, Solace) · Barony of the Dusk Thicket (Darkhaven, Clidna's Rest) · Baronetcy of Kentington (Kentington) · Barony of Fang's Grip (Hound's Ward)) · Earldom of Westmarch (Barony of Edenford (Edenford, Fort Gaelik, Crossbrook) · Barony of the Sheer (Belvet's Landing, Stormbrook)) · Earldom of the Grand Fields (Viscounty of the Palefield (Palefield) · Baronetcy of Northfield (Northfield) · Baronetcy of the Mill (Millcrest)) · Barony of the Dale (Fyron's Dale)
The Reach	Houses	House of Greyfield · House of Darkoak · House of Crithe · House of Lockewood · House of Orren · House of Darkwatcher · House of Marshoak · House of Frostoak · House of Woodcourt · House of Karanes · House of Lancewroth
	Locations	Earldom of the Tip (Brandon's Stead · Barony of the Roost (Highroost) · The Galuyn Territories (Wickenden City, Ethur'ok Woods, The Pale Grounds, Ruileas)) · Earldom of the Gale (Rosefield · Baronetcy of Ironsea (Seaward Port) · Barony of Ironwood (Ironwood Keep, Hirene Marsh)) · Earldom of the Frost (Chilled Grove, Icefur Den, Bleakrise · Baronetcy of the Shiverwreath (Winterdown) · Baronetcy of Cleftridge (Frostbreak)) · Viscounty of the Crimson Ridge (Ridgebreaker Keep, Falconrise) · Viscounty of the Oak (Cedarfall, Oakwood) · Baronetcy of Vayden's Fall (Vayden's Fall)
The Fallow Crest	Houses	House of Nathair · House of Warpwood · House of Fletchworth · House of Ritheor · House of Daneclaw · House of Levinge · House of a'Leron · House of Grayblade (cadet)
	Locations	Earldom of Iscia's Cove (Iscia's Rest. Farraige a Rugadh Hills · Viscounty of Galecrest (Galecrest) · Barony of Birkenhide (Birkenhide) · Barony of Windholm (Windholm)) · Viscounty of Echeryne (Echeryne) · Barony of Falkenstone (Falkenstone) · Barony of Westbreak (Westbreak) · Barony of Midhurst (Midhurst, Bleakhall) · Barony of Alnwick (Alnwick)
Neighboring Regions	Locations	Duchy of Gravemarch (Taenia) · Rignweald (Fairwind Port, Ashridge, Oakheart, Snakehollow) · Cyrvall