House Ashwood: Lords of Hollow Lake

House Ashwood rules over Hollow Lake, the wealthiest and most influential city in Nunca. Their ambition is absolute control—not merely ruling Nunca, but dictating its trade, governance, and diplomacy. Unlike the Waterspurs, who built the foundations of civilization in the region, the Ashwoods have no interest in being caretakers; they see themselves as the masters of human destiny, shaping the kingdom to their vision of strength and stability.

They rule through law, commerce, and force, ensuring that their grip on Hollow Lake remains unchallenged. While they claim to stand for the prosperity of Nunca, their policies are expansionist at their core, absorbing lands, crushing dissent, and securing their dominance at any cost.

The High Hall of Hollow Lake - A grand seat of power, built upon the remnants of Greendale’s lost legacy. It serves as both a fortress and the political heart of Nunca.

The Silver Barracks – Home to the Ashwood Sentinels, an elite force responsible for securing trade routes and maintaining order.

Extensive River Trade Fleets – Ashwood ships dominate the Giant Tears River, controlling key trade flows between Nunca and Shatterbleak.

Wildbay (1980 BGW) – Once independent, now a subjugated resource hub, exploited for its timber, ore, and labor.

The Crown Archive – A private vault within Hollow Lake that holds the Ashwood family’s most guarded secrets, including lost relics, political documents, and arcane artifacts.

The Ashwoods trace their lineage back to Arwin Ashwood (c. 3340 BGW), one of the three founding human families in Paradise Grove. Their ambition led them to expand beyond its safety, with their descendants later taking part in the Great Human Exodus (3040–3033 BGW), choosing to remain in Nunca while the Waterspurs founded Goldencliff.

In 3000 BGW, the Ashwoods established Greendale, the first major human city in Nunca. However, their rule was corrupted when King Ramarvis Ashwood unknowingly took the Crown of Dominion (2330 BGW), leading to the downfall of Greendale and its eventual abandonment. Despite their fall, the Ashwoods rose again, reclaiming power in Hollow Lake in 2300 BGW. From there, they solidified their grip on the region, growing wealthier and stronger through commerce and military expansion. By 1980 BGW, their forces had crushed Wildbay’s resistance, bringing it fully under Hollow Lake’s control.

Today, the Ashwoods stand as the undisputed rulers of Nunca, wielding both wealth and military power to ensure no rival threatens their hold.

Ancestral Lands – Nunca (established during the Great Exodus of Men).

Forcefully Held – Wildbay (annexed in 1980 BGW, kept under permanent military control).

Trade Influence – The Ashwoods exert economic dominance over the entire Giant Tears River, controlling ports and toll stations along major trade routes.

The Ashwoods maintain one of the largest private armies in The Ancient Reach, second only to the great kings of Shatterbleak. Their forces include:

Ashwood Sentinels – The elite military force of Hollow Lake, trained for urban and field combat. They are fanatically loyal to the ruling house.

The Wildbay Legion – A stationed force that enforces Ashwood law in Wildbay and surrounding territories.

The Hollow Fleet – A powerful navy that controls the Giant Tears River, ensuring trade and taxation remain in Ashwood hands.

The Ash Guard – A secretive division of spies, assassins, and enforcers who operate in the shadows, eliminating threats to Ashwood rule.

Primary Faith: Solara, the Goddess of Light and Justice. Her ideals are twisted to justify the Ashwood doctrine of strength and rule.

Forbidden Religions: Any worship of Vyrakath, the Exiled Shadow is punishable by execution, due to the Ashwood family's past corruption by the Crown of Dominion.

Clerical Influence: The High Priests of Solara serve as political advisors, ensuring divine legitimacy for the Ashwood dynasty.

Agriculture: The Ashwoods control vast wheat fields and vineyards, ensuring that Hollow Lake remains the largest food supplier in Nunca.

Industry: Lumber, mining, and stonework from Wildbay are forcibly extracted to supply Hollow Lake’s endless expansion.

The Ashwoods dominate both land and river trade, levying heavy tolls on merchants.

The Lake Academy – A prestigious institution reserved for nobles and scholars, focusing on law, economics, and military strategy.

Restricted Education – Commoners are deliberately kept uneducated, ensuring power remains in noble hands.

The Grand Causeway – A massive, fortified highway connecting Hollow Lake to Wildbay, ensuring control over trade and movement.

The Ashwood Aqueducts – An advanced system that supplies water to Hollow Lake and its surrounding villages.

The Hollow Bastion – A massive fortress guarding the southern border, ensuring no rebellion in Wildbay gains traction.

House Ashwood is the undisputed power in Nunca, but its influence reaches even beyond its borders.

The Gilded Coin Collective – The Ashwoods hold a major stake in economic policies, ensuring their trade laws favor Hollow Lake.

The Black Blade – A rumored assassin guild operating within Hollow Lake, possibly working under Ashwood orders.

Shatterbleak Relations – Though Nunca and Shatterbleak are separate, House Ashwood maintains diplomatic ties with Shatterbleak’s ruling elite, often influencing their trade policies.